Ripley’s Bear Mountain Coaster (formerly Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster) brings the alpine coaster to the Smokies. It offers an experience that no traditional roller coaster can create as the mountain coaster follows a track through forests and straightaways instead of high drops and gravity-defying loops. The Ripley’s Bear Mountain Coaster gives riders the ability to move at their own pace, letting them ride down the mountain at a rate that suits their comfort level. Getting to the attraction is easy since it’s located right in downtown Gatlinburg on the main Parkway.
Ripley’s Bear Mountain Coaster is an alpine coaster that runs on a fixed track from start to finish. The start is located at the top of the mountain and takes a winding path downwards through the trees. Riders start the ride by going through a series of lift hills that position the coaster at an optimal point for gravity to take over. The cart gains speed as it goes downhill and passes through a series of corkscrew turns. The cart goes up and over hills and through the trees before returning to a final lift hill that brings the cart back to the start.
There’s a hand brake inside the cart so riders can control the speed at any time. The brake doesn’t have enough strength to stop the cart in the middle of a run, but it can slow it down to the point that the rider is comfortable. It’s also magnetic which means that the rider doesn’t have to use a lot of physical strength to slow the card down.
Adults and children can ride Ripley’s Bear Mountain Coaster, but solo riders have to be at least 10 years old and at least 56 inches tall. Double riders cannot exceed 375 pounds total per cart in dry conditions and 330 pounds in wet conditions. Parents and children have the option to double up as well, but the child has to be three years of age and at least 38 inches tall. Family members can ride with a younger child, but the senior rider has to be 16 years or older.
The ride costs vary and are based on who’s riding the cart. The average ticket prices are:
- $24.99 Two Coaster Rides for One Adult
- $12.99 Two Coaster Rides for One Child (Ages 3-9)
- $29.99 Three Coaster Rides for One Adult
- $14.99 Three Coaster Rides for One Child (Ages 3-9)
Ticket prices are subject to change at any time. The attraction offers a variety of ticket packages including discounted group rates, and buy-one-get-one offers on certain days during slower periods.
Insider’s tip:
-Lights are strung along the route to add visual excitement along the route at nighttime. Since you get a discount for riding a second time on the same day, go once during the day to get a feel for the route, then come back at night for an entirely new experience.
-Find a coupon to save some money on the cost of the ride. Some feel that the cost of the ride compared to the amount of time they spend on the ride to be a little expensive. The attraction offers coupons online that make the attraction feel more fairly priced.