Herschend to Aquire Silverwood Theme & Water Park

(eap) The Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation and Silverwood, Inc., owner of Silverwood Theme Park and the related Boulder Beach water park in Athol, Idaho (USA), have signed an exclusive agreement for Herschend to acquire Silverwood.

The family-run Silverwood amusement park was founded in 1988 by Gary Norton and has been operated by his family for three generations since then. The park has become one of the most successful independent parks in the USA, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to its 400-acre (around 160-hectare) site. “Silverwood has been our family’s life’s work for more than three decades,” emphasizes Paul Norton, Silverwood’s Chief Operating Officer. “When the time came to pass the torch, Herschend was the only choice. They share our values, our long-term approach, and our belief that parks like this are built by people with heart.”

Herschend operates more than 40 entertainment and leisure facilities in North America. These include Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, and all the US facilities recently acquired from Palace Entertainment, such as Kennywood, Dutch Wonderland, and Lake Compounce (see EAP News 19 Mar 2025). “This is more than a business transaction – it’s the continuation of a legacy,” says Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “We are honored that the Norton family has trusted us to carry their vision forward and excited to welcome the Silverwood hosts and guests to Herschend.”

The parties have begun the due diligence process and are working toward finalizing the transaction. ■