During construction of the park, developer Mike Ferguson halted excavations after the Army Corps of Engineers told him they wanted him to stop due to controversy and the lack of a required permit for building in the Snake River wetland.

[10] On May 28, 1998, Madison County Commissioners voted to grant Mike Ferguson a permit to allow construction on the wetlands where the park was to be located.

This move allowed Ferguson an opening to temporarily avoid a ban on the commercial importation of black bears.

According to Courtney Ferguson (general manager of Bear World) the closure of the direct highway access resulted in a 10% drop in business.

[15] Three times during each day the park offers children and adults the chance to bottle feed bear cubs and pet them.

[17] Visitors are encouraged to leave their cars and visit the petting zoo which consists of over one acre containing free-roaming farm animals and birds.

[19] List of Amusement Rides: In 2023, Yellowstone Bear World opened up a dinosaur park called "Jurassic Creek".