REPLAY: Dolly Parton sings a new song in honor of Big Bear Mountain opening at Dollywood

Dollywood’s newest and longest roller coaster is ready to launch at the Pigeon Forge theme park. Big Bear Mountain will open for guests to enjoy May 12.

Taking riders through twists and turns, high and low, the roller coaster is Dollywood’s largest financial investment for an attraction. And don’t let the prospect of a thrill ride scare you ‒ it’s completely family-friendly.

Dollywood Diamond season passholders will get to be the first to try out the ride after the grand opening ceremonies, which will feature Dolly Parton herself.

Join us live at 10 :30 a.m. ET as Dolly Parton and Dollywood Officials celebrate the grand opening of Big Bear Mountain. This page will be updated with the stream below.

Here’s what you need to know about the stats and fun on Dollywood’s Big Bear Mountain roller coaster.

Dollywood Big Bear thrills

• The Big Bear Mountain coaster has a top speed of 48 mph and is Dollywood’s longest coaster with nearly 4,000 feet of track.

• Riders will race for nearly two minutes along the Wildwood Grove border on the hunt to find the legendary yet elusive “Big Bear.”

• The ride goes through the wilderness, soars 66 feet to rise above the forest, has three separate launches, features multiple airtime hills and high-speed carousel turns, zips through tunnels, and even passes behind a waterfall.

• It’s also the first Dollywood attraction to feature on-board audio, which will match the ride’s dynamic movements.

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A ride for the family

• With only a 39-inch height requirement, the coaster was designed for families to enjoy.

• "By creating ride experiences that involve the whole family … that follows through with the mission of the park and what Dolly wants us to do,” Dollywood’s Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations Pete Owens noted in a Big Bear update earlier this year.

Will Dolly Parton ride Big Bear?

• Dolly Parton is expected to help “launch” Big Bear on May 12, but likely with her two feet on solid ground.

• “If I get on that thing, you’ll find one of my wigs in the top of a tree or the top of Clingmans Dome or something,” Parton joked at the press event last year announcing the roller coaster.

• But never say never. In March, Parton told Knox News she might try the family-friendly ride at least once.

• "That actually is one that I might eventually ride because it's not so scary," she said. "I just have a tendency to get motion sickness, and that's really why I don't ride them more than anything else."

Big Bear roller coaster cost

• At $25 million, the roller coaster is the largest investment for a single attraction in Dollywood history.

• The ride coasts along the backside of Wildwood Grove, a $37 million Dollywood expansion built in 2019.

• Big Bear is part of a bigger plan to invest a half-billion dollars into Dollywood over the next decade to turn the park into a year-long destination.

• Vekoma, a Dutch amusement ride company, designed Big Bear Mountain. Vekoma has designed several rides for Disney parks, including Walt Disney World in Florida.

Coming in 2023: HeartSong Lodge and more

• The next big Dollywood opening will be the massive 302-room HeartSong Lodge and Resort.

• The resort, inspired by Parton’s love for the Great Smoky Mountains, is scheduled to open in November, but reservations will open in June at dollywood.com/heartsong.

• Located in Pigeon Forge, the resort will feature family suites, bunk rooms, a large pool, balconies on half the suites and even a Dolly suite that will be available when she’s not using it.

• Another resort is expected to open in 2027, Knox News reported last year. The addition will align with Dollywood’s long-term mission to become a year-round destination.

How much are Dollywood tickets?

Dollywood daily passes are $89 per person. Admission includes roller coasters, rides and shows.

Discount $79 tickets are available for children aged 4-9 and for seniors ages 62 and older.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. Twitter @dturner1208.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dollywood roller coaster Big Bear Mountain opens May 12