​PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Wednesday, September 17, 2025) - Eager Dollywood guests no longer have to wonder what's taking shape inside the sprawling new building in Wildwood Grove, as officials today announced NightFlight Expedition, a more than $50 million attraction coming to the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, park in 2026. It is the largest attraction investment in the history of Dollywood Parks & Resorts.

NightFlight Expedition, the first attraction experience of its kind in the world, combines four unique features into one groundbreaking thrill ride sure to delight guests of all ages. Created and built by Dollywood, Herschend Creative Studios and esteemed manufacturer Mack Rides, the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle interacts with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard audio, as well as special lighting effects, to immerse guests in an extraordinary Smoky Mountain adventure. Mack Rides recently won the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket for Best New Innovation thanks to the ride system utilized in NightFlight Expedition.

Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton and Herschend President and CEO Andrew Wexler made the announcement on Wednesday morning at DP's Celebrity Theater. Park namesake Dolly Parton-who had a last-minute conflict and was unable to attend the announcement-sent her best wishes and shared her excitement via video.

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 Smoky Mountains 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.

"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 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.

"A lot of people ask me about my favorite season in the Smokies, but no one ever asks me what my favorite time of day is. Our new ride sends you out into the mountains at night, which is the time that I think they really come to life! Obviously, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is known for the synchronous lightning bugs, but I also love to just sit and listen to the owls calling or the frogs croaking, and I love to see the stars sparkling like rhinestones up in the big old sky. It's pure mountain magic."

The industry's Best Theme Park Christmas event-Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 1- Jan. 4, 2026) —concludes the park's 2025 season with six million lights, festive holiday shows and the warm Christmas atmosphere guests have come to expect during this joyous time of year.

For more information about Dollywood events, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app. For more information about NightFlight Expedition, please visit Dollywood.com/NightFlightExpedition.

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