Who remembers going to Silverwood for the very first time? Mine was in the 1990s when the Timber Terror was still called the Grizzly, but how did it become the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest?
Well, let’s find out.
So back in 1973, a guy named Clayton Clay Henley built this little airfield just north of Coeur d’Alene in a town called Athol, Idaho, and he called it the Henley Aerodrome. It had a small grass dirt runway. It had a couple airplane hangars as well as an antique airplane museum, but it was a little rough around the edges. The Spokane flight schools actually told their students, “Don’t land at the Henley Aerodrome!”
Clay Henley passed away in 1977, and the property was getting ready to be split up and sold. But the family didn’t want to see the airfield disappear, so they sold it to Gary Norton in 1981. He also was a big fan of antique airplanes. He remodeled the hangars and started doing air shows and even added some of his own private collection to the museum. Sadly, that same year, one of these airplane hangars actually caught fire and destroyed 10 of Gary’s prized planes from his own personal collection.
Instead of being discouraged, Gary thought, well, might as well dream bigger. So, in 1986, he outbid Walt Disney and a bunch of other major players to be able to acquire this beautiful 1915 narrow gage steam locomotive. It’s a Porter 262 that was originally named Eureka Nevada No. 7. It eventually found its home up here in North Idaho, where it’s gotten the nickname the Puffer Billy.
In 1988, they combined the rich history of the silver industry and the timber industry, and came up with the name Silverwood. They had the air shows and the train rides, and everyone thought he was crazy for opening up something like this in remote North Idaho, but the very first year, over 100,000 people came.
In 1990, they added a section called Country Carnival, which was the first time they added amusement park rides like a Ferris Wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper boats, and of course the log flume, and that was the year they added their very first roller coaster, Corkscrew. A lot of people don’t know that Corkscrew actually came from Knott’s Berry Farm.
In 1996 they added Timber Terror, which at the time was one of the longest wooden roller coasters in the country, and that really kind of put Silverwood on the map, and then in 2003 they opened up Boulder Beach Water Park, and the rest is pretty much history after that. Silverwood’s newest coaster has a little history as well. Even after the airplane hangar incident, Gary continued to operate the air shows into the 90s. In fact, he participated in the air shows himself and was pretty well known for flying his P-51 Mustang, where he would buzz the crowd before every show. That’s how Stunt Pilot was inspired and got it’s name.
Today, Silverwood has over 70 ride slides and attractions and is officially the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest. The Norton family managed Silverwood for 38 years through three generations, and in 2026 finally decided it was time to pass on that legacy. It was recently purchased by the Herschend Family Entertainment, who also manage theme parks such as Dollywood and Silver Dollar City, starting a new chapter in the story behind our region’s favorite theme park.
About the Conductor
Hi, I’m Miles! I am a regional storyteller, photographer, and content creator focused on the Inland Northwest. Through Spokane Storytime I share stories about the places, history, and experiences that shape eastern Washington and north Idaho. I have three kids, and most of our time together revolves around getting out and doing things. They love outdoor adventures, exploring new places, and anything that involves being active. A lot of the places we visit end up naturally becoming part of the stories I share through Spokane Storytime because they are the kinds of experiences families in this region are always looking for. We already love visiting Silverwood and Boulder Beach and are very excited about the chance to be part of some of the stories or blogs. For us it is really about those classic family experiences where you spend the whole day somewhere fun and the kids talk about it for weeks afterward. Those kinds of memories are a big part of what makes places like Silverwood special for families in the Inland Northwest.
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