PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Nov. 18, 2025) – As the most anticipated new attraction in the history of Dollywood Parks & Resorts nears its opening next spring, officials with the park and from manufacturer MACK Rides unveiled one of NightFlight Expedition’s cutting-edge ride vehicles on Tuesday morning.
Theme park industry media and attendees at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo in Orlando were the first to see the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle which will take guests on an extraordinary and engaging Smoky Mountain adventure when the attraction opens in 2026. The vehicle interacts with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard audio, as well as special lighting effects, to create a truly immersive ride experience. MACK Rides won the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket for Best New Innovation thanks to the ride system utilized in NightFlight Expedition.
The ambitious new ride marks the largest single attraction investment in park history and offers guests of all ages a groundbreaking experience. The project, which represents a more than $50 million investment, is located in Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove area and features four unique ride adventures in one attraction.
As the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition takes Dollywood guests on an unforgettable journey through the Smokies to search for bioluminescence in the nation’s most-visited national park. During the 5 1/2-minute experience, guests soar on a nighttime flight over the scenic Smokies, enjoy a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water, traverse a mountain ridge on a roller coaster, and navigate a mysterious shimmering lake by boat.
With so much community enthusiasm for NightFlight Expedition, Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton says the innovative ride vehicle and overall experience are another indication of the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, destination’s increasing prominence within the industry.
“We’re proud to unveil this revolutionary ride vehicle today. It truly represents the perfect blend we’ve tried to find between innovation and the authentic Smoky Mountain storytelling our guests expect from Dollywood,” Naughton explained. “The excitement surrounding this new attraction continues to build—within both the industry and among our guests—and highlights our growing reputation as a destination known for hospitality and guest experience, as well as engaging new attractions and immersive adventures.”
MACK Rides CEO Christian von Elverfeldt echoed Naughton’s sentiments about how his company’s ride system advances the theme park industry.
“NightFlight Expedition is a milestone in immersive ride experiences,” von Elverfeldt said. “Together with Dollywood and Herschend—with whom we have a long-standing partnership—we have a shared passion for innovation and storytelling. This partnership has led us to create a world-first attraction that seamlessly blends story, technology and family adventure. The ride vehicle is not just a technical achievement—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when creativity and engineering come together to push the boundaries of what a theme park experience can be.”
NightFlight Expedition—which features a 39” height requirement—is located inside a 44,000 sq. ft., temperature-controlled facility, allowing it to operate independently of the Smoky Mountain weather. At the heart of the ride’s story is the search for Secret Lake, the water source thought to provide Wildwood Grove’s Wildwood Tree with its colorful glowing canopy.
Guests set out on their expedition to find Secret Lake with the help of twin scientists, Cora and Jasper Oakley, who just happen to be the niece and nephew of Wildwood Grove’s resident wilderness explorer, Ned Oakley. The twins, who work out of a hangar at Hidden Hollow Aviation, have invented the Bioluminator, a device designed to detect and amplify bioluminescence, the biochemical emission of light by living organisms. Cora and Jasper mount the device onto their family’s one-of-a-kind amphibious aircraft to illuminate the Wildwood Tree’s glowing roots and follow them to Secret Lake.
NightFlight Expedition is anticipated to open in Spring 2026, so adventurers should begin preparing early to join Cora and Jasper on their journey. With a year of surprises ahead, guests should consider a season pass to ensure they can experience all the fun! Four season pass levels—Diamond, Gold, Silver and the Summer Fun Pass—provide great options for every guest, while the popular Pre-K Imagination Season Pass offers free admission all season long to any child born in 2021 or 2022. Passes are on sale now and anyone who purchases a 2026 Dollywood season pass can experience this season’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana! It’s the perfect Christmas gift for every member of the family.
For more information about Dollywood’s 2026 season or season passes, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app. For more information about NightFlight Expedition, please visit Dollywood.com/NightFlightExpedition.
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About Dollywood Parks & Resorts: A highly awarded and widely recognized leader in the amusement industry, Dollywood Parks & Resorts—which celebrates its 40th anniversary season in 2025—consists of the 165-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; and two award-winning resort properties: Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of 64 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 28 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment. The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned the Golden Ticket Award for the Best Park in the world in 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Dollywood was named by Tripadvisor as the #1 theme park in the country based on actual guest reviews. It also has been recognized as a top U.S. theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and Tripadvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks, operates from mid-May to mid-September. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa as well as Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort provide guests with spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Media Contacts:
Pete Owens: Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, (865) 428-9486, (865) 755-7972 or [email protected]
Wes Ramey: Public Relations Director, (865) 428-9484, (865) 640-3805 or [email protected]
Ellen Liston: Public Relations Manager, (865) 428-9629, (865) 919-7001 or [email protected]
Jennifer Webb: Sr. Publicist, (865) 428-9602, (865) 323-7584 or [email protected]
For B-roll, photography and more information, visit the Dollywood Media Room at http://www.dollywood.com/Media/Media-Room