The gradual removal of Chessington’s Wild Asia continues, with the most noticeable activity currently centered around the clearing of trees. While progress appears steady, there haven't been any major changes since the last update. A key visual reminder of the area’s past remains—a section of Kobra’s track still sits prominently in the middle of the site, hinting at what once was.

Work is now well underway at Chessington World of Adventures as the park begins clearing Wild Asia to make way for a brand-new themed land, set to open in 2027.

One of the biggest developments this week was the removal of Kobra, Wild Asia’s signature spinning coaster. The ride’s theming was stripped a few weeks ago, and yesterday, a crane was seen lifting track sections out of the area. But fans of the ride can relax—Kobra isn’t leaving the park. It’s set to return as part of the new area, just in a slightly different location, further back from its original spot.

Elsewhere, parts of Monkey Swinger have been spotted in the park’s entrance car park, prompting speculation about its future. Could it be relocated to another Merlin park, like Alton Towers? Nothing has been confirmed yet, but its absence from the area suggests it might not return to Chessington.

With the majority of rides now removed, Wild Asia is almost unrecognisable. Only the dodgems building remains standing for now.

In addition to the ride removals, Chessington’s glamping site near Wild Asia has also started to be taken down. The check-in tent and other facilities have been dismantled, hinting at even more major changes coming to this part of the park.

The countdown to 2027 is officially on, and we can’t wait to see what this ambitious new development brings to Chessington. Stay tuned for more updates as construction continues!

Activity has kicked off in Wild Asia as tree cutting begins in and around the area to make way for upcoming construction work. Temporary fencing is expected to be installed soon, marking the next stage in the transformation.

Guests will notice that bunting once draped around the area has now been taken down — some pieces are currently hanging from the Wild Asia sign or scattered across the ground. Additionally, the entrance structure for Monkey Swinger has been removed and now rests nearby, awaiting either archival storage or disposal.

Work has officially started on the removal of Wild Asia at Chessington World of Adventures. One of the first major changes can be seen at Kobra, where the iconic snake theming is being dismantled. One of the ride’s support towers has already been removed, leaving behind only the bare metal structure. Pieces of the snake theming are scattered on the ground around the site, with cherry pickers on hand to help workers access the remaining elements.

Elsewhere in the area, general clearing work is clearly underway. The famous Banyan tree remains standing for now, as does the oversized backpack that has been a popular photo spot for many guests.

It’s clear that it won’t be long before Wild Asia transforms into a full-scale construction site, much like the current scene over in Mexicana. Exciting times are ahead for Chessington fans!

Exciting changes are underway at Chessington! The transformation of the Wild Asia area has officially begun, with the Jungle Bus ride now fully removed. Around the site, parts of the Jungle Bus and even components from the Dodgems can be spotted, hinting at the scale of the work happening behind the scenes.

It’s bittersweet to see classic rides go, but we’re buzzing with anticipation for what’s to come. With a planned reopening in 2027, we can't wait to see how this area will be reimagined. Stay tuned – big things are coming!

A significant transformation is underway at Chessington World of Adventures, as the park confirms that Wild Asia will remain closed throughout the 2025 season. Once a bustling land filled with themed attractions and immersive jungle vibes, Wild Asia is now being carefully dismantled, paving the way for something entirely new.

Work on removing rides has already begun, with Monkey Swinger—one of the area’s most recognizable attractions—now fully packed up and ready for storage. While its final destination remains unknown, speculation is rife that the ride could be relocated to Alton Towers, potentially finding a new home within one of the park’s existing themed areas.

For now, entry to Wild Asia is completely restricted, with barriers and signage teasing that “something coming 2027” The once-vibrant pathways of this themed land now sit eerily quiet, save for the distant calls of the lorikeets, which can still be heard while guests queue for Tiger Rock, adding a bittersweet touch of nostalgia.

A Minecraft-Themed Future?

As Chessington undergoes this transformation, the biggest question remains: what will replace Wild Asia? Excitement is already building, with rumors circulating that the new area could be themed around Minecraft—one of the world’s most popular video game franchises. If true, this would mark a significant shift in Chessington’s attraction lineup, embracing digital culture and interactive storytelling in a way the park has never done before.

A Minecraft-themed land would open up endless creative possibilities, from blocky landscapes and interactive mining experiences to themed rides and digital integrations that immerse guests in the game’s beloved world. However, the park has yet to confirm any details, leaving fans eagerly speculating about what’s to come.

Chessington World of Adventures has confirmed that Wild Asia will not be reopening for the 2025 season. Fans first noticed the area’s removal from the park’s official website, sparking speculation about its future. Now, the park has released a statement confirming the closure, saying:

“We can also confirm that the Wild Asia area and Explorer Glamping will not open for the 2025 season as part of our preparations for another exciting development. We hope to share more information on this soon!”

Wild Asia, home to popular rides like Kobra, Monkey Swinger, Jungle Bus, the dodgems, and Explorer Glamping, is set to be replaced with a brand-new rollercoaster and flat rides. Rumors suggest that the new area could be themed around Minecraft, bringing an exciting new experience to the park.

With Chessington continuing to expand and innovate, this development is sure to be one to watch! Stay tuned for more updates as they’re announced.

Chessington has submitted plans to the local council for Project Refresh & Renew. These two projects will see the oldest area of the park Wild Asia be transformed into a brand new are and experience.

In the planning documents, Kobra will be moved to another section of the new area. But Monkey Swinger, Jungle Bus and the Dodgems will be put into storage. But Temple of Mayhem will be scrapped along with the banyan tree in the centre of the land.

Looking at what's new coming to this area, a new rollercoaster will be located at the front of the area with a small section of the rollercoaster going outside for a turnaround section. In the plans when looking at side views of the building it looks like the rollercoaster will have a spike inside similar to the Intamin Multi Dimension Coaster Uncharted at PortAventura. Lockers and bag drop-off can be seen on the station platform, could we finally see double-sided lockers like a lot of other parks have to improve throughput and not require a bag room with staff? Plans for the rollercoaster include a dark ride section with reference images to Rock and Rollercoaster and Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. This could be the best-themed rollercoaster Chessington has ever seen.

In the plans for the new area, we can also see that the area will have a new restaurant, a play area, and a new flat ride. Specifications of the new flat ride aren't mentioned but we're interested to see what this ride could be!

With Merlin announcing a partnership with Mojang Studios a few days ago, we think the theme of this new area could be Minecraft-themed. We're excited to see how the future of this area develops. 

Today, Thursday 19th September 2024, Chessington World of Adventures is holding a public consultation to unveil details about an exciting new projects, dubbed "Project Refresh" and "Project Play." This ambitious two-phase development will transform parts of the park, beginning with the replacement of the Wild Asia area and the removal of the Glamping Accommodation.

Explorer Glamping

The glamping accommodation has temporary planning permission up to September 2025.

Project Refresh

The new themed area replacing Wild Asia will keep the popular spinning ride Kobra, but whether other rides within the area will be relocated or removed is yet to be confirmed. The animals currently housed in Wild Asia will also be relocated to other areas within the park. The new themed area looks to have other new attractions including a new food and beverage unit. In this new area, there will be a new playscape area (a playground), new portal into the area, retail and food unit.

A key feature of this new area seems to be a new indoor rollercoaster, which intriguingly has an outdoor section of track. Speculation has already begun that this could be the same coaster originally planned for Alton Towers' Project Horizon.

While no official opening date or theme has been announced for Project Refresh and Project Play, it's clear that Chessington is continuing to invest heavily in the park. This follows the recent success of "The World of Jumanji," which opened in May 2023. Full details and plans from today’s public consultation will soon be available on Chessington’s website.

Project Play

"Project Play," will see the transformation of the existing Mexicana area into a vibrant new themed land. The new zone is set to cater specifically to younger guests, offering an immersive experience reminiscent of the popular CBeebies Land at Alton Towers, but with its own unique theme and attractions.

As part of this major refresh, Project Play will introduce "My First Rollercoaster," designed for children to experience the thrill of their first coaster ride. Alongside this, there will be a variety of children’s flat rides and a creatively designed playscape that invites exploration and fun. A dedicated meet-and-greet area is planned, likely offering chances for young guests to interact with beloved characters.

For more information, visit: https://www.cwoa-consultation.com.