Dollywood Announces New Attraction “NightFlight Expedition” for 2026
Image: Courtesy of Dollywood Parks & Resorts
(eap) The U.S. theme park Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has revealed details of its planned 2026 addition. With an investment volume of more than 50 million U.S. dollars (around 42 million euro), the project represents, according to the operator, the largest single attraction investment in the history of Dollywood Parks & Resorts.
The new indoor attraction, to be called “NightFlight Expedition,” is being developed in cooperation with Herschend Creative Studios and Mack Rides. According to the park, it will be the world’s first indoor installation of its kind, combining roller coaster elements with white-water rafting. At its core is expected to be Mack Rides’ “Rocking Boat” system, which was first implemented at France’s Futuroscope and honored with the 2025 Golden Ticket Award in the “Best New Innovations” category (see also our cover story on “Mission Bermudes” – the first Rocking Boat – in EAP 5/2025).
The ride will be housed in a 44,000-square-feet (approx. 4,000-square-meter) indoor facility, enabling all-weather operation. With a ride time of more than five minutes, it is set to immerse visitors in an expedition through the Smoky Mountains using multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard sound, and special lighting effects. The storyline centers around the search for the “Secret Lake”, said to be the source of the colorfully illuminated Wildwood Tree in Dollywood’s “Wildwood Grove” themed area. Guests will be accompanied by twin scientists “Cora” and “Jasper Oakley”, niece and nephew of explorer “Ned Oakley”. Using a self-developed device designed to enhance bioluminescent phenomena, the siblings equip their family’s amphibious aircraft to follow the glowing roots leading to the mysterious lake.
“I’m just so proud that Dollywood has grown so much in its first 40 years that we’re able to add a ride like NightFlight Expedition,” Dolly Parton, namesake and owner of Dollywood, said about the attraction. “I have no doubt it’s going to be a huge part of Dollywood’s next 40 years. We’re always trying to take the natural beauty of the Smokies and make it part of everything we’re doing in the park, and they’ve definitely been able to do it with this ride.”
“NightFlight Expedition is truly exceptional, combining cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling that stays true to the heart of Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains to deliver an experience unlike anything else,” emphasized Eugene Naughton, President of Dollywood Parks & Resorts. “As the largest addition in our history, it not only represents a major milestone for our company, but it also sets a new standard for guest offerings.”
A minimum height of 39 inches (99 centimeters) is required for the ride. The opening is planned for Spring 2026. ■
