Dolly Parton teases whether she’d risk her wig by riding Dollywood’s new $50M attraction

After four decades in the amusement park business, country music icon Dolly Parton is hinting that she might finally be ready to brave one of her own thrill rides. While she has famously kept her feet on the ground in the past, a new $50 million investment at Dollywood could finally break her streak, according to an article by Southern Living.

A New Adventure Awaits

To celebrate 40 years of operation, Dollywood is debuting NightFlight Expedition, a massive new attraction slated for a spring 2026 launch. In the past, Parton joked that she avoided the park's coasters to prevent her iconic hair from flying off on national television. However, she admits this new experience has her reconsidering her stance.

"I don’t usually ride the rides," Parton noted. "But this one sounds like a great adventure! Maybe I changed my mind about this ride…"

The World's First Hybrid Thrill Ride

Despite the high-octane nature of the attraction, Dolly assured fans that the "water/rollercoaster/interactive" experience won't leave them soaking wet. According to a press release, NightFlight Expedition is a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind ride that packs four distinct thrills into one facility.

Spanning 5.5 minutes, the indoor journey takes guests on a simulated flight over the Smokies, a whitewater rafting excursion through over 500,000 gallons of water, a ridge-traversing roller coaster, and a boat trip across a glowing lake.

Mountain Magic at Night

For Parton, the ride captures her favorite time of day in the mountains. "Our new ride sends you out into the mountains at night, which is the time that I think they really come to life," she said. "I love to see the stars sparkling like rhinestones up in the big old sky. It’s pure mountain magic."

The attraction, developed by Dollywood, Herschend Creative Studios, and Mack Rides, is housed within a 44,000-square-foot, temperature-controlled building, ensuring the "night flight" can continue regardless of the unpredictable Smoky Mountain weather.