North Idaho Still Experiencing Aftershock Words: Ryan S. | Photos: Brandon A.
(Athol) - When rumors started spreading that Six Flags Great America's Deja' Vu' roller coaster would be disappearing, a quiet panic flooded the residents and enthusiasts of Great America. When the attraction had been discovered listed for sale, those suspicions would be confirmed. But who would want the notoriously plagued attraction? The roots of trouble and dispute between two industry figures runs deep, far deep. Little be known the small park in Northern Idaho, Silverwood, had something up their sleeve - capitalizing on chance to redeem a product that both manufacturer Vekoma and Silverwood stood behind.
Silverwood has been the byproduct of notorious thrills in the past. In 1999 Tremors debuted as the highest rated roller coaster in the world - a ride that is easy to undermine as it still ranks among the Top 15 to this day. Three years earlier the park spawned Timber Terror, a ride which was rated as a Top 5 attraction in it's era. Silverwood has unquestionably left an expectation of quality for it's patrons.
A giant steel looping coaster has always been a "starvation" from the venue's menu of thrills. So how does one go about adding a steel behemoth? First portions of Aftershock arrived on location at the end of March, with steel erection taking just a short span of four months. Modifications to the attraction include a full rebuild of the ride train and a control system upgrade. To ensure the vehicle completes the entire circuit, a problem in previous models, the catch car raise the ride train up higher than previous versions.
Aftershock opened to the public on July 21st with great success. Screams of riders could be heard through the freshly landscaped area where Aftershock sits nestled. Brazing statistics of carrying riders 191 feet into the sky and dropping them 177 feet at 66 miles per hour, there's something even more special about Aftershock.
"We came here to ride Aftershock," said a couple of out-of-state guests whom recently visited Silverwood.
Seasonal pass holders at their local amusement park, which has the same model roller coaster, they were questioned about why they traveled the distance to ride the same attraction.
"That one is never open," was their response.
Can you catalog Aftershock a mega-attraction? That's ultimately ones own opinion and preference; but was Aftershock a success? It's easy to argue as such and unquestionably an answer that many will have in common.
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Aftershock is open now till the end of the season. For more information visit SilverwoodThemePark.com or call (208)683-3400.
