Dolly Parton misses Dollywood ride opening due to health issues
Dolly Parton was unable to attend the unveiling of Dollywood’s newest attraction after experiencing what she described as health issues.
Parton had planned to attend the grand opening of NightFlight Expedition in person but remained in Nashville instead. In a prerecorded message played during the event, she explained that she had become dehydrated and that her doctor advised her not to travel.
The new attraction is a first-of-its-kind combination of a roller coaster and whitewater rapids ride. Its opening had originally been scheduled for June but was pushed back to August.
With an estimated $50 million price tag, NightFlight Expedition is Dollywood’s most ambitious and expensive attraction to date. The ride has been in development for about three years.
Parton wished guests an enjoyable experience and encouraged them to have fun before ending her message with a promise to see them down the road.
NightFlight Expedition is designed as an immersive journey through the Great Smoky Mountains, incorporating multimedia elements, onboard and offboard audio, and specialized lighting effects. Riders travel through a nighttime Smokies-inspired environment while searching for bioluminescence.
The approximately five-and-a-half-minute experience combines traditional roller coaster track with about 500,000 gallons of moving water as riders make their way through the attraction.
Parton has dealt with other health-related setbacks in recent years. She previously postponed her first Las Vegas residency in more than three decades because of health challenges. The six-show engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace was initially scheduled for December before being moved to September and ultimately canceled.
At the time of the postponement, Parton reassured fans that she had no plans to retire but believed she needed to slow down so she could prepare for future projects.
Last September, Parton also missed an announcement for another new Dollywood attraction because of a kidney stone that led to an infection. She said her doctor advised her to stay home and take several days to recover.
The following month, Parton addressed speculation about her health in a social media video, joking that she was still alive and had no intention of stopping her work.
Parton continues to perform occasionally but has not embarked on a full tour since her “Pure & Simple Tour” concluded in 2016.
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