Dollywood Unveils NightFlight Expedition: World’s First-of-Its-Kind Hybrid Coaster and Whitewater River Adventure Coming in 2026
Dollywood has officially revealed its next record-breaking addition, and it’s one for the history books.
Opening in Spring 2026, NightFlight Expedition will debut inside Wildwood Grove as the largest single attraction investment in Dollywood’s history, a more than $50 million project blending coaster thrills, river rapids, and immersive storytelling into one unforgettable journey.
Created in collaboration with Mack Rides and Herschend Creative Studios, the attraction is unlike anything the amusement industry has ever seen. Combining cutting-edge ride systems, vivid projections, dynamic audio, and special lighting effects, NightFlight Expedition invites guests to explore the Smoky Mountains in a way never before possible.
Billed as the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition packs four thrilling elements into one adventure:
Nighttime flight over the Great Smoky Mountains Whitewater rafting through over half-a-million gallons of surging water Indoor roller coaster racing across a mountain ridge Boat expedition across a shimmering, bioluminescent lake.
The attraction takes place inside a 44,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility, ensuring year-round operation no matter the weather in the Smokies.
Guests will join twin scientists Cora and Jasper Oakley, niece and nephew of Wildwood Grove’s famed explorer Ned Oakley. Equipped with their invention, the Bioluminator, designed to detect and amplify glowing life forms, the siblings set out aboard their custom-built amphibious aircraft in search of Secret Lake, the mystical water source said to power the Wildwood Tree’s radiant canopy.
During the 5.5-minute expedition, riders will encounter flying sequences, rapid splashes, coaster thrills, and glowing lake crossings, all while immersed in the sounds and sights of Smoky Mountain nightlife.
Although Dolly herself couldn’t attend the live announcement, she shared her excitement by video, emphasizing how the ride captures the true spirit of the Smokies.
“Our new ride sends you out into the mountains at night, which is the time that I think they really come to life,” Dolly explained. “From the lightning bugs to the owls and frogs, and the stars sparkling like rhinestones in the sky—it’s pure mountain magic.”
Fast Facts: NightFlight Expedition
Type: Indoor hybrid coaster + river raft ride. Ride
Time: 5.5 minutes
Track Length: 1,255 feet (nearly a quarter mile)
Height Requirement: 39 inches
Speed: Up to 29 mph
Capacity: 10 riders per vehicle, with 11 cars total
Manufacturer: Mack Rides.
Dollywood President Eugene Naughton called NightFlight Expedition “a major milestone” for the park, noting how its technology and immersive storytelling push the limits of what theme parks can deliver while staying true to the Smoky Mountain heritage.
After today’s press conference, we stopped by Wildwood Grove for a quick look around and the scale of the project is impossible to miss. The enormous 44,000-square-foot show building is already rising fast, with much of the framework nearly complete. Its towering presence gives a clear preview of just how massive NightFlight Expedition will be once finished.
Adding to the excitement, track for the coaster portion of the ride has already arrived on site, hinting at the next big phase of construction as Dollywood’s most ambitious attraction yet takes shape.
Current Dollywood season passholders will be the first to experience the attraction ahead of its public debut. In fact, for the first time in the park’s history, 2026 season passes are already available for renewal, giving guests the earliest access ever offered.
NightFlight Expedition takes flight in Spring 2026 inside Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove.
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