is launching a new rollercoaster at her iconic theme park, Dollywood.
The 76-year-old country star and entrepreneur, who opened the world-class amusement park in her native Tennessee back in 1986, announced on Friday that a brand new ride called Big Bear Mountain will be launching in 2023, reportedly costing a cool $25million (£20.7m).
Alongside a video teaser of the new ride, the Dollywood company teased: ‘Join Ned Oakley in Spring 2023 on our largest family adventure yet: Big Bear Mountain. This multi-launch coaster contains 3,990 ft. of track, expanding Wildwood Grove with a six-acre ride.
‘Prepare for things to get BIG by watching our exclusive first look at ride animation.’
According to a press release, the Big Bear Mountain ride will feature ‘three separate launches, multiple airtime hills, high-speed carousel turns, and tunnels, including a pass behind a waterfall’, because of course chart-topper Dolly doesn’t do things by halves.
The Jolene hitmaker, who previously revealed she over the fear of losing her hair – ‘And God knows what else will fall out on me!’ – took to social media to express her ‘excitement’ that fans will be able to travel the Smoky Mountains themselves via the ride.
She also popped in a sly reference to her 1994 song Smoky Mountain Memories in the process.
‘The Smokies are all about adventure and going exploring. 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,’ she tweeted.
‘Whether he’s out there or not, I’m sure they’ll find a lot of memories along the way that they’ll keep forever.’
Meanwhile, Dollywood president Eugene Naughton explained that the ride was ‘family friendly’ and described it as being ‘comfortable fun’.
‘If you’re going to be the No. 1 family attraction in the United States, your product needs to be family friendly. So, within this ride called Big Bear Mountain, I like to call it comfortable fun,’ he told .
The Big Bear Mountain roller coaster is officially set to open in Spring 2023.
Dolly has always invested heavily into her theme park, including its workers.
In February, a new initiative was announced whereby Dollywood employees would be eligible to have their by the company.
The singer – who has to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – is also busy preparing to hit the big screen once more as of her book with James Patterson, Run, Rose, Run.
’s company Hello Sunshine and Sony Pictures are producing the adaptation of the New York Times best-seller.
