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B&M inverts are definitely one of my favorite types of coasters. Not only am I a sucker for the inverted seats, but just love the smooth and thrilling ride that they always provide. Well for me Hershey’s Great Bear holds the distinction as my first B&M invert. Located in Minetown, the Great Bear is one of the first coasters one sees as they enter Hersheypark. Immediately as one enters Comet Hollow, one can see the Great Bear’s dark black track and hear the trains roar by as they traverse the ride’s aerial helix, swooping drop, vertical loop, Immelmann, and zero-G roll. After following the constellations (just kidding, I just used the park map), one can easily reach the Great Bear’s entrance, which is marked by a very cool looking logo that mixes in both a bear and a starry night sky.
Today, the Great Bear is definitely one of Hersheypark’s most popular roller coasters. As a result, the Great Bear usually has a decent sized line. Typically, the Great Bear has a 15-20 minute wait for any seat excluding the front. As for the front seat, that usually has a really long wait. Once one reaches the point where they can select to wait for the front seat, one’s wait usually becomes an additional 30 minutes longer. Not only that, but the wait for the front doesn’t have much shade and is quite uncomfortable during the hot, summer months. Without a doubt, the front is my favorite seat; however, it honestly isn’t worth the additional 30 minute wait in my opinion. If you want the front, I highly recommend trying to grab a night ride on the Great Bear within the last hour of park operation. By then, the Great Bear is typically a one or two cycle wait for most seats. While the Great Bear sports two trains, I unfortunately find that dispatches are fairly slow on this coaster, which is uncharacteristic for Hershey.
Once boarded, the Great Bear begins with a slow climb up the ride’s lift. On the way up, riders are treated to incredible views of Hersheypark off to their right. After cresting the lift hill, the Great Bear begins with a very powerful helix nearly one hundred feet above the ground. In my opinion, this is one of the best helixes I have ever experienced thanks to how forceful it is along with its unique location high above the ground. Following this helix is the ride’s, twisting 124 foot drop, which is quite zippy thanks to the speed already built up from the aforementioned helix.
The Great Bear then treats riders to an array of inversions. First, riders are treated to a powerful vertical loop. Second, the train zooms through a gigantic Immelmann, which is quite forceful as well. Third, the Great Bear treats rides to my favorite inversion- the zero-G roll. Straying from the norm, this one fails to produce much in the way of hang-time. Instead, the Great Bear’s zero-G roll is an incredibly disorienting and forceful element thanks to the blistering speed it is taken at. Then following a quick turn and a section of straight track where one can really appreciate the ride’s substantial speed, riders experience the fourth and final inversion- a forceful corkscrew. Also, taken at fairly high speeds, this corkscrew really whips riders through it, especially in the back. Afterwards, the Great Bear coasts towards the brake run, where one’s picture is taken, which honestly shocked me my after my first ride.
Overall, the Great Bear is one of my favorite attractions at Hersheypark. While I prefer the park’s two pulse-pounding Intamins in Storm Runner and Fahrenheit over this, the Great Bear is still an very fun coaster that is super rerideable thanks to how the ride is glass smooth from start to finish like most B&Ms are. Ironically, the Great Bear actually is one of the worst B&M inverts I’ve been on, but that’s more of a testament as to how great the other ones I’ve been on are. With that being said, the Great Bear is a very thrilling and enjoyable invert that can’t be missed in a visit to Hersheypark.
Favorite Seat: Front (1:1)
Best Part: Helix
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