Silverwood, june 17, 2017 by Cowles Publishing

Silverwood Theme Park â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday June 17, 2017

Silverwood takes pride in the fact that they provide fun for all ages. From the little ones all the way up to their grandparents, there are plenty of adventures to be had. Making lasting memories this summer is the overall goal of most, and what better place to do that than a theme park. Nestled in the mountains of beautiful North Idaho, Silverwood is home to over 70 rides, slides, thrills and attractions. Towering at over 191 feet tall, Aftershock isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for the faint of heart. This boomerang coaster is the newest addition to roller coaster alley, and she takes her riders through various twists and turns at a whopping 65 miles per hour. Alongside Aftershock stands the two well-known wooden roller coasters, Tremors and Timber Terror. As their names suggest, these rides plummet at high speeds and are sure to excite all roller coaster enthusiasts. Boulder Beach is 21 acres of wet, wild, and crazy. The newest addition to the water park, Riptide Racer, is a mat racing water slide that features 6 side-by-side racing lanes for you and your friends to

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

compete against one another. Surf the swells in one of Boulder Beach’s two massive wave pools or slip, slide and shriek your way down Rumble Falls and Velocity Peak, Silverwood’s gigantic tube and body slides. Still searching for an awesome aquatic adventure? Try one of two family raft rides. There are plenty of opportunities for your whole family to create lasting memories this season. Silverwood owner, Gary Norton and his staff have always been proud of the park’s “family friendly” atmosphere. Throughout both parks there are kid-friendly pools, slides, food venues, a playground, steam train, the Tiny Toot Roller Coaster, Butterﬂyer, Froghopper and more. Visit Silverwoodthemepark.com to receive a discount when you buy your tickets at least 3 days in advance! This is the lowest priced ticket during our regular season. Admission gives guests access to both parks for one low price. Call (208) 216-4300 to receive discounts when you book a group of 15 or more or email groups@silverwoodthemepark.com. To ﬁnd the lowest priced tickets, operation schedule, and other valuable park information, head to silverwoodthemepark.com.

Did you know… Silverwood’s courtyard contains approximately 125,000 brick pavers, all of which were meticulously designed to ﬁt Silverwood’s theme.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

SAFETY STAFF focuses on

LOOK, FEEL, SOUND Inspections part of daily duties

Just like most guests, the maintenance staff at Silverwood Theme Park can’t get enough of the coasters. “Everyone has to ride, and listen,” said Danny Wanamaker, Rides Maintenance Manager. “After a while, you can start to hear if something isn’t sounding normal – any ‘woo-hoos’ are just an extra part of the experience!” The morning ride is only one aspect of a complex daily safety and inspection protocol, where a group of engineers closely look at – and listen to – every element of each ride, including tracks, cars and the machinery powering them. For the coasters, this involves walking the entire track to check the condition of every span, bolt, weld, and other pieces that support the fast-moving cars throughout the day. “It’s a good morning hike,” said Matt Stevens, maintenance director. The wooden coasters regularly need wood replaced to make sure the ride is not only safe but smooth.

In addition to the daily walk-throughs, Silverwood schedules weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual inspections of every ride. The park’s procedures exceed state and industry standards. In the off-season, ride cars are also broken down for even more intensive maintenance, including replacing all bearings. “One bearing can, in theory, last 30 years,” said Stevens. “But we make it a point to replace all of ours at least once a season.” Extra attention is reserved for the oldest ride in the park, The Corkscrew. The world’s ﬁrst upside-down coaster previously was entertaining guests at Knott’s Berry Farm years before it came to Silverwood. “We’ve done some massive improvements to it, including recently replacing 123 ties, nine columns and some footings,” said Construction Manager Chris Lempesis. “It received 100 percent on its inspection, and we looked at every inch of it.” Another oldie-but-goodie is the park’s steam engine that originally hauled silver ore around the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the original components are still in use.

“We’re all fascinated by the technology used in the train,” Stevens said. “It’s all completely mechanical – there’s no electronic components.” The same attention to detail takes place in Boulder Beach Water Park. “It’s just like the coasters – we’ve all been doing this for so long, we can notice if a pump changes its tone, which could mean something going wrong like a clogged ﬁlter,” Stevens said. The crew also makes sure the wave pools receive regular paint over their 25,000-square-foot surfaces. All the pools combine to hold 2.5 million gallons of water. Guests may not know all the work that goes into keeping the park looking good and functioning well, but they would quickly notice if something wasn’t working. “We think of it as a small city, with thousands of people moving around all day, but going somewhere else at night,” said Lempesis. “There are all sorts of demands all the time, from bathroom clogs to stuck gate hinges to light bulbs that need changing to painting.”

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Employment options Staff encouraged to

SHARE HAPPINESS Silverwood Theme Park is considered one of the largest employers in the Inland Northwest, but is always looking for more people. There’s a hiring fair every spring, and positions open throughout the season, especially later in the summer when crowds grow and some employees begin returning to school. Scarywood has its own set of cast members, including people who enjoy scaring visitors. “The main areas we look for are safety and consistency, and people who are outgoing and friendly,” said Operations Director Sam Gage. “We want people to have fun and always be positive with guests. It helps the time go faster, and also creates a great guest experience.” Every employee receives a thorough orientation of expectations and general park information, plus more info about their areas. The rides staff has daily meetings to discuss any issues, go over any training needs, share lessons from other parks, and participate in general team building activities. The food service team focuses on preparing and serving thousands of items a day, from full meals to snacks. The park is known for some unique treats, from funnel cake to super-duper ice cream scoops. In the maintenance area, everyone brings different strengths, including construction, fabrication and engineering. Another vital part of the park experience is at Boulder Beach, where lifeguards focus on safety.

To even take a shift requires each person having at least 24 hours of training in CPR and ﬁrst aid. The park also teaches them an active method of scanning the water. “The goal is to see their entire zone every 10 seconds,” Gage said. “This is why our people look like they’re bobbing their heads.” Lifeguards also receive regular in-service training throughout the season. “We do a lot of reviewing what has happened in the last couple of days, and a lot of testing,” he said. “Being a lifeguard is one of the most guaranteed ways to actually use CPR, rather than someone who takes the certiﬁcation class and never has the opportunity.” One visible method that is used to show their readiness is when trainers place “Timmy,” a child-sized mannequin, in one of the pools at least twice a day. The goal is to see how fast and appropriately a lifeguard will notice and respond. Overall, Gage and other managers like hiring people with good skills, but a good attitude goes even further. “We like seeing people who care, who are ready to take on responsibilities of keeping guests safe, taking pride in themselves and the park, and holding themselves to a high standard,” he said.

Guests are sometimes quick to praise employees, and others share their feedback online later. Silverwood’s marketing department also likes to share online feedback with the different departments, especially when employees are mentioned by name. “On places like TripAdvisor, 99 percent of our comments are glowing,” Gage said. “Good customer service and guest experiences are paramount.” Some employees come back annually, sometimes for the same positions, sometimes to try other departments or roles. “We also have some great beneﬁts like afterhours parties, and some people may ﬁnish their shift and go on the coasters,” he said. “We do a lot of fun stuff.”

Did you know… Silverwood’s humble beginning was as an airstrip called Henley Aerodrome purchased by Gary Norton in the early 1980s to be utilized by Gary and his friends as a meeting spot to show off their vintage planes and cars.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

THE MOST-ASKED QUESTION AT SILVERWOOD THEME PARK IS

“IS IT SAFE?” AND THE PARK STAFF ALWAYS HAS THE RESOUNDING NDING ANS ANSWER: SWER:

“YES!” Each ride has a variety of safety features in place, using standards higher than the theme park industry or the State of Idaho. “The key is redundancy,” said Maintenance Director Matt Stevens. “This goes way beyond the lap bar.”

Safety f is also l vitall at Boulder ld d Beach. h M More than h ad dozen llifeguards f d are responsible for guest safety, but others also play their part, including slide operators who need to communicate with other operators and educate guests on proper riding protocols.

Each ride includes at least ﬁve safety features, including manual and electronic locking mechanisms and other alerts and fail-safes – think back-ups of the back-ups of the back-ups of the back-ups. “Aftershock has ﬁve,” said Stevens.

A good and safe water park experience includes strong water pressure, a just-right water temperature and the perfect balance of chemicals. Chlorine and other chemicals are helpful for sanitation but too much can cause skin or eye irritation and detract from people’s good time. Four employees are certiﬁed to properly maintain these chemicals, and at least one is always required to be on duty. “The industry standard is to check these twice a day but we measure at least every two hours,” said Construction Manager Chris Lempesis. All slides are inspected and buffed so guests always have a smooth experience. “Safety is our priority, even if it’s just making it hard for people to slip, trip or fall, or swallow water” he said. There is also safety-related signage throughout the park, and the staff is also happy to explain safety procedures. “We do want people to ask,” Wanamaker said. “We’re all here to make sure people have a good time.”

Plus, every ride has multiple operators who have been trained and certiﬁed in that particular ride and area of the park. Positions are also rotated throughout the day, so the same person isn’t pushing the same buttons all day long. Every ride has at least one operator and one helper who make sure guests and employees are where they’re supposed to be. “We want our kids to ride these,” said Danny Wanamaker, rides maintenance manager. Before a ride launches, operators must follow a documented procedure called “PASS” that focuses on checking the Perimeter, Area, Riders, and then a getting a Thumbs-Up from a fellow employee that they’ve also done their pre-check.

Did you know… Silverwood Theme Park has over 70 rides, slides, shows and attractions, including four roller coasters, Boulder Beach Water Park, a steam engine train, live entertainment, restaurants, and more...

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

WITH MORE THAN 70 RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS, IT’S NOT HARD to spend a fun-ﬁlled day at Silverwood Theme Park – or several of them throughout the season.

With more than 70 rides and attractions, it’s not hard to spend a fun-ﬁlled day at Silverwood Theme Park – or several of them throughout the season. One cool option – literally and ﬁguratively -- is to spend some, or all, of your visit at Boulder Beach Water Park. Boulder Beach offers a blend of slides for all excitement levels, including two areas especially for kids to jump, splash and occasionally get doused by a big bucket of water. Or simply grab a tube and enjoy the Lazy River.

There’s separate snack bars, two wave pools, and the ability to rent cabanas for you and your pals. A lot of fun awaits at Riptide Racer, a six-lane waterslide. After climbing to the top of the 60-foottall structure, guests lie on aerodynamic mats and head down head-ﬁrst in six side-by-side lanes Once you get cleared to launch, blast off from the starting gate and head down more than 400 feet of winding slides. Your lane will take you through a series of colored enclosed tubes, and then into the open where the lanes converge at the ﬁnals stretch.

Fellow sliders may end up with a photo ﬁnish, which also can encourage repeat ridership to really prove who is the fastest. The slide was purchased from Whitewater Parks Attraction Company, and has been engineered to allow as many as 900 guests slide per hour. Paul Norton, Silverwood Theme Park’s general manager, looks forward to Riptide Racer becoming an important part of the guest experience. “Families and friends can ride at the same time competing time and time again for bragging rights.”

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Complimentary

INTERPRETING SERVICES

Over Silverwood Theme Park’s history, the park has always focused on creating memorable guest experiences: Think friendly, catchy music. Fast rides, slower rides, or in-between rides. Bright, beautiful flowers. Ice cream scoops bigger than your head. High fives from Garfield and friends. But there’s one group of guests who still could have had a better time: Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Though there is plenty of signage and employees familiar with American Sign Language, some aspects of the park experience may still be confusing. Since 2015 there have been two interpreters at each performance of Nick Norton’s “Phantasm,” and aboard “Expedition Silverwood,” the train trip. The complimentary interpreting service lets guests know what’s going on in the show, and also allows them to enjoy the clever humor included in both productions.

The idea was several years in the making. Training Manager Nicole Walker was part of a group of Silverwood employees who met with members of the local Deaf community about how the park experience could be enhanced, such as improving signage and making sure there were people who can sign to help. But she wanted to do more.

“The interpreters are awesome,” said Nick Norton. “It shows that we’re always breaking new barriers. Even though our shows are always very visual, this service helps us communicate even more and build that sense of wonder.”

She signed up for the ASL program at North Idaho College three years ago, and Silverwood offered to help with the costs.

Chris Tortora, who portrays Marshal Jack on the train, agrees.

“We found that, with a few exceptions at the bigger parks, there is really nothing for the hard of hearing at any park around the country,” Walker said.“ Even the bigger parks may bring an interpreter if requested for a particular show, and that would be it. How unfair is that?”

“The interpreting is an experience that all our guests are enjoying,” he said. “The interpreters are great too – I’ve been to other theme parks, and their interpreters are pretty much dull and stoic, while ours are so expressive and love what they’re doing.”

One of her projects was researching how different theme parks around the country offer these services.

So she, park staff, and members of the NIC

program, began to figure out how to show that Silverwood is a welcoming place, including creating the interpreting program. “The Deaf community is very close, and many of them are pretty choosy in where they spend their money and time,” Walker said. She and others focused on connecting interpreters with the performers. They not only explain what’s going on in the show, but find opportunities for the show to be memorable. The interpreters also spend hours studying each show’s basic script and working with the performers and technical team, like knowing to duck for flying parrots or where the bandits will come from. “For the magic show, we have some seats up front especially reserved for Deaf or Hard of Hearing guests,” Walker said. “When Nick sees someone seated there, he’ll make sure to acknowledge them and often will choose a volunteer from this area. This makes them part of the experience, not just on the sidelines.” Tortora also likes to acknowledge any Deaf/ Hard of Hearing guests and sometimes throws

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Need extra help?

out crazy phrases that aren’t part of the script just so the interpreters can show their skills.

tell their friends, and come back. Even people who can hear love that we’re doing this!”

“One of my favorites is to say things like ‘I hope we don’t run into Godzilla!’ just so everyone can have fun seeing what that sign is,” he said.

Silverwood has created a special Facebook page just for Deaf/Hard of Hearing fans and visitors that provides information about services. People with auditory needs planning to visit are also encouraged to visit the main site to order tickets and let the park make sure these services are available. There are also online videos showing what services are available and how to request them.

Another important part of this effort is Jacs Marosi, who headed NIC’s ASL Studies program and loved the work that Walker has been doing. She’s now one of the interpreters. “I’ve fallen in love with Silverwood – my passion is really about educating the Deaf community, and when Nicole expressed interest in doing more, I was excited about the opportunities,” Marosi said. “It’s been such a cool process to do something different than the other theme parks, and really create something magical.” Guest feedback has been incredible. “Our Deaf guests haven’t been expecting this at all,” Walker said. “They’re surprised, they love it, want to

“Some people in our local community don’t know that Silverwood offers these options now, so we’re really trying to reach people,” Marosi said. Walker knows that at least 40 people have visited who have been deaf. “That may not seem high of a number with all the guests who come to Silverwood each year, but that’s 40 people who may not have wanted to come before,” she said.

Everyone is always eager to point guests in the right direction or provide answers for just about any question or need. Some employees can offer even more help, especially with language. Red icons on employee badges indicate that the cast member has received certiﬁcation to interact with guests in certain languages, including Spanish, Russian or ASL. Guests who speak these languages are often pleasantly surprised to ﬁnd someone who can understand them, says Nicole Walker, training manager. “Speaking these languages is a great way to meet people, and our cast members are always eager for opportunities to speak. There’s a lot of excitement that we offer this now.”

Did you know… Silverwood’s steam train is pulled by Old #7, built in 1915 for the Eureka and Palisades Railroad in Nevada which was acquired, along with 3.5 miles of track, at auction by the park’s owner after a bidding war with the Disney Corporation.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday, June 17, 2017

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Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday, June 17, 2017

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Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Train takes passengers on a wonderful journey

Expedition Silverwood adds new elements The ﬁrst thing you should know is that the plural of Bigfoot is still Bigfoot. And, as passengers on the Silverwood Theme Park’s historic steam locomotive are discovering, there sure are a lot of Bigfoot in the woods this year. The exact number remains as mysterious as Sasquatch himself – but that’s part of the fun. “We’re always coming up with crazy ideas,” said Chris Tortora, who portrays Marshal Jack and also arranges all the entertainment for the low-speed but highly enjoyed 30-minute train ride around the park. “On one trip, not many people spotted the Bigfoot, but everyone who did loved it, and then they spent the rest of the trip telling everyone what they missed. Every year we keep adding more.” The train departs daily and passes through the park, Boulder Beach, and then into the woods behind the park before looping around and returning to the depot near Lindy’s restaurant and Main Street. Passengers enjoy a slower-paced ride in comparison to the high-speed coasters and water slides. But they also enjoy a whole lot of entertainment, including a herd of live, non-animatronic bison, an American Indian village, an Old West town and the mysterious Fairy Woods with spitting Wendigos. One of the favorite segments in “Expedition Silverwood” is an interactive bandit show, where guests are robbed at gunpoint. (Though a little frightening for little ones, any money heisted goes to Children’s Village, a local charity.). The show includes stunts, choreography and comedy. Tortora, who previously was involved in stunt shows at other parks, coaches the performers in how to make their ﬁghts and falls safe and also look realistic. He also encourages everyone to improvise when possible so every show is a little different. Some of the cast comes back every year but new faces also join the ensemble, who bring new personality and new experiences. For instance, there’s “Black

Fart,” who has a French accent, the smooth-talking Dapper Dan, and another bandit who is commanded to do bad things by a bad hand puppet. “We’ve been doing this for five years, and have seen a lot of crazy bandits,” he said. “But I don’t think we’ve laughed so hard as we have this season.” Expect to see sisters Annabelle and Maggie McGuillicutty, cryptozoologists searching for their dad and his other scientific colleagues who are missing. Their lab is at the depot, where people waiting for the train can watch the sisters interact with each other in a “street-mosphere” vignette. Their collection of artifacts move, squeak and occasionally roar, which can make the experience more enjoyable. Tortora said actors from all over the country audition for the acting, singing and stunt roles each spring. “We had people from Florida, New York, Portland, Seattle,” he said. “We don’t necessarily look for a lot of show experience but people with great attitudes, who are athletic and can take direction well.” What he especially likes is how some cast members come back annually, but others go on to be successful at stuntwork or performances at other theme parks. Tortora is also a certified firearms instructor, so he also makes sure any fake gunfights can look convincing. “Some of them join us with no drama backgrounds other than maybe some stuff in high school, and in three or four years, they’re on their way to having great careers in show business,” he said. “We’re all about training and mentoring.”

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Nick Norton continues to

wow fans Plenty of park guests have enjoyed seeing the illusions of Silverwood Theme Park’s resident magician Nick Norton over the last decade. For some, simply stepping inside the Theater of Illusion during a busy day is a nice break from the excitement outside. For others, it’s a chance to see quality illusions up close that rival – even exceed – something you’d pay big money to see in places like Las Vegas. “Come bring your sense of wonder, and forget about everything else,” said Norton, who will be sharing the stage this year with his wife Amanda Norton in “Phantasm.”

“If you’ve been coming to see this for years, you may spot a few favorite elements from past shows here and there, plus a lot of new additions,” Nick Norton said. “We like to ﬁnd something from every show we’ve ever done, like this year we’ll bring back some of the ‘Space “Phantasm” featuring Ghosts’ we had years ago.” Nick and Amanda

Norton, takes place daily at the Theater of Illusion. Through June 30, shows are 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. July 1-Sept. 4 showtimes are 3, 5, and 7 p.m. Thursday-Monday and 5-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

Though Amanda has appeared as his assistant in past shows, her role has expanded, so now she will perform some of the illusions with Norton and even some solo.

The 30-minute show also always includes opportunities for audience participation, and at least one volunteer is needed for every performance. The Nortons and the entire “Phantasm” team work hard during the off-season to make sure every year’s show is exciting and different from past years. Every performance also includes a few variations depending on the audience.

Norton enjoys wowing people seeing his show for the ﬁrst time, and also continues to amaze people who keep coming back to see his skills, from the smallest sleight-of-hand to major illusions like levitation or teleportation. “One guy comes back every year to try to ﬁgure out how we do the Levitating Table,” he said.

This year’s show also includes appearance by Norton’s trained macaw Gypsy; a cymbal-playing monkey; and interaction with Dr. Cosmos, a clever but goofy inventor who can never quite get things right. “Phantasm” also uses some fun technical and multimedia tricks to further enhance the audience experience on three separate stages, including LED lights, music, dry ice, and all sorts of fun props. “For at least three of our illusions, we’re the only ones on the planet doing them,” Norton said.

Norton earns top honors Inland Northwest Magician Nick Norton is well-known to Silverwood guests for his wonderful illusions. But now he is also considered one of the best at what he does in the entire theme park industry. Last fall, he received two Brass Ring awards from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, an industry group of more than 20,000 members around the world that include theme parks, zoos, aquariums, water parks, museums and more. Brass Rings are considered the most prestigious award presented each year, and thousands of people, programs and attractions are nominated, including plenty of places with mouse ears. For the 2016 season, Norton was chosen as Best Male Performer, and “Phantasm” was also selected as Best Theatrical Performance for attractions with attendance of 250,0001-1 million.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

The biggest fear that clutches the hearts of organizers of Scarywood isn’t clowns, spiders, zombies or any of the other creepycrawlies encountered at Silverwood Theme Park’s annual fall fright-fest. While these are certainly ingredients that make park guests jump and shriek during the month-long spooky promotion at the park each October, planners are most afraid that everything will be the same and guest will be bored, not scared silly. That’s why they spend most of the year planning new features and making sure existing features are enhanced to be even more frightening. Planning for this year began right when the last scream faded away at 2016’s Scarywood. But summer is when the clock really starts ticking in terms of design and construction to get ready for the Sept. 29 unveiling. Some of the details for this year are still hushhush until later this summer, but organizers hope to continue the successful formula of several key attractions; the ability to enjoy the park rides, maybe even backwards; and even random “Scare zones” where you know never know who, or what, will jump out of the darkness, or where it will happen. Scarywood is recommended for at least age 13 and higher because of a high terror factor. Organizers make it a point to visit other parks/fright places/haunted houses throughout

the year for inspiration on how to make Scarywood absolutely memorable. They’ve also attended various industry expos and trade shows to check out new products and new ideas. Chris Russell, Scarywood’s FX director, also likes to ask anyone he knows about what makes them the most afraid, and ﬁgures out ways to work these concerns into the show. Later in the summer, Scarywood will hold auditions for the hundreds of Scarywood cast members. He also incorporates Hollywood-style costuming, make-up and prosthetics to make people look even more frightening, whether they’re part of a vignette or creeping up right… behind….you. “My job, really, is to disturb people,” Russell said. “I love learning what scares people.”

Did you know… Scarywood Haunted Nights has more than quadrupled its attendance in its 8 years of operation and raised the scare factor to new heights of chills and thrills in the Paciﬁc Northwest.

Scarywood can never get enough of zombies and clowns, for one thing. But other frights also make their way in depending on the year. The fear factor is further magniﬁed with a scary environment: dark, enclosed spaces, strobe lights, fog, and scary noises. If you’re eager to get good and scared, the park staff encourages you to plan ahead and buy your tickets online. Attendance can get close to 10,000 some nights, so there’s always a possibility that the park will reach capacity. Russell also encourages people to attend several times to really maximize the experience. “I like to tell people to focus on making it through one attraction and then having a good time the rest of the evening, rather than trying to push hard to get through everything in one visit,” he said.

Scarywood runs Thursdays-Saturdays Sept. 29-Oct. 28

it is recommended for ages 13 and older due to frightening content. for more details, to purchase advance tickets or book your group of 15 or more for a certain day, visit www.scarywoodhauntednights.com

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Along with being a fun place for community members to visit, Silverwood Theme Park tries to return the favor by being involved in and supporting community endeavors. Over its history, it has donated millions of dollars to local charities and non-proﬁts. It has also opened its doors to everyone from soldiers returning from combat zones to disabled community members. For nine years, the park has awarded scholarships to park employees wanting to pursue or continue higher education. Silverwood will award ten $1,000 scholarships in 2017. Each spring, the park holds the Night of Stars, where over 6,000 physically and mentally disabled guests and those with a terminal illness receive free entrance for a special outing and pavilion meal in the park for themselves and a guest. Another special program is Reading is the Ticket, which offers students in the Northwest a ticket into the park each summer in exchange for them reading independently at least 10 hours during the school year. It’s free for teachers to take part in the program, and all the students have to do is log their hours and turn in their completed form by early spring, and then they receive their passes by the time school gets out. The program began in 1999 with 4,522 students, and continues to grow every year. In 2008, more than 44,000 young readers participated, and just under 80,000 took part in 2017. The tickets donated this year equates to more than $4 million. If you’re a teacher or principal and would like to know more about Reading is the Ticket or for your students to participate, please call Knowledge Unlimited at (800) 356-2303.

The last three weekends in September the park reduces general admission to only $38 and $4 of the general admission price will be donated to area food banks. Over $21,000 was donated to area food banks in 2016. People who have dug for change in their pockets during the train robbery also will be happy to know that their surrendered loot goes to a good cause – at the end of each year, the park picks a charity to contribute to. In 2016, Silverwood’s guests generously donated to support the cause and with an additional contribution by Silverwood’s owners Gary and Jeanne Norton, the total gift amounts to $100,000.

Did you know… Silverwood gave just under 80,000 tickets away for its “Reading is the Ticket Program” with a cumulative value of over $16 million since its beginning in 1999.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

ONLINE EXPERIENCE The ultimate goal of Silverwood Theme Park is for every visitor to have a great time.

Facebook is a prime platform for the park, and more than 250,000 people worldwide “like” the park.

The great news is that, thanks to social media, the Northwest’s largest theme park can be enjoyed from anywhere, anytime.

The park’s YouTube channel has videos of rides, employees and just goofy activity in the park.

Silverwood’s staff maintains a variety of channels, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, even SnapChat.

Other channels also offer a good chance to check out the park or remember past visits.

Media Manager Jordan Carter and other park employees are always putting up information all year, since people do enjoy what’s happening even when the park is closed. “Every day we’re putting up new stuff, hoping to keep people engaged and having fun,” Carter said. “We really focus on expanding the park’s digital experience.” During the off-season, the park posts fun photos of the empty park that’s sometimes covered in snow. When the park is open, there’s all sorts of promotions and simply fun photos of rides, food, entertainment or guest having fun. He also shares info about upcoming promotions, including special events that you’ll only know about if you’re plugged into a particular network or visit the mobile-friendly site www. silverwoodthemepark.com.

Visitors can also sign up for an email newsletter that discusses upcoming promotions and activities. In the offseason it’s a good way to know about season pass sales or early-bird specials. Carter encourages people to follow Silverwood on their favorite social platforms and post whenever they’re in the park, especially if they use hashtags like #silverwoodthemepark or #silverwood4fun. He and other park staff like hearing guest suggestions and questions through social media on how to improve the park experience. The idea for a new family bathroom in Boulder Beach actually started as a social media suggestion. “It really is rewarding to see how much people love the park and share their experiences,” he said. “And we read every one.”

Don’t forget the app Whether you’re in the park or planning your trip, be sure to download the ofﬁcial Silverwood mobile app. The newest version of the free online park guide gives you information about rides and attractions, special events, and even your location in relation to any rides you want to check out. Use it to post to social media telling about all the fun you’re having.

Did you know… Aftershock Roller Coaster, stands 191 feet tall, nearly twice as tall as the next highest coaster at Silverwood, and travels at 65 mph, has 4.5 Gs, it took 70 truckloads to transport it to Silverwood from its former home at Six Flags Great America in Chicago.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

PHOTO CONTEST

Over the course of nearly three decades, hundred of thousands of photos have been taken at Silverwood Theme Park. Whether they were on ﬁlm, Polaroids, or mobile devices, there have been all sorts of special memories captured and preserved. This summer, the park and The Spokesman-Review are inviting park guests to take special photos of themselves and their family members enjoying everywhere and anywhere in the park. After the park closes for the season, we’ll pick our favorite and award the photo-taker with a two-pack of day passes, which can either be used anytime in the 2018 season.

Photos can be sent anytime between now and Sunday, Sept. 24. If you’re submitting a historical re-enactment, send along the original photo for comparison purposes. The park also will consider using some of these in its promotions for its 2018 anniversary season, provided the sender provides this permission when they submit. Learn more about the photo contest, including complete rules and how to enter, at www.spokane7.com/reader-photos/

To make the contest even more entertaining, we’re encouraging people to re-enact a past photo taken at the park this year. For instance, if you took a great family photo in front of Main Street 20 years ago, take it again with the same people or even the same poses. Or if your family has expanded since then, show how it’s grown: instead of Mom, Dad and Junior eating ice cream, show Mom, Dad, Junior and Junior’s kids all having ice cream in the same spot. Though historical photos are fun, it doesn’t have to be that far back in time either – we’ll be OK with someone re-enacting a shot they took last year.

Did you know… The Corkscrew Roller Coaster, purchased from Knott’s Berry Farm, was the ﬁrst ever attraction to take riders upside down.

Silverwood Theme Park • Saturday June 17, 2017

Silverwood Theme Park Summer Events More details are available at www.silverwoodthemepark.com/ events-deals. Schedules or events are subject to change – please double-check the park web site.

July 4 Fireworks Extravaganza Celebrate Independence Day at Silverwood with patriotic music, and a ﬁreworks extravaganza at dusk

July 18 and 25 Toyota Tuesdays The driver of any Toyota gets in FREE when they bring an admission coupon from any Inland Empire regional Toyota Dealer. Coupon must be validated on arrival at Silverwood by a parking attendant. Not valid with any other discounts, coupons, promotions or special offers.

Sept. 9-10 Grandparents Weekend Silverwood shows its appreciation for Grandmas and Grandpas by admitting them to the park for free when accompanied by a grandchild. For each grandchild that PURCHASES a ticket, they will be given one FREE ticket for Grandpa OR Grandma. Plus everyone receives a special pricing of only $38 for General Admission (ages 8-64) and $21 for youth/senior admission (ages 3-7, 65+). (Not valid with any other discounts or promotions.)

Sept. 2-3 Coaster Classic Car Show Classic cars from across the Northwest converge on Silverwood on the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. The 14th Annual Coaster Classic Car Show is one of the biggest events of its kind in the Inland Northwest. If you like cars that go fast, look good, or just remind you of the good ol’ days, you’ve gotta be there!

Sept. 9-10; 16-17; 23-24 Community Appreciation Discount Weekends Save money and help our local food banks! For each general admission ticket sold $4 will be donated to help local food banks and for each youth/senior ticket sold $1 will be donated. Visit silverwoodthemepark.com for additional information

Silverwood Theme Park â&#x20AC;¢ Saturday June 17, 2017

2017 PRIUS 2017 CAMRY 2017 RAV4

TOYOTA DRIVERS get in FREE!

JUL 18 JUL 25 ANOTHER

Customer Appreciation Event FROM YOUR

Pick up your FREE voucher at your Local Toyota Dealer starting June 1st! One voucher for the driver only.