Once North Idahos Silverwood Theme Park completes its recently announced, $6 million upgrade, which will include a big expansion of its water park, its next big attraction might not be a thrilling ride, but a place to rest.


The popular theme park, located near Athol, Idaho, is considering adding a hotel, says spokeswoman Nancy DiGiammarco.


Though the marquee piece of the big planned project announced last month is a large-scale expansion of the parks Boulder Beach water park, the overall upgrade also is to include construction of a waste-water treatment plant. That plant, which will replace septic tanks currently used at the park, will have enough capacity to serve a hotel, DiGiammarco says.


The sewage-treatment plant will be completed by the time Silverwoods main park opens next May for the 2007 season, and the additions to the water park will be completed for the expanded Boulder Beachs opening next June, she says.


DiGiammarco says plans for a hotel are still in the conceptual stage, and preliminary ideas for it include a variety of sizes, although those plans keep getting bigger.


Ideas for placement of a hotel range from along U.S. 95, where it would be highly visible, to within the theme park, where guests would have easy access to park rides and amenities.


If its within the park, you could walk out the front door and be in Silverwood, DiGiammarco says.


Having the hotel within the park would create the potential to have amenities and activities available in the evenings, after the park closes, just for hotel guests, she says, adding that if a hotel is sited within the park, it will probably fill up when the park is open.


The plan for when the park is closed, were still investigating, she says.


Regardless of plans for Silverwoods own hotel, DiGiammarco says Silverwood will continue to have partnership arrangements with outside hotels and motels. The theme park currently has 109 such partners, including some in Spokane, the Silver Valley, Sandpoint, and Moscow, Idaho, she says.


The 213-acre theme park, known for its roller coasters, water park, live entertainment, and Victorian theme, is approaching its 20th season. DiGiammarco says Silverwood is the largest theme park in the Northwest and draws about 500,000 visitors a year.


Contact Mike McLean at (509) 344-1266 or via e-mail at mikem@spokanejournal.com.