If you were looking for a reason to plan a trip to Pigeon Forge this year, Dollywood just provided a major one. The park has officially pulled back the curtain on NightFlight Expedition, releasing another "sneak peek" video that offers the first real look inside the massive 44,000-square-foot facility where this first-of-its-kind adventure is coming to life.
While industry experts like Robert Niles of Theme Park Insiderare already betting on this to be the year's top attraction, this new footage makes it clear exactly how that will happen. This isn’t just another roller coaster; it’s an immersive "hybrid coaster/river boat" that blends four distinct experiences into one 5.5-minute journey.
"We've found a way to celebrate the beauty of the Smoky Mountains," says the creative team in the first video of the series, in what will be the largest attraction in its history. "All the colors of the ride vehicle exemplify a nighttime experience in the Smoky Mountains."
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The "sneak peek" takes us to the Wildwood Grove section of the park, and inside Hidden Hollow Aviation, the themed hangar where guests will join twin scientists Cora and Jasper Oakley on a journey to figure out where the glow of the Wildwood Tree comes from.
"This is something that's never been done before," saysErica Rutledge, Creative Director of NightFlight Expedition in video two. "From the ride system to the show sets and the visuals our guests are going to see, we wanted this to feel like something really new."
The standout reveal in the this latest video is a closeup look at the "Smoky Mountain Tracker"—a custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle that holds up to 10 passengers. In the video, we see how these vehicles are engineered to navigate air, water and land. Unlike a standard boat ride, this system—the first of its kind in the United States—allows the vehicle to mimic the unpredictable motion of a whitewater rafting excursion. The footage shows the mechanics behind the "surge," which involves navigating through more than half a million gallons of water to recreate the thrill of the Smokies' famous river rapids.
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What to Expect on Board
For those of us who prioritize a fully immersive, "no notes" experience where the story is as strong as the thrill, NightFlight Expedition looks to be a triumph. Beyond the splashing, the video teases the more traditional coaster aspects: a climb along a "beautiful mountain ridge" followed by a plunge into a bioluminescent lake. The interior is packed with multimedia projections and dynamic audio designed to make you feel like you’re soaring through the mountains at night—Dolly Parton’s favorite time of day.
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Mark Your Calendars
While the project was first announced back in September 2025, we now have a clearer window for when you can actually board. Dollywood is on track for its grand opening this Spring, with insiders suggesting a grand opening in late May or early June.
By housing the entire expedition indoors, the park has created a weatherproof anchor for Wildwood Grove that can operate regardless of Tennessee’s summer storms. This sneak peek proves that NightFlight Expedition isn't just a new ride; it's the culmination of family-friendly innovation that celebrates the magic of the Smokies in a way no park has attempted before.
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