Dolly Parton announces new roller coaster at Dollywood theme park

Dollywood is getting a new attraction — Big Bear Mountain. 

Dolly Parton announced the newest addition at Dollywood Parks & Resorts on Friday. 

The roller coaster will be nearly 4,000 ft. long and will cost over $25 million. 

The ride, located in Wildwood Grove, Tenn., will allow guests to see the Smokies while searching for the “Big Bear.” 

Riders will race through mountains, tunnels and even pass behind a waterfall. 

Dolly Parton announced the addition during a media event at Dollywood on Friday. 

“The Smokies are all about adventure and going exploring,” she said in a statement.

“I’m excited our guests will be able to head out on their own trip into the Smokies to see if they can find that Big Bear!”

“Big Bear Mountain” will have a maximum speed of 48 mph. The ride lasts nearly two minutes. 

As for whether Parson herself would ride the roller coaster for a test run, she gracefully declined. 

“You know I’m not going to get on that,” she said. 

The roller coaster will also be the first attraction at the park to feature on-board audio, including music and narration from Ned Oakley, the fictional caretaker of Benjamin Bear. 

“Whether he’s out there or not, I’m sure they’ll find a lot of memories along the way that’ll keep forever.”

The roller coaster is set to make its debut in spring 2023. 

This isn’t the first expansion announcement for Parton recently. 

Dollywood announced last year that it is investing half a billion dollars over the next 10 years in the property. 

The park is building a HeartSong Lodge and Resort — which will feature 302 rooms. 

The first resort is set to open in fall 2023, with plans to open another one by 2027.