Silverwood Theme Park sets attendance record

A slow economy and increased advertising kept the customers coming to Silverwood Theme Park this year - in record numbers.

More than 650,000 men, women and children filed through the gates of the park this season, which ended last Sunday.

Nancy DiGiammarco, Silverwood sales and marketing director, said attendance was up 6 percent over last year's all-time best, which hit 628,000.

She attributed the performance to increased advertising in the Seattle, Portland and Canada markets. Silverwood saw more visitors from the Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton.

"This has become a real vacation destination," she said Friday.

DiGiammarco also said the ailing economy led some families to cut back on spending, but still seek ways to have fun and stick together.

Silverwood was a popular answer, as a plane flight was replaced by a drive to North Idaho.

'We became the economical choice," she said. "Parents said, 'Let's do the old-fashioned '50s, '60s vacation, put the kids in the car, and take a road trip.'"

Silverwood's location, 15 miles north of Interstate 90, is easy to reach, DiGiammarco said.