Great Bear (roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Great Bear
Section of track before Great Bear's corkscrew element
Hersheypark
Location	Hersheypark
Coordinates	40°17′13″N 76°39′11″W / 40.28694°N 76.65306°W / 40.28694; -76.65306
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 23, 1998 (1998-05-23)
Cost	US$13,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel – Inverted
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Inverted Coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	90 ft (27 m)
Drop	124 ft (38 m)
Length	2,800 ft (850 m)
Speed	58 mph (93 km/h)
Inversions	4
Duration	2:55
Capacity	1300 riders per hour
Height restriction	54 in (137 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Great Bear at RCDB

Get ready for a thrilling ride! Great Bear is an exciting inverted roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Werner Stengel and built by a famous company called Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). This awesome coaster opened in 1998 in the Kissing Tower Hill area of the park. Great Bear was special because it was the first inverted roller coaster in Pennsylvania to go upside down! It has four thrilling flips and twists, and it cost $13 million to build.

Discovering Great Bear's Past

How Great Bear Was Planned

Hersheypark announced Great Bear in August 1997. It was the park's sixth roller coaster. A Swiss company, Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), built it. The coaster got its name from a group of stars called Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear constellation.

Opening Day and Cost

Great Bear opened on May 23, 1998. Building it cost $13 million. Back then, it was the most expensive ride Hersheypark had ever built. It was also the first inverted roller coaster in Pennsylvania to feature loops.

Building Challenges for B&M

Building Great Bear was a big challenge for B&M. This was because of the land around it and how close it was to other rides. They couldn't build supports in Spring Creek, which was nearby. This made them create a very unique support design for the coaster.

Experience the Great Bear Ride

Starting Your Adventure

Riders leave the station and begin to climb a 90-foot (27 m) tall hill. Right after the lift hill, the train makes a sharp left turn. This turn swings riders around before they drop 124 feet (38 m) into an area called The Hollow.

Thrilling Inversions and Turns

After the big drop, the train enters a 100-foot (30 m) tall loop. This loop is followed immediately by an Immelmann loop, which is like a half-loop and a twist. Then, you'll experience a zero-g roll, where you feel weightless!

The ride continues through The Hollow, soaring over paths where people walk. It makes a sharp turn over Spring Creek. After a short straight section, the train goes into a corkscrew, which is another twist.

The Final Stretch

Next, the train goes up a hill with two wide turns. It curves around the SooperDooperLooper's vertical loop and the Coal Cracker water ride. Finally, the train enters a short brake run. After slowing down, riders return safely to the station.

Ride Facts and Figures

Great Bear reaches a top speed of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h). The ride lasts about 175 seconds, which is almost three minutes. It can carry 1,300 riders every hour. Each of the two trains holds 32 passengers. They sit in eight rows, with four riders in each row.

Images for kids

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  Great Bear's full layout from the air

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  Great Bear's pre-drop helix (360-degree turn)

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  Great Bear's first drop

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  Great Bear's first drop, loop, and Immelmann (second inversion)

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  Great Bear's loop (first inversion).

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  Great Bear's Immelmann

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  Great Bear's zero-g roll (third inversion)