Dollywood Announces Opening Date for “NightFlight Expedition”
From August, “NightFlight Expedition” will take guests on a search for the mysterious “Secret Lake”. | Image: Dollywood Parks & Resorts
(eap) “I’ve been working hard to make sure everything is ready, but when you’re creating something this spectacular, something that’s never been done before, it may take a little extra time to get it just right. […] Now it’s ready for testing – this is gonna be great.” With these words, the fictional character “Jasper Oakley” set the stage for the upcoming opening of “NightFlight Expedition” in a social media video released by Dollywood. Guests had long been waiting for a specific opening date for the new major attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It has now been confirmed that passholder previews will take place from 15 to 18 August, before the attraction opens to all guests on 19 August.
Eugene Naughton, President of Dollywood (right), and Christian von Elverfeldt, CEO at Mack Rides, unveiled a carriage for NightFlight Expedition for the first time at the IAAPA Expo 2025. © EAP/SRi
Supplied by Mack Rides, the Rocking Boat attraction will be the first indoor installation of its kind – a hybrid experience combining roller coaster and whitewater rafting elements within an immersive storyline and themed environment. The world’s first Rocking Boat ride was built as a predominantly outdoor attraction at the French theme park Futuroscope (see EAP 5/2025). At Dollywood visitors join twin scientists Cora and Jasper Oakley on their search for the “Secret Lake”, which is believed to be the source of the colorfully illuminated Wildwood Tree in Dollywood’s “Wildwood Grove” themed area.
The attraction was first officially announced in September 2025. At the IAAPA Expo 2025 in Orlando, Florida, industry professionals were able to take a close look at one of the vehicles for NightFlight Expedition. A making-of series produced by the park also kept fans and industry professionals up to date on the development progress. After the attraction was originally scheduled to open in spring this year, guests will soon finally be able to experience it for themselves. ■
