Chessington World of Adventures is planning a new themed land with roller coasters and family-friendly attractions.
Merlin Entertainments, which operates Chessington, has submitted its plans to Kingston Council to replace its Wild Asia area and an adjacent glamping site with the new land, Surrey Live reports.
The Kobra ride would remain and would be reimagined. Additionally, the new land would include indoor and outdoor coasters, an immersive ride for families, themed play areas, sensory environments, new F&B outlets and a shop selling exclusive merchandise.
In the planning documents, Merlin said it hopes to transform Chessington into a year-round theme park, and needs to keep investing in the park to compete with other local visitor attractions.
The documents stated: “The ‘need’ to continue investing in the right way is critical to the resort’s success, and in doing so will help to ensure it is able to compete with other leisure/visitor attractions in the South East, e.g. Paultons Park in Hampshire and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.
“Merlin is very keen for the resort to become a year-round attraction and the indoor elements proposed in the new themed land would help this transition. This ‘evolution’ will add to the attractiveness of the resort to guests and will help to ‘smooth’ the visitor number profile, potentially reducing the summer peak and spreading this into other months.”
Merlin’s investment plans for Chessington
More information about the new land at Chessington is due to be announced. If the plans are approved, construction could start next year.
Chessington is also planning to add an indoor water park with pools, waterslides, play areas and lazy rivers.
Last year, the park opened the world’s first Jumanji-themed land. The £17 million ‘World of Jumanji’ land features three new rides, including a Jumanji-themed coaster.
Images courtesy of Merlin Entertainments
