Herschend Family Entertainment has acquired Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park in Idaho, pledging to preserve the park’s identity while planning long‑term growth.
Herschend completes acquisition of Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park, bringing the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest into its portfolio of family‑focused attractions. The deal, announced on 27 March 2026, follows an exclusive terms sheet signed in November 2025 and sees the Athol, Idaho property join more than forty Herschend‑operated brands across North America. For industry observers, the move extends Herschend’s footprint into a new geographic region while maintaining its emphasis on regional destination parks.
Silverwood has been operated by the Norton family since 1988 and now spans roughly four hundred acres with more than seventy rides, attractions and shows, including the Boulder Beach water park. Hundreds of thousands of guests visit each year from across the Pacific Northwest, making Silverwood a key independent player in the U.S. regional park landscape. Paul Norton, executive director at Silverwood, said: ‘Herschend was the only choice for us. As a family business, they understand what it means to build something by hand, with your whole heart — and the deep responsibility that comes with serving families and communities. I trust them to carry our legacy forward with the same care and commitment my family has.’
Herschend completes acquisition messaging stresses continuity rather than immediate rebranding or large‑scale changes. The company, whose 22,000 hosts serve nearly twenty million guests annually, says its goal is to preserve each property’s distinct identity while aligning to its purpose of ‘bringing families closer together by creating memories worth repeating’. Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend, described Silverwood as ‘the result of decades of heart, vision, and hands‑on dedication’ and said the company’s role is to ‘shepherd what’s been built and support the team so Silverwood can continue creating memories — and thriving — for generations to come.’
For 2026, Silverwood will remain Silverwood, with the season starting on 2 May and the existing event line‑up intact, including Night of the Stars, Coaster Classic and Scarywood. Herschend completes acquisition terms include keeping the current management and host team in place while the new owner ‘listens, learns and builds relationships’ with staff, guests and community stakeholders. Chris Herschend, board chairman, noted that as a family‑held company, Herschend is ‘not driven by quarterly earnings or short‑term trends’ and instead thinks ‘generationally’ about investment in people, brands and communities.
Image: Herschend
