Dollywood is making more changes to one of its newest attractions.
The Tennessee theme park has continued expanding its ride lineup in recent years, adding major attractions while building out its wider resort offering around Dolly Parton’s legacy.
One of its biggest additions is NightFlight Expedition, which opened in Wildwood Grove on August 19, 2026, after missing its original spring launch window.
The attraction cost more than $60 million and is described by Dollywood as the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride.
NightFlight Expedition Faces More Work
NightFlight combines several ride systems in one experience.
Guests move through simulated flight, roller coaster track, a boat section, and more than 500,000 gallons of whitewater during the roughly five and a half minute attraction.
The ride also carries added significance because it was one of the final major Dollywood projects promoted by Dolly Parton before her death on August 25.
Parton had previously spoken about the attraction’s Smoky Mountains theme.
“This ride truly is an adventure that lets you see the mountains the way I always remember them, full of wonder and beauty,” she said.
“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.”
However, the attraction has faced several problems since opening.
NightFlight closed from August 25 through August 30 after manufacturer Mack Rides requested additional time to adjust the timing of its turntable.
Guests have also reported intermittent downtime and issues with some of the attraction’s effects.
One guest wrote on Reddit, “It doesn't quite work. Rode [it] a few times last week. It misses its marks and timing a lot, so you are ahead of or behind the ride elements.”
The same guest added, “Also the [theming] is a lot of scrim and “sheets” which I'm sure looked better before all the leaking but, there's no magic in a scene where the backdrops are sagging and wrinkled extensively from the corners inward.”
Dollywood has now confirmed another temporary closure.
“NightFlight Expedition will be closed Monday, Sept. 28 – Friday, Oct. 2 as we make additional adjustments to provide a better guest experience. Check Dollywood social channels for any additional updates.”
The closure will be NightFlight’s second announced shutdown since its August opening.
Guests Continue Raising Concerns
Some guests have questioned whether a short closure will be enough to address the attraction’s reported issues.
“Dollywood just needs to close [NightFlight] for the rest of the season and open it next season,” one Reddit user wrote.
Another said, “They are in a bad spot. They heavily advertised this as a new attraction. I could see them being worried about potential litigation if they close the ride entirely.”
Other guests have pointed to the ride’s delayed opening and suggested it may have needed more time before welcoming visitors.
“I think it went up before it was ready,” one guest said.
“It was front and center in all the season pass marketing, and I think that put a clock on it that the ride just couldn't meet. I was expecting to ride it early in the summer, and here we are almost in October with it still not running consistently.”
Some fans have also speculated that Dollywood wanted to open NightFlight while Parton was still alive.
The park has not said that Parton’s health affected the attraction’s opening date.
One guest wrote, “Given the circumstances with Dolly's failing health and them trying to get it open before she passed I'm not going to be too hard on them about it. They really need to just shut the thing down and fix/finish it. …”
The guest continued, “If Eugene came out tomorrow and gave a simple explination of they rushed it for Dolly, we know it has issues, we're shutting it down to get it up to the level of quality our guests expect I would have a lot of respect for him.”
NightFlight Expedition will be closed Monday, 9/28 – Friday, 10/2
byu/TTAPeopleMover inDollywood
During NightFlight’s opening, Parton — who did not attend in person — also shared a message with guests.
“I’ve been wanting to tell everybody about our great new ride, NightFlight Expedition. You have fun, and I’m gonna see you down the road.”
Dollywood has dealt with reliability issues on major attractions before.
Lightning Rod opened in 2016 as the world’s first launched wooden coaster but experienced repeated downtime during its early years.
Dollywood later replaced a large portion of its wooden track with steel track before making another significant change for the 2024 season.
The coaster’s original launch was removed and replaced with a chain lift as part of efforts to improve reliability.
NightFlight is still much newer, and Dollywood has not indicated that similarly extensive changes are planned.
