Thoughts on if Idaho could see another amusement park in southern Idaho? (Boise: amusement parks, crime)

[the city]

I know at one point, Nampa, had a proposed movie theme park. It ended up turning into the Idaho Center.


Roaring Springs Water Park seems to do a bunch of expansion. I heard at one point there is more land that could expand it more. Not sure if roller coaster rides could ever work there. Seems there would need to be more land.


I think it'd be nice if Nampa or Meridian had a large amusement park. Lucky northern Idahoans have Silverwood to go to for some fun in the Summer and Spring.

[2011KTM530]

Californicate Idaho some more please.

[Syringaloid]

An amusement/theme park has nothing to do with CA lol. North Idaho has an amusement park and it's Idaho...not CA.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by 2011KTM530

Californicate Idaho some more please.

Yup. That sounds like California, not Idaho, to me.
I think Idahoans would still prefer a wild river to a theme park any day of the week.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Syringaloid

........ North Idaho has an amusement park and it's Idaho...not CA.

Yes, and it is only open a couple of months out of the year. The rest of the year it is too cold to be whooshing around on an amusement ride outdoors and the water features are in danger of freezing.



Amusement parks function better where the weather is nice enough to be outdoors all year round.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Yes, and it is only open a couple of months out of the year. The rest of the year it is too cold to be whooshing around on an amusement ride outdoors and the water features are in danger of freezing.



Amusement parks function better where the weather is nice enough to be outdoors all year round.

I believe the park is open weekends during the Spring and daily from June through Labor Day. More than a couple of months. During the summer, Silverwood is a major economic force in North Idaho.

It doesn't matter how "outdoorsy" a state is, amusement parks are popular and rafting down a whitewater river isn't something that all Idahoans can easily do.

[banjomike]

All I know is if theme parks were viable in Idaho, there would be many more of them.

It appears the state can only support one, much like Utah, which has one that's been going forever and is still popular.

Why did Boise never have one? The climate there would certainly support one, and Boise has been the state's largest population center since forever.

I don't know why it is, and was only making a couple of guesses. But there have to be some reasons why there have never been theme parks here, except for the old one up at the top of the state that's quite far away from where most of Idahoans live.

[Syringaloid]

Silverwood has a lot of new rides, quite impressive for an isolated park in Idaho. I know of many families here in Boise who drive up there in the Summer or make the trek to Utah to go to Lagoon.

https://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/



To me the obvious regarding amusement parks in the state is the population base, but that is changing.

Meridian does have the Northwest's largest water park, Roaring Springs.
And Wahooz adjacent. https://www.wahoozfunzone.com/

Still not an amusement park but is the only place of it's kind in Southern Idaho.

I guess this all boils down to thinking an amusement park is so California when Idaho and Utah each have one.
Boise is getting an In & Out Burger joint, so I guess that makes us Cali too lol.

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Yes, and it is only open a couple of months out of the year. The rest of the year it is too cold to be whooshing around on an amusement ride outdoors and the water features are in danger of freezing.



Amusement parks function better where the weather is nice enough to be outdoors all year round.

I agree, another theme park is about as needed in ID as another virus imported from China. However, not sure if it is weather than will kill it more than a population. Cedar Point in Northern Ohio and Kings Island in southern Ohio are both very large and succeed with winters just like here (in fact Cedar Point, being on Lake Erie gets lake effect snow in ridiculous amounts).

Problem is population. Just look at the top 100 amusement parks in the USA....
Top 100 Amusement Parks in the United States

And is it so CALI? What it is in my opinion is a problem for locals who live near one. Better to have them come here and enjoy the land and for those who like amusement parks, there sure are plenty to travel to in the USA and have fun. (Dollywood destroyed Pigeon Forge. Yes, it made it a rich area, many people prospered, many had to leave cause they could not afford to live there and that beautiful area of TN is virtually destroyed and the destruction is growing. And I won't even note the crime increase. I'm only a transplant here and can up and move to another state if needed, but I personally prefer ID remain basically like it is; free and beautiful.

And in this day-and-age of "let's all hide" and businesses going broke, can't see one being built in the very near future.

[volosong]

Finally made a visit to Silverwood last year when a friend invited me to accompany her. She had a yearly pass. I drive past the place pretty much every week when I take the pups to Farragut State Park, (one of my favorite places in Idaho).

There really isn't all that much to do there unless you spend time at the water park, (which a man in his very late 60's has little interest in doing), or ride roller coasters, (again, same reason). The magic show was pretty good, and the train ride was mildly interesting, but otherwise, little to do for us seniors.

They are currently installing another roller coaster and it is my understanding that the park purchases roller coasters from other theme parks who have removed them from their parks for various reasons, (expansion, new attractions, etc.).

Silverwood has a campground on the other side of Highway 95, (basically a freeway at that point, running between CdA and Sandpoint). Not sure how enjoyable the camping would be with the traffic noise.

It's a nice enough theme park that would be an enjoyable outing for teen and young adult thrill seekers. The only reason for middle-age adults and older to attend is if they are "babysitting" the kids and/or grandkids. Doubt I'll ever visit again in the future.