A bomb threat forced the evacuation of Enchanted Forest on July 9, sending deputies, SWAT members, and bomb-sniffing dogs through the popular theme park south of Salem for 90 minutes before investigators found nothing dangerous.

Marion County Sheriff's Office dispatch received the threatening call at approximately 11:30 a.m., and units arrived at the Turner park within 10 minutes, MCSO spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Schwab said. Deputies and Oregon State Police troopers cleared guests and staff from the property on Enchanted Way SE while teams searched for anything suspicious.

Several MCSO SWAT members and the Oregon State Police Bomb Detection K-9 team conducted the sweep. Around 2 p.m., the sheriff's office announced that nothing suspicious had been found.

Schwab declined to say how many visitors were in the park at the time of the evacuation.

"The call appeared to be similar to 911 calls reporting fake situations, which are known as swatting," Schwab told Salem Reporter.

Swatting involves someone dialing 911 to report a fake emergency and trigger a large law enforcement response. Marion County detectives are investigating the threat.

Oregon lawmakers expanded penalties for swatting during the 2026 legislative session under HB 4151, which makes such calls a potential felony when they result in serious injury or death. The bill passed the House 52-3 and the Senate 28-0.

Enchanted Forest remained closed for the rest of Thursday as a precaution, according to the MCSO statement. The sheriff's office thanked park staff, guests, and the OSP K-9 team for their cooperation during the response.

No timeline has been announced for the detective investigation, and the sheriff's office has not scheduled a follow-up briefing.

Residents who witness suspicious activity or have information about this incident can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 503-588-5032. Call 911 for emergencies.