idaho’s silver valley was founded in the 1800s silver boom and is one of the richest silver mining regions in the world. the community is located along interstate 90 in northern idaho’s shoshone county. the valley thrived for decades as one of the nation’s greatest mining regions. then, in 1981, the bunker hill mine in kellogg closed. over 2,000 jobs left with the mine sending the area into an economic downturn. the region also lost a lot of jobs in the timber industry. the population of the valley plummeted and car dealerships were losing the battle to stay in business. dave smith nearly lost the dealership.