In the Silverwood Chronicles, “Ground Zero” is a codename introduced in the previous post. It marks a starting point—the epicenter—but the effects reach well beyond the one person. This post begins examining the actions, decisions, and environment at that center of this story. The roles others played will be explored in later posts.
First, the standard disclaimer for this series:
- This all pre-Herschend, and may have played a part in the decision to sell, considering the published words after the 2021 talks were: “Gary Norton made one thing clear: Silverwood Theme Park is not for sale.” Link. I would also venture to say that Herschend is very unlikely to have known.
- We love Silverwood and what it brings to the area, and more specifically, what it’s brought to Evanna since we moved here. It still is one of her favorite places, though decreasingly so since the changes post-2023 season.
The information below draws on firsthand accounts and conversations with people connected to the events described. Those include direct conversations with two people who reported concerns to HR and an eyewitness account of the exchange quoted below. Multiple people have also independently described the use of settlements and nondisclosure agreements.
Explosion 1: Overnight Stays Involving Cast Members (including minors)
Information provided to me by a source with direct knowledge describes cast members staying overnight at GZ’s house–in very close proximity to the Park–including Isaiah Daniels when he was a teenager. The explanation given by GZ for these stays was convenience after long working hours. Questions for Silverwood: What were cast members—including minors—exposed to during these overnight stays? Who knew about and allowed these arrangements, and on what basis were they considered appropriate—especially when minors were involved? What did management know, what safeguards were in place, and why were these arrangements allowed to continue for so long?
On the question about allowing this and other things to continue, we’ll talk more about that in other posts, because such allowances require the actions of other people in other positions.
Explosion 2: Settlements and Nondisclosure Agreements
Multiple people described the use of financial settlements and nondisclosure agreements in connection with allegations involving GZ. Former cast members have described feeling pressure to remain silent, including concerns about their agreements and potential repercussions from talent agencies.
To be transparent, my earlier post about NDAs and cover-ups was prompted in part by this situation, though it was not limited to it. There is an important distinction here between confidentiality agreed to in a settlement and provisions employees accepted before a dispute arose.
The confidentiality provisions in the 2021 and 2023 Silverwood Employee Handbooks (the only ones I’ve found publicly available) raise a separate question. The federal Speak Out Act can prevent enforcement of confidentiality and nondisparagement clauses agreed to before a sexual harassment or assault dispute arose. That could include provisions employees accepted through the employee handbook.
The Act does not automatically invalidate confidentiality terms negotiated to settle an existing dispute. My hope is that anyone who feels silenced by an agreement will consult counsel about what they can share and with whom.
People I spoke with also described GZ bragging about the use of these settlements.
Explosion 3: Workplace Complaints to HR
I spoke directly with two people who reported concerns to HR about the working environment created by GZ. One was Isaiah. A later post will examine those reports and how they were handled.
Another person described an exchange they personally heard while working in the Theatre of Illusion in the lead up to the 2025 season:
Before this season started I was doing some work in TOI and [GZ] was in there working on props for the show. Some guys from maintenance came in after awhile and he was talking to them about some things he wanted to add for the show. He said he wanted two trapeze ropes because he had three assistants that all did this rope act. One of the maintenance guys said “wow you have 3 assistants this year?” [GZ]’s response was “yep! It’s a good thing I have a California king!”
The overnight arrangements, the reported use of settlements, and the concerns brought to HR raise questions that extend beyond GZ. Next in the Silverwood Chronicles: “Interference”—and Isaiah’s account of an action well outside the HR process.
–S.
PS As always, my contact info is at the bottom left of each page in the About section in case you have information to potentially add, or if you are from Herschend proper.
