News Project 2026: NightFlight Expedition (Mack Rocking Boat Dark Ride)

[Tacky3663]

Don’t know if this allowed quite yet, but here we go

As some of you may know. Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary is in 2026. And there have been some rumors flying around about how they want to do something big for 2026. Which according to some of my friends who are in close contact with Dollywood. Maybe referring to a 200+ foot attraction.

Now rumors have been spread that it could be something like a 300 foot Dive Coaster to looking at a possible Hyper Coaster from Vekoma (which I think makes sense with the recent relationship they’ve had).

as for location, nothing official has been set in stone, but the area behind Big Bear Mountain could be looked at for development, there’s also the area where Mountain Sidewinder used to be.

This may seem like speculation at the moment and in a way it is since not a lot is set in stone and a lot could change. But expect 2026 to be something pretty big for Dollywood

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

Don’t know if this allowed quite yet, but here we go

As some of you may know. Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary is in 2026. And there have been some rumors flying around about how they want to do something big for 2026. Which according to some of my friends who are in close contact with Dollywood. Maybe referring to a 200+ foot attraction.

Now rumors have been spread that it could be something like a 300 foot Dive Coaster to looking at a possible Hyper Coaster from Vekoma (which I think makes sense with the recent relationship they’ve had).

as for location, nothing official has been set in stone, but the area behind Big Bear Mountain could be looked at for development, there’s also the area where Mountain Sidewinder used to be.

This may seem like speculation at the moment and in a way it is since not a lot is set in stone and a lot could change. But expect 2026 to be something pretty big for Dollywood

Giga dive was canned during the pandemic but a man can dream. Maybe they’ll revive that idea. Id be all for it.

 

[Tacky3663]

Giga dive was canned during the pandemic but a man can dream. Maybe they’ll revive that idea. Id be all for it.

I’d personally feel a Vekoma Hyper would work perfectly for this park because of the recent relationship they’ve had with Vekoma

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

I’d personally feel a Vekoma Hyper would work perfectly for this park because of the recent relationship they’ve had with Vekoma

Gotta also take into account that Lrod will eventually be receiving a chain lift (source: at coaster con they said they weren’t committed to keeping Lrod a launch coaster)
So that means new track, structure for the lift, the chain, the motor, new trains or modified trains and possibly a new braking system. That’ll cost em a bunch too.

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

Gotta also take into account that Lrod will eventually be receiving a chain lift (source: at coaster con they said they weren’t committed to keeping Lrod a launch coaster)
So that means new track, structure for the lift, the chain, the motor, new trains or modified trains and possibly a new braking system. That’ll cost em a bunch too.

Oh. Plus I’m hearing rumblings that heh want to build a second gate. If you ask why? well look to spaceballs. Dollywood 2: the search for more money

 

[horsesboy]

Gotta also take into account that Lrod will eventually be receiving a chain lift (source: at coaster con they said they weren’t committed to keeping Lrod a launch coaster)
So that means new track, structure for the lift, the chain, the motor, new trains or modified trains and possibly a new braking system. That’ll cost em a bunch too.

They also have NOT committed to changing it out for a chain yet though I would say the odds are very good.

Oh. Plus I’m hearing rumblings that heh want to build a second gate. If you ask why? well look to spaceballs. Dollywood 2: the search for more money

A second gate is a very high probability as there can be serious traffic backups at the entrance and exit on busy days.

As far as future expansion plans they do have some big plans and I would suggest that people remember the vision and business plan for Dollywood is a family based approach not necessarily a high thrills based approach. The exact quote I was given a few years back was they are modeling at becoming the more affordable Disney style vacation destination. Source I know people that know things.

 

[Tacky3663]

They also have NOT committed to changing it out for a chain yet though I would say the odds are very good.


A second gate is a very high probability as there can be serious traffic backups at the entrance and exit on busy days.

As far as future expansion plans they do have some big plans and I would suggest that people remember the vision and business plan for Dollywood is a family based approach not necessarily a high thrills based approach. The exact quote I was given a few years back was they are modeling at becoming the more affordable Disney style vacation destination. Source I know people that know things.

I can agree with this formula, however, i expect them to add a couple thrill coasters here and there

 

[DE_Creative]

This 2026 project, according to a reliable source, was a Mack multi-launch last they knew. It’s possible that changed since then though, since this was about a year ago

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

They also have NOT committed to changing it out for a chain yet though I would say the odds are very good.


A second gate is a very high probability as there can be serious traffic backups at the entrance and exit on busy days.

As far as future expansion plans they do have some big plans and I would suggest that people remember the vision and business plan for Dollywood is a family based approach not necessarily a high thrills based approach. The exact quote I was given a few years back was they are modeling at becoming the more affordable Disney style vacation destination. Source I know people that know things.

They cited at coaster con multiple times, and this comes from multiple sources that they stated during tours that they are reevaluating their commitment to the ride as a launch coaster. I think we can all agree on knowing what’ll happen

 

[Fiender]

They cited at coaster con multiple times, and this comes from multiple sources that they stated during tours that they are reevaluating their commitment to the ride as a launch coaster. I think we can all agree on knowing what’ll happen

That they will weigh the cost of a launch renovation/replacement against the cost of turning into a lift hill before making a decision?

 

[horsesboy]

They cited at coaster con multiple times, and this comes from multiple sources that they stated during tours that they are reevaluating their commitment to the ride as a launch coaster. I think we can all agree on knowing what’ll happen

They are LOOKING at it as a POSSIBLE right now they have NOT decided to go that route yet buy from what I know they odds are that it's more likely then not that it gets a chain. They currently have not decided to keep it or change it.

 

[warfelg]

They are LOOKING at it as a POSSIBLE right now they have NOT decided to go that route yet buy from what I know they odds are that it's more likely then not that it gets a chain. They currently have not decided to keep it or change it.

I sure hope they keep it. An engineer friend gave me his $0.02 as to why it struggled to ever stay running. His thoughts were because wood has a lot of give, the tolerances are harder to keep. So on launches the wood gives based on weight of the train and that tight tolerance got messed with. His “simple” solution is that if they made the lift/launch out of steel, those tolerances won’t get messed with, and it would work better.

 

[Tacky3663]

They are LOOKING at it as a POSSIBLE right now they have NOT decided to go that route yet buy from what I know they odds are that it's more likely then not that it gets a chain. They currently have not decided to keep it or change it.

I would honestly say shut it down for like a season or two and rebuild the launch.

 

[horsesboy]

I sure hope they keep it. An engineer friend gave me his $0.02 as to why it struggled to ever stay running. His thoughts were because wood has a lot of give, the tolerances are harder to keep. So on launches the wood gives based on weight of the train and that tight tolerance got messed with. His “simple” solution is that if they made the lift/launch out of steel, those tolerances won’t get messed with, and it would work better.

It's possible that his $0.02 is worth way more then that.

 

[warfelg]

It's possible that his $0.02 is worth way more then that.

He's not a coaster enthusiast at all so he's not all up and up about LR's issues in depth. Just what I told him. But his basic end conclusion is whenever forces are going to be high, you need tight tolerance, and weight variables will vary, you can't use wood.

 

[Crunchewy]

Steel launch sounds like a good plan to fix it. If there's no launch that would be a big disappointment.

 

[CoasterMac]

I genuinely wonder how much more money they're willing to pump into this ride. The thing cost $22m at debut, and over the years it's been upgraded with: Structural reinforcements, train modifications, additional 'rollback' brakes on the launch, who knows how many launch hardware upgrades & fixes, and more than half the track replaced. Would not be surprised if the running total on this ride was $35m+ by now. And if they rip out the launch structure & replace it with steel truss structure, or fully convert it to a lift hill, I would imagine that's no small expense. Can they really keep doing this for another decade?

 

[warfelg]

I genuinely wonder how much more money they're willing to pump into this ride. The thing cost $22m at debut, and over the years it's been upgraded with: Structural reinforcements, train modifications, additional 'rollback' brakes on the launch, who knows how many launch hardware upgrades & fixes, and more than half the track replaced. Would not be surprised if the running total on this ride was $35m+ by now. And if they rip out the launch structure & replace it with steel truss structure, or fully convert it to a lift hill, I would imagine that's no small expense. Can they really keep doing this for another decade?

Well that’s the thing: if steel structure works that should be the end of continuing problems. That’s kinda the biggest thing I was told by a non-insider is everything they’ve done has been more fix the symptoms rather than the issue.

 

[horsesboy]

I genuinely wonder how much more money they're willing to pump into this ride. The thing cost $22m at debut, and over the years it's been upgraded with: Structural reinforcements, train modifications, additional 'rollback' brakes on the launch, who knows how many launch hardware upgrades & fixes, and more than half the track replaced. Would not be surprised if the running total on this ride was $35m+ by now. And if they rip out the launch structure & replace it with steel truss structure, or fully convert it to a lift hill, I would imagine that's no small expense. Can they really keep doing this for another decade?

One thing to consider is we don't know what deals and discounts RMC may have given them for work and even parts. RMC is well aware that the coaster has never been reliable. At the moment Lightingrod is the coaster that comes to mind when you hear RMC launched. If they have any desire to continue offering that product they likely don't want to ses lightingrod fail. Not to mention they likely have a desire to be on good terms with Dollywood and Herschend so as to be considered for future projects.

 

[Diamond Dave]

I'm not an engineer, but it makes sense to me that replacing the launch substructure with a rectangular steel frame like Iron Gwazi and Zadra's lifts should reduce wood compression/expansion during the launch.