Guests can now embark on a thrilling new adventure in the Smoky Mountains as Dollywood has officially opened its highly anticipated NightFlight Expedition roller coaster to the public.

Representing an investment of over $60 million, the ride was recently celebrated with a grand dedication event attended by media, VIPs, and season passholders.

A Gamechanger for the Smokies

Touted as a gamechanger for both the Tennessee park and the wider theme park industry, NightFlight Expedition is the largest single attraction investment in Dollywood's history and its eleventh roller coaster. It promises a thrilling, one of a kind adventure that has dominated conversations since its initial announcement last September.

"I'm so proud that we're able to create something like NightFlight Expedition and give families a brand new way to experience the Smokies together," Dolly Parton said of the new attraction. "Growing up here, I learned to love these mountains in a way that stays with you your whole life. I always want folks who visit Dollywood to feel that same way."

She added that the ride offers a true adventure, full of wonder and beauty, capturing the mountains exactly as she remembers them. "I'm also excited that with NightFlight Expedition we're able to tell stories about what happens in the mountains after the sun goes down. Whether a family is coming for their hundredth visit or if they're coming for their very first time, I hope they'll make memories here that are just as special as the ones I made growing up."

Four Experiences in One

The immersive indoor adventure coaster boasts four distinct experiences within a single ride. Guests are taken soaring on a night time flight over the scenic Smoky Mountains, before plunging into a daring white water rafting excursion through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water, climbing over a mountain ridge, and splashing into a shimmering mountain lake.

Housed inside a 44,000 square foot, temperature controlled facility, the attraction can operate independently of the unpredictable Smoky Mountain weather and has a 39 inch height requirement. The five and a half minute adventure centres around the search for Secret Lake, the fabled water source believed to give Wildwood Grove's Wildwood Tree its colourful glowing canopy. Guests join Cora and Jasper as they use their newly invented Bioluminator device to track the tree's glowing roots to their source.

An Immersive Queue and Innovative Ride System

NightFlight Expedition expands on Dollywood's rich storytelling tradition. The detailed queue introduces Cora and Jasper Oakley, the niece and nephew of Ned Oakley, whom fans will recognise from the Big Bear Mountain family coaster. Built in collaboration with Herschend Creative Studios and the manufacturer Mack Rides, the custom designed vehicles interact with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard audio, and special lighting effects. This innovative ride system earned Mack Rides the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket for Best New Innovation.

Eugene Naughton, President of Dollywood Parks and Resorts, explained that the attraction redefines how a family ride can tell an authentic story true to its surroundings. "We believe NightFlight Expedition will be a true game changer, further elevating Dollywood's reputation for innovation, true heart, and world class experiences rooted in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains," he stated.

Extended Hours and Autumn Festivals

The ride's debut marks a significant expansion for Wildwood Grove, an area that has won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Theme Park Kids' Area every year since it opened in 2019.

To celebrate the launch, Dollywood has extended its theme park hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. between 16 August and 13 September, allowing guests more time to enjoy the new coaster. The excitement continues into the autumn with the Harvest Festival running from 14 September to 31 October, followed by the Smoky Mountain Christmas event from 6 November until 3 January 2027.