A highly anticipated Dollywood opening appears to have been delayed.
In recent years, Dollywood has evolved into one of America’s most acclaimed theme parks. Alongside additions like Big Bear Mountain and the Dolly Parton Experience, the park has repeatedly dominated the Golden Ticket Awards, winning consecutive Best Guest Experience titles and earning honors for Wildwood Grove and Big Bear Mountain.
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And Dolly Parton’s beloved theme park isn’t slowing down yet.
Dollywood Scraps Opening Timeframe For New Attraction
This year, Dollywood is set to debut NightFlight Expedition, a first-of-its-kind indoor attraction and the largest single ride investment in the park’s history at more than $50 million. Located inside Wildwood Grove, the attraction combines a family coaster, dark ride, and whitewater-style experience into one immersive Smoky Mountains adventure.
The attraction was originally scheduled to open in spring 2026, though Dollywood now appears to have quietly shifted its timeline.
Back in September, the park said NightFlight Expedition was “anticipated to open in Spring 2026,” with the official website also promising the attraction would “take flight in Spring 2026.” In recent days, however, that wording has been changed to 2026 in general, with no seasonal opening window currently listed.
Looks like Dollywood has removed the word “Spring” from Nightflight Expedition’s page on their website. The screenshot on the left was from Friday, May 15 and on the right is from today. When do you think it will open?
Looks like Dollywood has removed the word "Spring" from Nightflight Expedition's page on their website. The screenshot on the left was from Friday, May 15 and on the right is from today. When do you think it will open? pic.twitter.com/Wyi5eL1ONz
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As per recent Dollywood guests, train operators in the theme park have also shifted to instead asking visitors to come back to visit the attraction “later this season” rather than “later this spring,” suggesting that the attraction will, at the very least, open before Dollywood’s annual winter closure.
Guests have shared their theories on a more specific timeframe.
“Summer or early fall now seems like a more realistic timeframe for the ride completion,” one wrote on Reddit. “To add, the final pieces of track were put into place over the last two days, with no more remaining track [lying] around the building.”
Another said, “I was there ten days ago, and I thought there was no way [NightFlight] would be ready anytime soon. I’d say 3 months would be fast. I wouldn’t be surprised if it opens in late fall.”
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And one wrote, “They should save themselves stress and just say ‘since this is the first of its kind, [there have] been setbacks and unexpected delays. We will try and vet this open by summer or fall.'”
When the ride does eventually open, it will place guests inside custom amphibious vehicles as they travel through glowing caves, mountain rapids, and nighttime scenes inspired by the Smokies.
Dolly Parton herself has also raved about the new attraction. “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,” Parton said in 2025. “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.
Do you plan on visiting Dollywood to experience NightFlight Expedition once it opens?
