IAAPA Orlando has served up lots of reveals ahead of the 2026 season but the most exciting seems to be coming straight out of Dollywood as the Pigeon Forge theme park revealed their Nightflight Expedition ride trains for the first time at the event today in conjunction with Mack Rides.
Theme park industry media and attendees at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo in Orlando were the first to see the custom-designed amphibious ride vehicle which will take guests on an extraordinary and engaging Smoky Mountain adventure when the attraction opens in 2026.
Interacting with vivid multimedia projections, dynamic onboard and offboard audio, as well as special lighting effects Nightflight Expedition will truly be an immersive ride experience.
Mack’s Rocking Boat system debuted this year at Futuroscope as Mission Bermudes gave guests a taster of what this ride system can do but many (including myself) were curious as to how this system would perform in an indoor well-themed environment and when 2026 arrives, we’ll have the answer to this very exciting question.
The ambitious new ride marks the largest single attraction investment in park history and offers guests of all ages a groundbreaking 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 nighttime 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.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts President Eugene Naughton says the innovative ride vehicle and overall experience are another indication of the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, destination’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,”
Naughton explained.
“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.”
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,” von Elverfeldt said. “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 togetherto push the boundaries of what a theme park experience can be.”
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 colorful glowing canopy.
Guests will then set out on their expedition to find the Secret lake with this help of twin scientists, Cora and Jasper 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.
Spring 2026 is when this ride will debut to the world as Dollywood will certainly be a park to watch out for during the new theme park season.
Check out a video below of the official unveiling kindly sent to us by Dollywood themselves to upload.
