Silverwood Theme Park: Stunt Pilot Coaster + Park Travel Guide
Silverwood Theme Park features the new Stunt Pilot roller coaster, which honors the theme park’s air show legacy.
Image: Photographed by Matthew Nelson (parkjourney.com), used with permission.
Love airplanes and roller coasters? Why not combine the two passions for your next weekend getaway or vacation idea? On May 29, 2021, a new coaster began flying high above Silverwood Theme Park in North Idaho.
Stunt Pilot, Silverwood’s newest attraction, is an aviation-themed roller coaster that honors the heritage of daily air shows that once took place over Silverwood during its early years. The coaster’s theme specifically pays homage to one of Silverwood’s original stunt pilots, Bob Heale. Heale tragically died on September 14, 1996 as a result of injuries sustained in an off-site airshow accident at Fairchild Air Force Base, in neighboring Washington State, when his CAP 10B plane crashed-landed into a grassy field near the runway after reporting that his controls had locked up. Silverwood, which at the time was the only theme park in the world to feature daily air shows, permanently grounded its daily air show shortly after.
In this post, find out more about the story behind the Stunt Pilot coaster along with information about visiting Silverwood Theme Park, including getting there from the nearby Spokane International Airport if you’re traveling from outside the region.
ADVERTISEMENTStunt Pilot History and Details
A video of the ride experience on Stunt Pilot.Video: YouTube/Coaster Studios
Stunt Pilot is Silverwood’s fifth high-intensity coaster, adding to a collection that includes the steel classic, Corkscrew; wooden favorites, Timber Terror and Tremors; and giant inverted boomerang, Aftershock.
Announced in September 2020, and constructed through the spring of 2021, it was designed and constructed by Hayden, ID-based Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), and utilizes RMC’s single rail, Raptor Track platform.
Stunt Pilot’s design and run are similar to that of RailBlazer at California’s Great America park in Santa Clara, CA, near San Jose, and Wonder Woman Golden Lasso at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The ride boasts two trains, each capable of seating 10 guests in single file, and features a maximum height of 106 feet, 87-degree initial trop, three inversions, and a top speed of 52 MPH.
Silverwood Theme Park’s Stunt Pilot roller coaster, pulls riders through several airshow obstacles, including rings, seen here.
Image: Photographed by Matthew Nelson (parkjourney.com), used with permission.
The theme and aesthetic of the coaster are inspired by Bob Heale and airshow acrobatics. The red and white colors of its structure and trains are a reference to the livery of Heale’s plane, as well as that of a restored Pitts Special biplane that is suspended upside-down above park-goers, suggestive of a roll or loop maneuver, in the ride’s entrance queue.
The twists and turns of Stunt Pilot also push riders through some classic airshow obstacles such as rings, and flies through a barn (which conceals the ride’s souvenir photo booth camera), before bringing riders back to the station.
A tribute to Bob Heale
Stunt Pilot is dedicated to Bob Heale, one of Silverwood’s original airshow pilots, who unfortunately lost his life as a result of an airshow accident at Fairchild Air Force Base, near Spokane, Washington in September 1996. The wreckage of his plane is seen here.
Image: US National Archives Catalog (#6496899)/Department of Defense
The ride will also feature a couple tributes to the Seattle-native Heale, who once flew surveillance missions in Laos during the Vietnam War, including rescuing legendary ABC journalist Ted Koppel from a base camp in Laos that was about to be overrun.
Silverwood has announced plans to add a bronze plaque commemorating Heale to the entrance queue, as well as refurbishing a 19-foot cassette racer plane that Heale was working on at the time of his death. The unfinished plane would be donated by his wife Marian to aviation maintenance students at Spokane’s Felts Field (KSFF), who finished it and gave it to the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Members of the association decided to turn the plane into a memorial (dedicated in November 2004) for Heale, mounting it on a flagpole, allowing the aircraft to serve as a wind vane at Felts Field. Silverwood intends to relocate the refurbished plane from Felts Field and install it in the queue line for Stunt Pilot.
Where is Silverwood Theme Park located?
If Stunt Pilot is high up your list of roller coasters to experience, you’ll find Silverwood Theme Park located in Athol, Idaho, about 20 miles north of the lake city of Coeur d’Alene, which itself is about 35 miles east of Spokane, Washington. The park is located about 90 miles south of the US-Canada border.
How do I get to Silverwood?
Locals are familiar with directions to get to Silverwood, but if you’re traveling from outside of the region and planning a vacation, you’ll want to take these steps.
By Car
Silverwood Theme Park and its roller coasters are highly visible from US Highway 95, in Athol, north of Coeur d’Alene, ID.
Image: The Window Flyer
If you’re within driving distance:
From the east or west, take Interstate 90 toward Coeur d’Alene, ID and from there, take US Highway 95 north to Athol. The park is located directly on US 95, with its wooden Timber Terror and giant inverted boomerang Aftershock coasters on full display from the highway, so you won’t miss it. For the highly technical, take Exit 446 (Brunner Rd / Bunco Rd) from US 95. After exiting, take a right-hand turn, heading east along Bunco Rd, toward Silverwood’s parking lot, which is located across US 95 from the park. There is a pedestrian tunnel beneath the highway to get you safely between the parking lot and the park’s entry gates.
From places directly to the south (such as SE Washington, NE Oregon, or Central and Southern Idaho), drivers can take US Highway 195 through Spokane, which leads to I-90, or they can take US Highway 95 directly through Coeur d’Alene. From there, follow the above directions for getting to Athol and exiting the highway when you arrive in Athol.
From the north in Canada, you’ll want to take British Columbia Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway, and enter the United States via Highway 395 or Highway 95. Highway 95 will lead directly to Athol via Sandpoint, ID whereas Highway 395 will lead to I-90 via Spokane where one will follow the east/west directions.
By Plane
Tourists can fly into Spokane International Airport (GEG) to get to Silverwood.
Image: The Window Flyer
From more distant locations, tourists and roller coaster enthusiasts looking to visit Silverwood Theme Park can fly into Spokane International Airport (KGEG). From there, it is about a one hour drive to the park. Due to its rural setting, Silverwood can only be accessed by automobile. Luckily, Spokane International Airport offers numerous rental car options, as well as ridesharing services Uber and Lyft.
Related: Check out our travel guide to Spokane International Airport.
Can I stay overnight at Silverwood?
The nearby resort community of Sandpoint, ID has a number of lodging options, including Airbnb. Some are even right one the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.
Image: The Window Flyer
It’s a question many ask – is there on-site lodging at Silverwood if I want to stay for more than one day? The answer is yes and no. While Silverwood does not have any on-site hotels, it does have an RV park on premise adjacent to its parking lot if you’d like to camp out. Luckily, due to its location near Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, there are plenty of hotel options within a 20-40 minute drive of Silverwood. Additionally, one can drive about 30 miles north to the resort community of Sandpoint, ID, where they can find a number of options including Airbnbs.
How much do tickets at Silverwood cost?
The main entrance and ticket gate at Silverwood Theme Park
Image: The Window Flyer
Summer peak-season gate prices for admission tickets at Silverwood during for 2021 are:
$69 for a one-day pass
$103 for a two-day pass
$40 for admission after 4pm.
The above pricing applies to regular admission (ages 8-64) at the gate. Seniors and youths get discounted admission at $43, $62, and $33 for the one-day, two-day, and after 4pm admissions, respectively. Children ages 2 and younger are free.
Police, Fire, and Military members receive a discounted hero admission price of $57 for a one-day admission.
Regular, Senior, and Youth tickets can also be purchased online in advance through Silverwood’s website in 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day bundles (which can be used on consecutive days, or separate dates of your choosing) for about a 10%-15% discount off the gate prices.
Note, during the 2nd half of the 2021 summer season, after August 1st, ticket prices will increase across the board by $1.00.
All tickets give admission to Silverwood as well as its attached water park, Boulder Beach. The water park’s hours vary from the main park’s hours, so visitors should plan accordingly.
For those looking for cheaper tickets, consider visiting Silverwood during the off-peak shoulder season in late spring/early fall where Silverwood is open on select days.
ADVERTISEMENTWhat else can I do at Silverwood?
Silverwood features additional coasters, such as the classic Corkscrew, seen here
Image: Flickr/Matthew Nelson (CC BY 2.0)
In addition to Stunt Pilot, Silverwood Theme Park features a number of rides, attractions, and entertainment for the entire family. The theme park has rides ranging from low to high intensity, along with entertainment shows, midway games, and dining.
A dedicated section for kids, called Garfield’s Summer Camp also has kid-sized rides for younger children.
The Boulder Beach water park features multiple slides, lazy river, two wave pools, drunks, and dining.
What should I wear or pack for Silverwood?
Silverwood’s Boulder Beach water park is included in the admission ticket price.
Image: Wikimedia Commons/Greg Salter (CC BY 3.0)
Over the course of Silverwood’s peak summer season (Memorial Day thru Labor Day), weather in the Inland Northwest can vary. During the earlier part of the season, being in late spring, temperatures can be either cool or really warm. Additionally, it may rain, be overcast, or may be perfectly sunny. The weather is usually able to be forecasted pretty accurately a couple days out, but spring-time weather in the Inland Northwest can be unstable at times, so we would still recommend packing both an extra layer and sunscreen just in case.
Typical summer attire at Silverwood Theme Park is a t-shirt, shorts, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Image: The Window Flyer
Conversely, the summer months (late June thru Labor Day) are pretty much always sunny and hot with temperatures typically reaching into the mid-to-upper 80s or low 90s. Occasionally, there may be thunderstorms. All in all, summer is definitely t-shirt, shorts, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen kind of weather at Silverwood.
For those interested in also enjoying the Boulder Beach water park, there are lockers and changing room facilities available, so no need to wear your swim wear in the main part of Silverwood. The main part of Silverwood does not permit swimsuits anyway, and guests will be required to change back into their street clothes before traversing back into the main park.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this guide and feature piece about Silverwood’s latest attraction, the aviation-themed Stunt Pilot roller coaster, informative. Are you prepared and excited to visit Silverwood? Leave a comment below and be sure to share this article with others!
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