The Roller Coaster Alley team was at Silverwood this past weekend, and we got a special glimpse into the nearly completed Emerald Forest expansion at Boulder Beach. In this post, we’ll share photos, insights, and some brief commentary on this blockbuster project, along with a few other small updates from around the park.
The new park maps feature the expansion to Boulder Beach, set to open on June 8th!
Entering the water park, the main eatery to the right has been rethemed and will feature pizzas and Hawaiian bowls.
It was a bit surreal to be in the water park while it was closed and mostly dry.
There are two entrances to the Emerald Forest. The first is to the right of the Riptide Racer timers.
The second entrance is to the left of the first wave pool. This view looks back at that entrance from inside the new area.
Upon entering the new area, the first massive building will house the new counter service food outlet.
This will be a variety of foods including burgers and chicken strips.
Inside the building there are several pay stations and self-serve soda stations.
The back-of-house kitchen is massive, to say the least.
This will churn out enough food to support 1200-1400 people per hour!
Two giant pavilions have been constructed to the left of the new eatery. One will be public space for all guests. The other will be for private events and can accommodate groups of over 200 people.
The Cabanas and Villas are scattered among landscaping, as well as overlooking the new kiddie area.
Twenty two new cabanas can accommodate up to six people, and 7 villas can accommodate up to 20 people.
We were told the villas are filling up fast, so get your reservations as soon as you can!
The last of the new facilities is The Northern Flights bar.
This location will serve drinks and will also have a check in station for the private cabanas.
Moving on to the slides themselves, here we have the new Salmon Run kiddie area.
Salmon Run will feature eight different slides, as well as a splash pad, which was just installed.
Cabanas face the area which no doubt will be popular for those with small children.
Towering over it all is Eagle Hunt, and does this thing ever impress!
The entrance to the queue will feature a giant Eagle statue on this pedestal.
We were given a sneak peek of the Eagle and it is very cool!
A scale will be installed in this square. Eagle Hunt will feature brand new prototype rafts from ProSlide, and will require two riders. Silverwood is still determining the specifics here.
The extended queue will feature a variety of facts and interactive elements focused on Eagles and their habitat.
ProSlide custom designed two sections with Northwest evergreen trees…which will be visible from inside as well as outside the slides.
This lift system will carry your rafts to the top, allowing you to save your energy for the staircase!
From the top, here is where you’ll board your raft.
Quite a view of the lake from behind the slide!
The rafts will dump off of the elevator here.
The views are better from above ground! (#iykyk)
Speakers line not only the queue, but also the slide itself and will feature Eagle sound effects. A fantastic touch!
We’re beyond excited about the opening of this new area. We’re told it will result in around 90 additional jobs including 20 additional lifeguards. The theming, landscaping, and entire vibe of the Emerald Forest just builds on the great aspects that Boulder Beach already offered. We’ve been to Volcano Bay, Splashin Safari, Typhoon Lagoon, and many others. Suffice it to say, Boulder Beach can hold its own with any of those water parks.
Now we’ll move on to a few other random observations from throughout the day.
What appears to be a new gas station with a mini mart is being built right next to the parking lot. This will be a much appreciated addition!
The kiddie wheel seems to be at the end of its days. Never was a very popular attraction, so not much of a loss here.
A new scrambler has been installed but was experiencing difficulties all day and was closed when we went in for a close up.
The train show now makes a second stop at the old western town to take care of the villains.
The train has continued to receive new additions and enhancements.
Mostly, the addition of animal figures including a couple with a range of motion.
We will finish with this overview of Eagle Hunt. Silverwood will have a race to the finish to have this open on June 8, but boy will it be worth it. This looks to be one of the best and biggest additions to the park in years, and will truly put Boulder Beach on the map. We’re beyond excited about this and we wish Silverwood the best of luck with such a fantastic groundbreaking new attraction. See you in the parks!
Planning a trip to Silverwood this year? Be sure to check out our Silverwood Trip Planning Guide to help you get the most out of your visit. You can also get a run-down of the top attractions and slides in our Silverwood Rides and Attractions guide and Boulder Beach Attractions Guide.
Are you excited for the Emerald Forest expansion area? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below - we love to hear from you!
The official Silverwood Theme Park website can be found at: www.silverwoodthemepark.com. All business-related questions should be directed to this site.
