The ride
Big Bear Mountain is a steel launched roller coaster built by Vekoma at Dollywood in Wildwood Grove, Tennessee, having opened to the public in 2023. After 3 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Dollywood midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 66 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 48.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 399 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Vekoma have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Vekoma installations will pick up on the same DNA in Big Bear Mountain's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Big Bear Mountain early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Dollywood typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Dollywood, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day. broader coaster community archives
In CoasterVault's ranking tables, Big Bear Mountain currently appears in our 157th position for longest tracks lists, reflecting where its core stats place it among operating coasters in the United States. These rankings move whenever a new installation opens, so the position should be read as a snapshot rather than a permanent record.