New roller coaster named at Silverwood

Silverwood Theme Park’s newest roller coaster will be named Aftershock.

The name was suggested 10 times out of 6,136 entries submitted during the park’s recent coaster naming contest.

It was first suggested by an 18-year-old college student from Pennsylvania. Richard Palamara of Coraopolis, Pa., wins a free trip to the coaster’s grand opening party.

Palamara will also be one of the first to ride the giant inverted boomerang-style roller coaster that Silverwood purchased from Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Marketing Manager Mark White said.

Others suggesting the name Aftershock will join Palamara on the ride, along with nine other finalists.

Local residents who suggested Aftershock include Sean Lister of Coeur d’Alene, Greg Watne of Post Falls, Sheamus Mahoney of Cheney, Tim Burnside of Coeur d’Alene, Emerson Wilson of Spokane, 15-year-old Kyle Russell of Sandpoint and 10-year-old Cynthia Smith of Athol.

Other local finalists include 13-year-old Amanda O’Neill of Spokane Valley (FireBolt), 7-year-old Lucas Ricks of Spokane (Stingray), 13-year-old Sarah Wyer of Spokane (Relapse), Heather McLain of Spokane (Recoil) and Brooke Sherman of Rathdrum (Cobra Canyon).

The coaster is set to open in July. It is the park’s fourth roller coaster and is billed as Silverwood’s “largest and most expensive attraction ever.”