Soarin’ on Steroids: Dollywood’s Groundbreaking Ride Unveiled

A New Era for Dollywood: Introducing NightFlight Expedition

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — From the outside, Dollywood’s newest attraction looks like a giant green airplane hangar. NightFlight Expedition is still under construction for an expected spring opening, but it’s already set to make resort history. This new ride represents a significant milestone for Dollywood, marking the largest single investment in its history.

The project has cost over $50 million, surpassing the investment in the DreamMore Resort. It will also be the longest ride at Dollywood and among the largest, spanning 44,000 square feet. That’s the size of four football fields, and the ride will last 5.5 minutes, offering guests a unique experience of what it’s like to be in the Smokies at night.

Dollywood President Eugene Naughton shared his excitement about the new attraction during an interview with USA TODAY at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in November. He emphasized that this ride is part of Dollywood’s long-term vision to become the number one family destination.

“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,” Naughton said during a recent construction tour. “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.”

What Makes NightFlight Expedition Unique?

NightFlight Expedition is a “first of its kind” indoor family coaster ride with water and other multimedia and immersive elements. Christian von Elverfeldt, CEO of the attraction’s manufacturer Mack Rides, explained that the ride offers a unique experience without the need for a channel. “You have the feeling the boat is free-floating,” he said.

Riders will climb, drop, soar, and plunge along the journey. Pete Owens, Dollywood’s marketing vice president, highlighted the ride’s design and development. “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,” he said.

One of the most exciting elements of the ride is the “rip-roaring rapids.” There will be half a million gallons of water rushing by riders as they experience what it’s like to whitewater raft. However, riders don’t have to worry about getting wet, especially during cold winter days. The water factor, speed of the ride, and indoor facility temperature will all be controlled.

Immersive Experience and Technological Innovation

Naughton compared the ride to Soarin’ at Disney, calling it “like Soarin’ on steroids because of the type of digital technology that we’re going to be using, and it’s immersive.” He continued, “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.”

A theme park in France uses the same innovative, award-winning rocking boat vehicles and conveyance system, but NightFlight’s versions were custom-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,” added Owens.

A Family-Friendly Experience

NightFlight Expedition has been a part of Dollywood’s expansion plans since 2019. “We actually cleared the land for NightFlight when we built Big Bear Mountain ’cause we already knew that we were heading this direction,” Naughton said. The inspiration goes back even further. “Dolly always talks about how much fun she had as a kid growing up in the Smoky Mountains,” he said. “And she used to say, ‘Back in the holler at night, I used to have a lot of fun chasing fireflies around.’ Actually, her and her siblings would sometimes rub them on their skin so that they would glow in the fields at night.”

Bioluminescence and family are both woven into the new attraction in the park’s family-focused Wildwood Grove. “We’re in search of Secret Lake, so we’re in search of what powers the Wildwood Grove Tree,” Naughton said, referring to the land’s centerpiece, which dances with light and music at night.

Leading the way will be Ned Oakley’s niece Cora and nephew Jasper, botanists who’ve apparently inherited their uncle’s sense of adventure. Ned leads the search for Big Bear at the Big Bear Mountain coaster.

Designed for All Ages and Abilities

NightFlight Expedition is designed to enhance Dollywood’s family offerings. With its addition, the park will have two indoor coasters to give guests a respite from the weather. “That’s really important because more people visit us in October, November, December than any other time of the year,” Naughton said.

Entertainment and efficiency were top of mind, too. Dollywood says 1,200 people per hour will be able to ride NightFlight, which is more than Big Bear Mountain. A 55-minute wait is expected, but even the indoor queue is a show. Riders will learn about the backstory before reaching the loading station where the ride and track will be revealed.

Like Big Bear, NightFlight ride is meant for a wide range of ages. 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, later adding, “When you invite someone over to your house, you better make sure that you can provide the right kind of entertainment experience.”

The attraction also includes a dedicated accessible 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 such loading.

“We can bring the whole wheelchair on the boat, which makes it easier. That’s important for us. Of course, we want everybody enjoying,” von Elverfeldt said, a sentiment Naughton echoed.

Dollywood 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 two special Dolly-themed flights 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-day-a-week, two-shifts-a-day schedule to prepare for opening sometime in the spring. Dollywood opens for all guests March 13.