During day one of the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Dollywood and MACK Rides unveiled one of NightFlight Expedition’s cutting-edge ride vehicles.
Theme park industry media and attendees in Orlando were the first to see the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle which will take guests on an engaging Smoky Mountain adventure when the attraction opens in 2026.
A Revolutionary Ride Vehicle
The vehicle interacts with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard audio, as well as special lighting effects, to create a truly immersive ride experience. MACK Rides won the 2025 Amusement Today Golden Ticket for Best New Innovation thanks to the ride system utilised in NightFlight Expedition.
The ambitious new ride marks the largest single attraction investment in park history and offers guests of all ages a ground-breaking experience. The project, which represents a more than $50 million investment, is located in Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove area and features four unique ride adventures in one attraction.
As the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, NightFlight Expedition takes Dollywood guests on an unforgettable journey through the Smokies to search for bioluminescence in the nation’s most-visited national park.
During the 5 1/2-minute experience, guests soar on a night-time flight over the scenic Smokies, enjoy a thrilling whitewater rafting excursion through more than 500,000 gallons of surging water, traverse a mountain ridge on a roller coaster, and navigate a mysterious shimmering lake by boat.
“Perfect blend between innovation and the authenticity
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton says the innovative ride vehicle and overall experience are another indication of Dollywood’s increasing prominence within the industry: “We’re proud to unveil this revolutionary ride vehicle today. It truly represents the perfect blend we’ve tried to find between innovation and the authentic Smoky Mountain storytelling our guests expect from Dollywood.
“The excitement surrounding this new attraction continues to build, within both the industry and among our guests, and highlights our growing reputation as a destination known for hospitality and guest experience, as well as engaging new attractions and immersive adventures.”
Meanwhile, MACK Rides CEO Christian von Elverfeldt echoed Naughton’s sentiments about how his company’s ride system advances the theme park industry: “NightFlight Expedition is a milestone in immersive ride experiences.
“Together with Dollywood and Herschend, with whom we have a long-standing partnership, we have a shared passion for innovation and storytelling. This partnership has led us to create a world-first attraction that seamlessly blends story, technology and family adventure. The ride vehicle is not just a technical achievement; it’s a symbol of what’s possible when creativity and engineering come together to push the boundaries of what a theme park experience can be.”
Intrepid voyage in search for Secret Lake
NightFlight Expedition, which features a 39” height requirement, is located inside a 44,000 sq. ft., temperature-controlled facility, allowing it to operate independently of the Smoky Mountain weather. At the heart of the ride’s story is the search for Secret Lake, the water source thought to provide Wildwood Grove’s Wildwood Tree with its colourful glowing canopy.
Guests set out on their expedition to find Secret Lake with the help of twin scientists, Cora and Jasper Oakley, who just happen to be the niece and nephew of Wildwood Grove’s resident wilderness explorer, Ned Oakley. The twins, who work out of a hangar at Hidden Hollow Aviation, have invented the Bioluminator, a device designed to detect and amplify bioluminescence, the biochemical emission of light by living organisms. Cora and Jasper mount the device onto their family’s one-of-a-kind amphibious aircraft to illuminate the Wildwood Tree’s glowing roots and follow them to Secret Lake.
NightFlight Expedition is anticipated to open in Spring 2026.
Images: Dollywood
