Overview
- Dollywood announced in a video posted Tuesday that NightFlight Expedition will not open in spring and is now targeted for mid‑August 2026 while testing and adjustments continue.
- Park president Eugene Naughton said the delay stems from the attraction’s engineering complexity and the need for a longer show‑and‑test‑and‑adjust phase to run interdependent mechanical, water and show systems together.
- NightFlight Expedition is billed as the world’s first continuous indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater raft ride inside a 44,000 sq ft climate‑controlled building with roughly a quarter mile of track and a 5.5‑minute cycle.
- Dollywood warned guests to wait for a confirmed opening day before booking nonrefundable travel because the mid‑August timeline could shift depending on remaining work.
- The park framed the pause as a cautious move for a more than $50 million investment and promised regular progress updates while the resort continues recent operational changes such as cashless rollout at its water park and resorts.