Work around the Mexicana area is progressing well, with the ground now levelled and prepped for the next phase of development. 

With the recent Paw Patrol announcement earlier this week, Chessington has now installed themed banners around the Mexicana construction site, offering guests a glimpse of what's to come. These new decorations mark a symbolic turning point—this is our final Mexicana deconstruction update.

All remaining buildings in the area have now been removed, including the old food unit, which was flattened during the week. The site is nearly level, paving the way for the next stage of development: digging foundations for brand-new rides and structures.

The old side of Mexicana is officially gone, and while it’s the end of an era, excitement is building fast. We can’t wait to see this new themed area come to life!

Merlin Entertainments, a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, has announced a new partnership with Paramount to bring PAW Patrol – the number one pre-school brand in the UK and globally, produced by Spin Master Entertainment – to one of its leading UK theme parks in 2026. The introduction of the famous pups to Chessington World of Adventures Resort through the creation of the UK’s first and only PAW Patrol themed land, will surprise and delight families with young children across the country.

This major new collaboration is part of Merlin’s strategy to work with owners of leading intellectual property (IP) to bring these premium brands to life in key locations across the world and comes hot on the heels of its recent global partnership with Minecraft. It also signals the company’s ambition to broaden its offering to families with pre-school children, increasing its appeal with this key demographic.

Chessington World of Adventures is the UK’s only attraction to offer a theme park, zoo, aquarium and themed hotels, and is uniquely placed to strengthen its appeal to young families through the addition of this popular pre-school brand. The development at Chessington will include the creation of first-of-its-kind concepts, not only with four PAW Patrol-themed rides, but also guest accommodation and a customised retail offer, all of which will bring the brand to life.

“We’re delighted to be joining forces with Paramount to bring PAW Patrol to life in one of our most popular UK theme parks. The partnership reinforces our position as the preferred partner for the world’s most beloved brands and builds on our expanding offer to families with younger children, who are a key audience for us as part of our future growth plans. We look forward to welcoming guests to Chessington to enjoy this exciting new land.”

FIONA EASTWOOD,CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS:

“We are so excited to see the iconic PAW Patrol brand come to life at Chessington World of Adventures, and incredibly pleased to be partnering with Merlin Entertainments to bring these beloved pups to their first fully themed land in the UK. Chessington World of Adventures and Nickelodeon have a deep commitment to creating entertainment that families can enjoy together, and we are delighted that this new themed land will immerse young visitors in their very own PAW Patrol adventure.”

MARIE MARKS,SVP, GLOBAL EXPERIENCES AT PARAMOUNT:

The themed, immersive PAW Patrol land is being developed through close collaboration between the creatives at Paramount and the innovators in Merlin Magic Making, who together have vast experience in reaching new audiences through bold and captivating concepts.

The old Mexicana restaurant has been partially demolished, and inside the remaining building, internal walls have now been stripped out.

Meanwhile, the buildings in the small zoo area are still standing — but not for much longer, as further demolition work is expected soon.

You can still spot part of the old Scorpion Express queue line, although it now looks very out of place among the cleared areas. The Scorpion Express photo booth has also been removed, though interestingly, the "Scorpion Express This Way" signage is still standing... but for how much longer remains to be seen.

Ground works for the new development aren’t far off now, with vertical construction anticipated to begin around September. Exciting changes are on the horizon for this corner of the park!

Work is progressing rapidly on the removal of the Mexicana area at Chessington World of Adventures. The main building — once home to the VIP space, a games stand, and the Annual Pass Hub — has now been fully removed.

Next in line for demolition is the old Mexicana restaurant, along with the office space above it. Over the past week, windows have been taken out in preparation, signaling that this area is soon to become completely unrecognisable.

As Project Anchor (widely speculated to be tied to the park’s future plans) gears up, it won’t be long before vertical construction begins and the future of Chessington starts to take shape.

Eagle-eyed visitors may still spot the last remnants of signage from Scorpion Express clinging on — but for how much longer?

Major progress is underway at Chessington as Project Play continues to reshape this area, and the once-familiar Mexicana area is now well into its transformation.

Demolition work has officially begun, with the Annual Pass Hub and adjacent games stand nearly gone—just a few remnants remain. The Children’s Petting Zoo has also been completely removed, leaving the space nearly unrecognisable to longtime visitors.

Interestingly, the Scorpion Express photo collection point is still standing, along with some lingering signage pointing guests toward the ride.

While it’s definitely bittersweet to see such a nostalgic area fade away, the excitement for what’s to come is real. We’re eager to see what Project Play will bring to Chessington next!

Work on removing the Mexicana area at Chessington World of Adventures is continuing at a steady pace, with the deconstruction of Scorpion Express still ongoing. A major milestone has been reached as the control booth that once stood over the ride has now been taken down, leaving just the remaining structure.

Additional construction fences have been installed along the pathway connecting Zufari to the area near Tomb Blaster and Croc Drop, signaling further work to come. The iconic Rameses Eye is also set to be removed in the coming weeks.

For now, the surrounding buildings and the zoo remain untouched, but it won’t be long before this area is completely transformed. With the new development set to open in 2026, Chessington is gearing up for a fresh and exciting addition to the park!

Construction work on Project Play is officially underway, bringing major changes to the Mexicana area. Construction walls have gone up around the site, marking the beginning of a long-anticipated transformation. The popular Scorpion Express has already been removed, and heavy construction vehicles have been spotted onsite, signaling the start of early groundwork.

While no major demolitions have taken place just yet, it's only a matter of time before key structures, including some of the larger buildings and the beloved children’s petting zoo, are cleared to make way for the new development.

Change is on the horizon at Chessington, as construction walls move in around the old Children’s Petting Zoo and Mexicana area. This marks the beginning of a major transformation, and it won’t be long before this part of the park looks completely different.

Scorpion Express now appears to be fully removed, with only the old operating booth still standing as a final reminder of the ride. A crane has been spotted on-site, signaling that demolition is imminent. Soon, these once-iconic buildings will be torn down, clearing the way for construction to begin on an exciting new area.

While it’s always sad to say goodbye to a beloved part of the park’s history, there’s plenty of anticipation for what’s to come. We can’t wait to see this space evolve into something fresh, bringing new adventures and experiences for future visitors to enjoy!

Exciting changes are on the horizon at Chessington World of Adventures, as the park has officially confirmed that Project Play has been approved. This major development will bring significant changes to the Mexicana area, including the removal of Scorpion Express, the Children’s Zoo, and much of the existing theming.

A Chessington spokesperson shared the news, stating:
"We've just received planning permission for a new land – keep your eyes peeled for an announcement very soon!"

Visitors heading to the park this spring will begin to see construction taking shape in the Mexicana section. As part of these changes, the animals from the Children’s Zoo will be relocated to new homes within the resort. However, young guests will still be able to visit their favorite animals in the Wanyama Village and Reserve.

While an official theme has yet to be revealed, rumors suggest that the new land will be themed around Paw Patrol, featuring several new flat rides and a children’s rollercoaster. If true, this would mark an exciting addition to Chessington, bringing one of the most beloved children’s franchises to life in a thrilling new way.