Big Bear Mountain opened at Dollywood on May 12, 2023, and immediately changed what a family roller coaster could be. Built by Vekoma for a reported $25 million, it stretches 3,990 feet through the Tennessee hillside — the longest coaster in the park’s history — and packs in three LIM launches, 23 airtime hills, tunnels, and a signature pass behind a waterfall, all while an on-board audio system narrates your pursuit of the legendary Big Bear.
Located in the Wildwood Grove section of Dollywood, Big Bear Mountain threads through 6 acres of natural terrain in a way that makes 48 mph feel considerably faster. Its 39-inch height requirement opens it to a wide range of riders, and the combination of genuine excitement and deep narrative theming earned it the Golden Ticket Award for Best Family Coaster in its debut year. For many children, it will be their first real roller coaster — and it is a genuinely excellent one.
Quick Answer
Big Bear Mountain is a Vekoma Family Launch Coaster at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It reaches a top speed of 48 mph across three LIM launches, stands 66 feet at its highest point, runs 3,990 feet — making it the park’s longest coaster — and requires riders to be at least 39 inches tall. It opened May 12, 2023, cost a reported $25 million, and sits inside Wildwood Grove.
Big Bear Mountain Stats at a Glance
Park: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Area: Wildwood Grove. Manufacturer: Vekoma (Family Launch Coaster model). Opened: May 12, 2023. Reported cost: $25 million. Track length: 3,990 feet — the longest at Dollywood. Maximum height: 66 feet. Top speed: 48 mph. Launches: 3 (LIM). Airtime hills: 23. Inversions: 0. Ride duration: approximately 100 seconds. Capacity: 20 riders per train (10 cars, 2 abreast). Height requirement: 39 inches. Restraint: individual hydraulic lap bar.
The coaster occupies a 6-acre footprint within Wildwood Grove. Rather than stacking elements vertically, Vekoma designed Big Bear Mountain to use the rolling landscape of the Smoky Mountain foothills as a natural canvas — keeping the track close to the ground and letting the terrain amplify every drop and curve.
How Fast Is Big Bear Mountain, and How High Does It Go?
Big Bear Mountain’s top speed is 48 mph, reached in stages across three separate LIM (linear induction motor) launches rather than one big burst. Its highest point on the layout is 66 feet — that figure is also the tallest structure on the ride, since there’s no traditional lift hill to climb.
Because Big Bear Mountain hugs the terrain instead of climbing straight up, 48 mph plays faster than the number suggests. There’s no slow chain-lift buildup to signal what’s coming; each launch fires immediately, and the low-to-the-ground layout, tight tunnels, and constant airtime moments make the ride feel more aggressive than its top speed implies.
Big Bear Mountain’s Drop Height, Explained
Big Bear Mountain doesn’t have one signature first drop the way a traditional lift-hill coaster does — Vekoma and Dollywood haven’t published a separate ‘drop height’ figure because the ride is launched, not lifted, and its biggest descents are woven into the terrain rather than isolated as a single plunge. The most relevant number is the coaster’s 66-foot maximum height, which represents the tallest element on the layout and roughly the scale of its largest descents.
Instead of one big drop, the back half of the ride (after the third launch) strings together several airtime-producing descents in quick succession, which is why reviewers and riders tend to describe the ride’s drops as a sequence rather than a single moment.
Big Bear Mountain Height Requirement
Riders must be at least 39 inches tall to ride Big Bear Mountain. That’s Dollywood’s standard minimum-height threshold for its family-oriented coasters, and it sits well below the requirements for the park’s major thrill machines, which is exactly the point: Big Bear Mountain is built as a bridge between kiddie rides and full-size coasters.
There’s no maximum height listed, but Dollywood notes the individual lap-bar restraint and seat configuration may not accommodate guests of larger stature. Riders under 48 inches tall must be accompanied by a person age 14 or older, and the ride uses individual hydraulic lap bars rather than an over-the-shoulder harness, which is part of why it’s approachable for younger and shorter riders.
When Was Big Bear Mountain Built, and Who Built It?
Big Bear Mountain was designed and built by Vekoma, the Dutch roller coaster manufacturer, for a reported $25 million. Construction ran through 2022 and into early 2023, and the ride opened to the public at Dollywood on May 12, 2023, as the centerpiece addition to Wildwood Grove.
The Dollywood installation was Vekoma’s first Family Launch Coaster model — a new product line the company built specifically to blend launch-coaster thrills with family-friendly accessibility. Vekoma has since promoted the ride as a showcase for the concept, and it earned the 2023 Golden Ticket Award for Best Family Coaster shortly after opening. In Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket steel-coaster rankings, Big Bear Mountain has continued to place among the world’s top 40 family/steel coasters each year since, including a 32nd-place global finish in 2024 — an unusually strong showing for a coaster built around younger riders.
The Story: Chasing Big Bear with Ned Oakley
Big Bear Mountain is built around a specific piece of Wildwood Grove lore. Somewhere in these hills roams Big Bear — an enormous black bear that has allegedly prowled Wildwood Grove for generations, leaving signs of his presence everywhere but never being seen. Your guide is Ned Oakley, a wilderness explorer who has spent years searching for the creature and who enlists guests as his crew for one final attempt.
The theming goes deeper than most family coasters manage. Guests enter the Adventure Outpost Base Camp queue, where maps, field notes, wildlife research posters, artifacts, and audio recordings from Ned Oakley build the backstory before you board. On-board audio, a first for any Dollywood attraction, keeps Ned’s narration and the sounds of Big Bear’s approach running throughout the entire expedition.
The Ride: Three Launches, 23 Airtime Hills
The layout unfolds in three distinct bursts. Each of the three LIM launches accelerates the train further — the first eases riders into the terrain, the second and third build toward the full 48 mph — and between them the track weaves through banked turns, low-to-the-ground tunnels, and a pass directly behind a waterfall feature. There are no inversions; the ride’s intensity comes entirely from sustained airtime and terrain-hugging speed rather than loops or rolls.
Across the full 3,990-foot layout, Big Bear Mountain delivers 23 separate airtime moments, more than almost any other family coaster in the country. Combined with the roughly 100-second ride time, the constant narration, and the tight, forested sightlines of Wildwood Grove, the effect is a ride that feels considerably longer and more eventful than its stats alone suggest — which is a major reason it’s regularly cited as one of the best family coasters built in the last decade.
Big Bear Mountain Dollywood stats FAQs
What is the height requirement for Big Bear Mountain?
Riders must be at least 39 inches tall. Riders under 48 inches must be accompanied by someone age 14 or older, and there’s no published maximum height, though the individual lap-bar restraint may not fit every larger-stature guest.
When was Big Bear Mountain built?
It was built by Vekoma through 2022 and early 2023, then opened to the public at Dollywood on May 12, 2023, as part of the Wildwood Grove expansion.
What is Big Bear Mountain’s drop height?
Dollywood and Vekoma haven’t published a separate drop-height figure. The ride is launched rather than lifted, so its biggest descents are built into the terrain; the closest comparable number is its 66-foot maximum height.
What are the full stats for Big Bear Mountain?
It’s a Vekoma Family Launch Coaster: 3,990 feet of track (Dollywood’s longest), 66 feet tall, 48 mph top speed, 3 LIM launches, 23 airtime hills, 0 inversions, about 100 seconds of ride time, and a 39-inch height requirement.
Where is Big Bear Mountain located at Dollywood?
It’s in the Wildwood Grove section of the park, occupying a 6-acre footprint of forested Smoky Mountain foothills.
Is Big Bear Mountain a good first roller coaster for kids?
Yes — its 39-inch height requirement, individual lap-bar restraints, and lack of inversions make it Dollywood’s main bridge between kiddie rides and full-size coasters, while the launches and 23 airtime hills still deliver real thrills.
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