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 the award-winning Wildwood Grove area.
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.
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 or supervision requirement beyond the standard restraint check, 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.
Who Built Big Bear Mountain
Big Bear Mountain was designed and built by Vekoma, the Dutch roller coaster manufacturer, for a reported $25 million. 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 — and it opened at Dollywood on May 12, 2023.
Vekoma has since promoted the ride as a showcase for the Family Launch Coaster concept, and the model earned the 2023 Golden Ticket Award for Best Family Coaster shortly after opening, cementing it as a flagship example of the design.
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. The queue features maps, field notes, wildlife research posters, artifacts, and audio recordings from Ned Oakley that build the backstory before you board. Ride vehicles are styled as four-wheel-drive SUVs with working headlights and taillights — a detail that comes alive inside the tunnels. 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, and a Waterfall
Big Bear Mountain uses LIM (linear induction motor) launches rather than a traditional chain lift hill, so there is no slow build-up before the first burst of speed. The ride delivers three separate launches: the first sends riders out of the station and into the terrain; the second extends momentum through the midcourse; and the third pushes guests into the ride’s final and most exhilarating sequence.
The 23 airtime hills are the ride’s backbone. Where most family coasters offer a handful of gentle floater moments, Big Bear Mountain delivers airtime almost continuously, particularly in the final third. High-speed carousel turns add directional variety, and multiple tunnels — including one that runs directly behind a cascading waterfall, close enough that riders on the outside seats can feel mist — give the ride several standout moments that hold up on repeated rides. At roughly 100 seconds from first launch to final brake run, Big Bear Mountain feels substantially longer than most rides in its class.
Why Big Bear Mountain Works for Families
The 39-inch height requirement is the headline family credential — significantly lower than Dollywood’s major thrill coasters. Big Bear Mountain is accessible to children who have outgrown kiddie rides but are not yet ready for the park’s most intense machines. Dollywood has positioned it explicitly as a gateway experience: for many guests, this will be their first real roller coaster.
What sets Big Bear Mountain apart from typical family coasters is that it does not sacrifice adult appeal for accessibility. Three LIM launches and 23 airtime hills mean the ride genuinely excites older riders and enthusiasts alongside its younger audience, and the absence of inversions keeps the experience approachable without making it feel tame. Note that Big Bear Mountain does not offer a single-rider line, unlike some other Dollywood coasters, so groups should plan for the standard queue during busy periods.
Big Bear Mountain and Wildwood Grove
Big Bear Mountain anchors Wildwood Grove, the themed expansion area Dollywood opened in 2019 that has won multiple industry awards for its family-focused design. The coaster serves as the area’s centerpiece attraction, tying its bear-hunting storyline into Wildwood Grove’s broader woodland theme and giving families a reason to build a visit around this corner of the park.
Big Bear Mountain stats, speed, height, and drop FAQs
How fast does Big Bear Mountain go?
Big Bear Mountain reaches a top speed of 48 mph, built up across three separate LIM launches rather than one continuous acceleration.
What is the height requirement for Big Bear Mountain?
Riders must be at least 39 inches tall, one of the lowest thresholds among Dollywood’s coasters.
What is Big Bear Mountain’s drop height?
There isn’t a separately published drop-height figure, since the ride is launched rather than lift-hill driven. Its maximum height on the layout is 66 feet, and its biggest descents come as a connected sequence in the ride’s back half rather than a single first drop.
When did Big Bear Mountain open at Dollywood?
Big Bear Mountain opened on May 12, 2023, in the Wildwood Grove section of the park.
Who built Big Bear Mountain?
Vekoma, the Dutch roller coaster manufacturer, designed and built Big Bear Mountain as its first Family Launch Coaster model, for a reported cost of $25 million.
How long is Big Bear Mountain?
The track measures 3,990 feet, making it the longest roller coaster in Dollywood’s history.
Does Big Bear Mountain have any inversions?
No. Big Bear Mountain has zero inversions, which keeps the ride approachable for first-time coaster riders while still delivering 23 airtime hills.
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