Big Sky Adventure: Should Montana Build an Amusement Park?

Some of my favorite childhood memories involve going to amusement parks. Once I became a teenager, I was able to ditch my family and go with friends, which was even better. Hanging out with your buddies, riding rollercoasters, eating junk food, and playing games to try to win whatever stuffed animal looked the coolest was a right of passage.

Unfortunately, if you live in Montana the nearest full-scale amusement parks are located in Idaho and Utah.

Silverwood Theme Park is located about 50 miles east of Spokane in the town of Athol, Idaho. Silverwood has a ton to do and see with different rides to enjoy, including 6 different rollercoasters, and has been a top destination since it opened back in 1988.

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Lagoon Park located just north of Salt Lake City is another popular destination. Lagoon has rollercoasters, shows, water rides, and a whole lot more. The Park is over one hundred years old as it originally opened back in 1886.

Of course, there was a time when Montana had its own amusement park. Columbia Gardens was located in Butte and was a family favorite for Montana for years. Columbia Gardens was created for the residents of Butte and Montana by Copper King William Clark in 1899.

Columbia Gardens closed in 1973, however, for many older Montanans, the park brings back fond memories there's even a song about the old Montana Park written by Walkin' Jim Stoltz.

So the question is, does Montana need its own Amusement Park?

One of the biggest complaints that I hear from folks living in Montana is other than outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, and skiing, there isn't a lot for families to do. Sure, we have a few fairs with different rides and activities throughout the year, but those only last a few days during the summer.

With the millions of people that visit Montana each summer, it seems that we could certainly benefit from such a place, plus, it would be great for locals to go and have a good time with their friends and families.

I realize that weather could play a factor, but it snows a lot in northern Idaho and Utah. What do you think? Is Montana ready for its own Amusement Park? if so, which Montana town would be ideal? Let us know by sending us a message on our radio station app.