Overview
- Dollywood confirmed on Tuesday that NightFlight Expedition will remain closed through Sunday, August 30 while the manufacturer works on turntable-timing adjustments and the park promises another update later in the week.
- The attraction had only just started regular guest operation on August 19, so the extended downtime affects visitors who planned trips to see the new ride during its first week of public service.
- Dollywood says the manufacturer requested extra time specifically to adjust the timing of a rotating turntable segment that coordinates the ride’s transition between coaster, boat and whitewater elements.
- The closure applies only to NightFlight Expedition and not to the wider park, but guests with resort packages tied to the attraction may lose the feature that was a highlighted part of DreamMore and HeartSong stays.
- NightFlight Expedition is a roughly $50 million indoor hybrid developed with Herschend Creative Studios and Mack Rides that uses Mack’s Rocking Boat system and moves through more than 500,000 gallons of water, making its complex mechanics a likely reason for the extra rehearsal and technical work.