Did You Know There’s One More Dolly Parton Song to be Released in 2046 and it’s Stored at Dollywood?

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Dream Box at DreamMore Resort (Courtesy of Dollywood)

Dolly has a secret and it’s at the DreamMore Resort at Dollywood. Around 2015 when the hotel was built, Dolly Parton recorded a secret, final song titled “My Place in History”. The song master is on a CD and locked in a wooden “Dream Box” (with a CD player) and is scheduled for release on her 100th birthday on January 19, 2046. The song is stored in a display case in Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort lobby alongside her Dream More book and a piece of wood from her childhood home. There is also a letter in the case with instructions on how to play the master (and maybe more). It’s sort of a transparent time capsule. Dolly did speak about the song in interviews and mentioned she hoped she might be there when it was opened and that it was tough to hide it away, but that she wanted to do something special for the future. So Dolly may be gone, but in 19 years we’ll still have new Dolly Parton music.

NightFlight at Dollywood Shut Down Through August 30th to Allow Mack to Adjust the “Turntable” in the Flying Simulator Section of the Ride

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It’s no secret that NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood has had some up-time challenges in its early days. I experienced this personally earlier this week with it opening late and shutting down early. We may have an indication of one of the potential issues with Dollywood’s social media post stating, “As part of on-going ride rehearsal, the manufacturer has asked for additional time to adjust the timing of the ride’s turntable to ensure a quality experience for this unique part of the attraction.” It’s rare that you see this level of transparency and specificity by a theme park about a ride issue and it is quite refreshing. The post has now been removed as everything is about Dolly Parton’s passing (and rightfully so), but the bottom line remains that the ride is closed for now.

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Visiting Dollywood the Last “Normal” Day Before Dolly Parton’s Death

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Dollywood entrance

I was lucky enough to be at Dollywood on Monday, August 24, 2026, just hours away from Dolly Parton unexpectedly passing away the following morning on August 25, 2026. Dollywood was already scheduled to be closed on August 25th, and the park has already announced that “Dollywood will be open Wednesday as Dolly wanted, always reminding everyone with her signature sparkle, ‘the show must go on’.” Monday was simply a gorgeous day with mostly clear skies and a buzz in the air for the opening of a new ride, NightFlight Expedition. I was traveling for work passing near Dollywood and decided to stop in for a few hours to check out the new ride. It made for a long late day, but I was excited to do it. However, I didn’t realize I’d be visiting on the last day before the park would lose its namesake and the World would lose the sparkle of a universally beloved star.

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A Review of Riding NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood During its First Week of Operation

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NightFlight Expedition at Dollywood is open and it is a highly ambitious ride, but in these early days you may need a lot of patience. I went to Dollywood on Monday, August 24th, 5 days after the August 19th official opening date. This ride is complex with a moving loading platform, simulator section, coaster section (forwards and backwards with turntables), a water rapids section, a calm boat section and tons of screens and effects. Getting it all to work in sync borders of a miracle of technology as there is so much going on during this ride. The ride’s opening date was delayed from Spring to August and it’s obvious they’re still debugging the ride. However, when it all works it’s pretty cool, but try to ride as early in the day as you can as it has had a propensity for extended closures as they work to get everything right.

Update 8/25/26: According to Dollywood, the ride will now be closed through Sunday, Aug. 30th, while additional work is done. 

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Splashdown Refreshers at Island H2O Water Park is a Great Place for Boba with BOBACHILLERS

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Boba has been a trendy beverage for a few years now. Popping those small little pearls of flavor is a lot of fun and adds so depth to the beverage. Island H20 water park in Kissimmee now offers BOBACHILLERS in several flavors and colors that both look and taste amazing at their Splashdown Refreshment Station. In addition to boba the stand also offers Aguas Frescas which are light, refreshing, and sweet traditional fruit-based drinks and and iced coffees. All of these are great non-alcoholic beverages for people looking for a choice other than a simple soda and are priced reasonably at just $8.

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Did you Know Desperado Falls at Great Escape Used to Operate at the Short Lived Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, California?

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The log flume is one of the most iconic rides at Busch Gardens. At Busch Gardens Tampa the recently closed Stanley Falls Flume opened in 1973 as the park’s first “thrill” ride and was built by the famous roller coaster company Arrow Dynamics. At Busch Gardens Williamsburg there’s Le Scoot which opened in 1975. However there was a third Busch Gardens log flume known as Ya-Hoo Barrel Ride (sometimes known as Busch Barrels) which opened at Busch Gardens Van Nuy in 1972. You might be wondering, “There was another Busch Gardens?” Well sort of, but not as extensive as the parks we know today and the log flume closed in 1976 and the entire park closed in 1979. However, this ride would be moved and still operates today as Desperado Plunge at Great Escape.

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Switchback, the Former ZDT Wooden Shuttle Coaster, is Sold Giving Hope for an ArieForce One Relocation

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The first modern wooden shuttle roller coaster Switchback has been sold and will be headed to a new home. ZDT’s Amusement Park in Seguin, Texas closed a year ago and the coaster along with it. The owners have been trying to find a home ever since and have announced a year later that it has finally happened. No details at all about the new location are known yet. Hopefully this is both encouraging and calibrating for fans of the recently closed ArieForce One at Fun Spot Atlanta. It’s encouraging to show there is a market for coaster relocation, but also calibrating in that it took a year to happen.

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Busch Gardens Launches Great 2027 Fun Card Deal of 16+ Months Including Adventure Island for Only $114.99

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2027 Fun Card Promotion (Courtesy of Busch Gardens)

Busch Gardens Tampa has begun selling 2027 Fun Cards that include the rest of 2026 as well for only $114.99. As an added bonus you also get an Adventure Island Fun Card included! Fun Cards have their limitations compared to season passes in that there are some blackout dates and there’s no in park discount or free parking. However, you do get the most important thing, admission to the parks at Busch Gardens until December 31, 2027 and until October 24, 2027 at Adventure Island. Blackout dates are really light for 2027 too, just 8 days for BGT and 7 for Adventure Island. This year Busch Gardens plans to offer “Fun Card Rewards” that include “special offers and discounts to limited-time experiences and free guest tickets to bring a friend”. If you visit more than a handful of times a season pass may make more sense with the free parking and food discount. However, a season pass is nearly double the cost of a fun card, only good for 12 months and doesn’t include the water park. Just consider your situation before picking one or the other and often in you’re planning a weekend trip 1-2 times a year a Fun Card can be way more economical than standard tickets. Busch Gardens says this is their best offer of the year, so if you’re planning a trip in the next 16 months it could make sense to get a Fun Card.

Six Flags Darien Lake has an Awesome Old School Nighttime Show with its Laser Light Spectacular

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Six Flags Darien Lake has a great nighttime show called Laser Light Spectacular. The show takes place on select nights from May 16 to September 6 and starts at 9:15pm on nights the park closes at 9pm. The show takes place in a grass amphitheater near the Boomerang coaster and is nearly 30 minutes long. It uses vibrant lasers, fireworks, fire, water, fog and music transform the night sky into an electrifying experience. This isn’t a formal review, but I walked away impressed as I can’t think of another Six Flags park with a nightly show like this.

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The 2026 Six Flags Souvenir Drink Bottle Refill Program and Paper Cup Plans

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Six Flags drink plan

Six Flags offers a great way for frequent visitors to save money with their souvenir bottles with free refills all season long. In the hot summer it’s important to stay hydrated and this is a way to do it without worrying about the costs of individual beverages adding up. These bottle are only $39 and can be refilled every 15 minutes at locations across the chain. With many approaching year-round it doesn’t take long to get your money back out of a souvenir cup. In addition to the sports bottles, Six Flags also offers a “paper cup” plan at a similar price where you just show your season pass and get a paper cup of soda instead. There is also an upgraded option where you can add ICEE, hot cocoa and coffee as beverage options.

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