https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLDZn22BC5r/?igsh=emM1aWloYnJ6bHpk

 

people keep saying “flight simulator” but the park keeps saying “not been done before” so it will be interesting to see what actually gets announced. 

An indoor coaster has been mentioned but you'd think some evidence of footers would have been apparent when the building's foundation went in.

I'd guess it will be a new take on an existing concept instead of something entirely new. A flight simulator (like Soarin') could be cool, but I saw how SeaWorld's version turned out — no thank you to that. What kinds of rides could go in that wouldn't require too much of the foundation to be redone?

An indoor coaster would be fun, but I don't see that happening. They've already added 2 family coasters in the past 6 years (Dragonflier in 2019 and Big Bear Mountain in 2023) and I think we'd already see evidence at this point. At KI footers have shown up for coasters a year before opening. Of course that's for larger coasters, but even so, you'd think we would see something this time.

12 hours ago, Oldiesmann said:

and I think we'd already see evidence at this point

you'd think we would see something this time.

We have.  The cages that hold the footer bolts are on site and from Mack Rides.

1 hour ago, DiamondbackFan said:

We have.  The cages that hold the footer bolts are on site and from Mack Rides.

Please clarify:  are these cages at KI or Dollywood?

^Dollywood

The tease continues 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLQJNSPyWRc/?igsh=MWdkM2l0N2R3ajBkbQ==

The "plunge" mention is causing some to wonder if there will be a water element in the attraction. One corner of the building did have a deeper trench dug out, so perhaps that will have something to do with it.

Another tease. We’ve had 8, now 10. 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL5keiRixM0/?igsh=cjE0NDI4cmVyN202

Track is on site. It’s definitely not “flying theater” simulator. 

Thanks for the update @brenthodge! I'm really hyped for this new Dollywood ride! IMO, I think it will be some sort of boat ride/coaster similar to Journey to Atlantis at Seaworld Orlando. Is that powered track? It doesn't look like it but not sure. That doesn't look like any manufacturer track I know, Dollywood might be working with multiple companies to bring this ride to life. I'm really confused from the teasers because it is both "taking flight" and "taking a plunge". I will be following this project very closely the next few weeks to see when we might find more clues. When do you think Dollywood will announce this new ride?

Here's a video by Attraction Ideas about what could possibly be going on here. I know his ideas are a little far-fetched sometimes, but I found this video quite interesting:

 

First -these are not my pics, so thanks to Johnny Amusenent for initially posting. The track looks a lot like the Mack Rocking Boat track. We are pretty sure they are working with Mack. I agree they are going high and low with their teasers, so it could be both?  The track doesn’t look heavy enough to be a suspended car (as some have speculated)  plus it looks like the track is being bolted to the floor. There is a legend of a mysterious hidden lake in the Smokey’s that only appears at night, and they have posted a video tying into that, so it could be a lot.All the teasers could also be to throw us off in multiple direction  

 

Dollywood beat Universal to the rocking boat ride 

Anyway, I would absolutely LOVE a rocking boat ride! Looking at pieces of track from Mission Bermudes and Dollywood's new track, they look almost IDENTICAL!

 

Dollywood has the potential to make this THE BEST ride at Dollywood and possibly even better than Epic Universe's rides! If the queue is amazing as well, they could really put Dollywood on the map along with Disney, Universal, Seaworld, and Legacy Cedar Fair Parks! (okay, I exaggerate a little, but still. It could be AMAZING!) Very excited!

Dollywood continues to put themselves into the premier tier of theme parks. With everything that’s happening with SIX it’s nice to see some parks continue to thrive and invest in their customers. 

It’s also crazy that there’s a massive building, with some type of track being loaded into it, that’s opening most likely in March of next year and we still really have no definitive idea as to what the heck it is. In this day and age of media attention- that’s pretty impressive (and they must have good friends in the sevier county planning and permit board that keep their secrets well. 

On 7/25/2025 at 10:44 PM, RollerColt said:

Dollywood continues to put themselves into the premier tier of theme parks. With everything that’s happening with SIX it’s nice to see some parks continue to thrive and invest in their customers. 

With the "new" Herschend coming into focus this next year, I think we will see Dollywood moving even further into the "national destination" status (i'd venture they already are more than than a regional at this point). I could see them defining their tiers more with the recent acquisitions being more regionally focussed, and SDC and DW becoming more "national destination" flagship resort players once the SDS resort comes on line.

People underestimate their coaster collection.  I have said for years they are a hyper or giga away from really putting Dollywood on the radar of a lot more people.

On 7/26/2025 at 11:23 AM, brenthodge said:

It’s also crazy that there’s a massive building, with some type of track being loaded into it, that’s opening most likely in March of next year and we still really have no definitive idea as to what the heck it is. In this day and age of media attention- that’s pretty impressive (and they must have good friends in the sevier county planning and permit board that keep their secrets well. 

My understanding is that Dollywood is going to reveal what the ride is in September.

8 hours ago, disco2000 said:

People underestimate their coaster collection.  I have said for years they are a hyper or giga away from really putting Dollywood on the radar of a lot more people.

I don’t think they really need either of those for people to take notice. They already are.  They are proving with “most expensive investment ever” that ISN’T an extreme coaster, that they are playing in a different lane. 

Oh Dolly, you TEASE! 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DM8UE0sSl-g/?igsh=MTM0eDF3aHlnenN3OQ==

I love seeing them do this the fun, engaging way that gets people talking… you know, the way KI used to do things?? Shed anyone? 

6 hours ago, brenthodge said:

I love seeing them do this the fun, engaging way that gets people talking… you know, the way KI used to do things?? Shed anyone? 

Yea, I also remember the massive backlash when it wasn't a droptrack.  darned if you do situation.  Many (not me) are still sore and using it as a critisizm of the marketing department at the time.

If the ride truly does take flight, take a plunge, and follow the light, this ride will be the first of it's kind. I feel like the ride will be rocking boat meets Navi River Journey and includes screen elements. We shall see. I look forward to finding out more! This last teaser definitely gave a little more information than the previous ones

On 8/5/2025 at 7:17 AM, robintodd said:

Yea, I also remember the massive backlash when it wasn't a droptrack.  darned if you do situation.  Many (not me) are still sore and using it as a critisizm of the marketing department at the time.

TBH those people who anticipated a drop track without any physical evidence (especially overtop of the train track) set themselves up for disappointment. A drop track would have been cool, but not once in my mind did I think it was going to happen.

She’s teasing, but not saying much. 
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNTmE5ms_iQ/?igsh=MW4zNTF3Z2JoM3RnMA==

Speaking of drop tracks, what if Mack Rides did a special drop track element for Dollywood's possible new boat ride? I feel like that would be really cool and unexpected

Announcement on September 17th! Super excited! We pretty much know what it is going to be, it's just a question of what it will do.

https://www.wbir.com/article/entertainment/events/dolly-parton-new-dollywood-attraction-2026-launch/51-01d4e487-b48c-47ae-9c02-8b3efb16ba7b

I just had an idea of what Dollywood is building. Maybe it’s an indoor RMC dark ride coaster like the new Fire in the Hole in Silver Dollar City. I rode that twice last month and it has a splash down element. Hence where the water element comes from.