Dolly Parton will not be at Dollywood for NightFlight Expedition ride preview
The ride itself faced delays after it was originally announced.
What This Story Is About
- Dolly Parton will not be in attendence for Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition preview.
What Happens Next
- The ride is planned to be previewed Friday and open to the public on Aug. 19.
For Context
- Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks and Resorts, announced in June the ride would open in mid-August after seeing delays.
Catch Up
- The news of Dolly’s absence also comes as she works through health issues that have kept her from other public appearances.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Dolly Parton will not be in East Tennessee Friday for Dollywood’s preview of Nightflight Expedition, theme park spokesperson Wes Ramey has confirmed.
“Unfortunately, our Dreamer-in-Chief is unable to join us for tomorrow’s festivities, but she will still take part in the excitement via video,” Ramey said in an emailed statement to WVLT. “We look forward to having you join us to celebrate our newest addition, NightFlight Expedition.”
NightFlight is billed as a first-of-its-kind experience, and a reveal trailer played in September of last year said Nightflight Expedition will include four major sections: soaring over East Tennessee, plunging through white water rapids, climbing over the Great Smoky Mountains and dropping off cliffs and ledges.
The ride itself faced delays after it was originally announced. Eugene Naughton, president of Dollywood Parks and Resorts, announced in June the ride would open in mid-August, and the ride’s official public opening has been slated for Aug. 19.
The news of Dolly’s absence also comes as she works through health issues that have kept her from other public appearances.
“First, it’s concerning my health. And I have some good news, and a little bad news,” Dolly said in a video posted to social media in May. “The good news is, I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day. Now, the bad news is, it’s going to take me a little while before I’m up to stage performance level, because some of the meds and treatments make me a little bit swim-headed, as my grandma used to say.”
The ride’s opening next week has not been changed.
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