From the outside, Dollywood’s newest ride under construction looks like a giant green airplane hangar. But peek inside and the 44,000-square-foot immersive “dark ride” is taking shape ahead of its planned spring opening during the theme park’s 2026 season.
NightFlight Expedition is not only the largest single investment in Dollywood’s history, costing over $50 million, but it will offer a unique ride experience that’s not found elsewhere. It combines four ride elements into one attraction and was inspired by Dolly Parton’s love for the Smoky Mountains at night.
“This sets the stage on the long-term view of what we’re trying to do and compete against because we want to be the number one family destination,” Dollywood President Eugene Naughton said during a tour on Feb. 24. “We want people to come here rather than go to any other place and I think this ride represents a great entry into that for us.”
NightFlight Expedition is Dollywood’s 11th coaster and helps the park move closer to its goal of being open all year long. But that’s just beginning of what the ride has to offer guests and the park.
NightFlight isn’t a typical roller coaster
NightFlight Expedition is a “first of its kind” indoor family coaster ride with water and other multimedia and immersive elements. So, when riders hop onto the “boat” for the five-and-a-half-minute ride (the longest at Dollywood), they will climb, drop, soar and plunge along the journey.
“There are a couple of tricks in this ride that I think people are really going to say, ‘Wow! That was really cool’ or ‘I’m not really sure what that was, but I can’t wait to get back on it and see if I can figure out what that is.’ And that’s really the fun of the design and development of this ride,” Pete Owens, Dollywood’s marketing vice president, said.
The “rip roaring rapids” are among the ride’s many exciting elements, Naughton added. The ride has 500,000 gallons of water. But riders don’t have to worry about getting wet, especially during cold winter days. The water factor, speed of the ride and the indoor facility temperature can all be controlled.
“This is like Soarin’ on steroids because of the type of digital technology that we’re going to be using, and it’s immersive,” Naughton said, referencing a flying theater attraction at Disney parks that people suspected NightFlight Expedition would resemble.
“It’s a lot better than Soarin’ because you won’t be seeing anyone’s feet because the digital aspect is three quarters coverage over your head and there’s three specific rooms that you’re going to go through and it’s going to make you really feel like you’re flying through the Smokies,” he continued.
The innovative and award-winning rocking boat vehicles and conveyance system on NightFlight Expedition are manufactured by Mack Rides and designed to operate on land and in water. And while a theme park in France uses them, too, the NightFlight versions were customed-designed to fit the storyline and immersive experience Dollywood developed for the attraction well before production.
“There is another installation of this ride vehicle, but it does not do all the things that this does. So, it truly is the first in the world that does what it does,” Dollywood spokesperson Wes Ramey explained.
“So, if you want to ride it, you’ve got to come to Dollywood,” Owens added.
NightFlight designed for capacity, efficiency and families
As Dollywood continues to work toward a near year-round schedule, NightFlight Expedition was designed to enhance the family guest experience. With its addition, the park will have two indoor coasters to give people a respite from weather. Entertainment and efficiency were top of mind, too.
Dollywood says 1,200 people per hour will be able to ride NightFlight, which is a slightly higher rate than the Big Bear Mountain coaster. A 55-minute wait is expected, but even the indoor queue is a show. Riders will learn about the backstory of the impending adventure before reaching the loading station where the ride and track will be revealed.
The ride is intentionally meant for families. With a 39-inch height requirement and a top speed of 29 miles per hour, the average 5-year-old can ride it, and parents and grandparents can enjoy it, too.
“We’re leveling up in terms of our entertainment capacity because the bottom line is that people come here to be together as a family and they want to ride things together.” Naughton said. “When you invite someone over to your house, you better make sure that you can provide the right kind of entertainment experience,” he later added.
The attraction also includes a dedicated ADA loading area with a transfer track system that allows one boat to slide over for additional loading time without slowing the ride’s overall cycle. It’s the first time Dollywood has built a separate area for accessibility loading.
“We’re excited to put our toe into that and have it be more accessible because, you know, we want to be welcoming to all people,” Naughton told USA TODAY last year.
Why Dollywood keeps reaching new heights
Dollywood saw record-breaking attendance in 2025, and the park continues to receive awards and recognition for its guest experience, rides, food and entertainment. NightFlight Expedition is part of Dollywood’s larger plan to grow and welcome people from around the world.
“We’d like to say that we’re going to take it to Orlando and show that there’s a different place to go,” Naughton said. Dollywood has even partnered with Allegiant Air for a special Dolly-themed flight from Orlando to Knoxville in November.
But for Dollywood’s leaders, the ambition is not just about earning accolades, breaking records and offering one-of-a-kind rides.
“The things that we’re doing and the things that we’re looking to add from an experiences perspective, keep the family together and allow it to be thrilling for people to want to do it time and time again,” Naughton said.
NightFlight construction is operating on a seven-days-a-week, two-shifts-a-day schedule to prepare for opening sometime in the spring. Dollywood opens for all guests on March 13.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email [email protected].
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