Chessington History 2022

The mass upgrades around Chessington continue into 2022.

Firstly a ride closure for 2022, Jungle Bus reached the end of life and has been removed for 2022. The new bus was a direct replacement and re-opened in October.

2022 says goodbye to Pirates Cove after many years in its current form. This has been re-named and re-themed into Shipwreck Coast, with the addition of two new attractions. Firstly Sea Storm has under gone a full referbishment following early closure last year, with the ride re-opening in June with a new center piece, a moved entrance into the coast along with some new colours around the edges and cabin. The two new rides for 2022 and a Zamperla Watermania, Barrel Bail Out. A water dueling barrel ride on water! The other is a relocation from Thorpe Park as the old Timber Tug Boat comes in as Trawler Trouble opened in July. With Blue Barnacle this will be a more enclosed are with 4 rides.

The area has been re-freshed with new scenery and the building used for queue line featuring Rats and Goats being added to the Blue Barnacle area.

Many park upgrades were also included for 2022. This includes a re-fresh to Adventure Point Pizza, the Tortilla building in Mexicana as well as surrounding buildings with new displays. Forbidden Kingdom has also been re-painted from Croc Drop down to Mexicana. Wild Asia has had a complete re-fresh with 80% of the area painted up. This includes the fencing to Tuk Tuk, new fencing and overhaul of Monkey Swinger, exterial building of Temple of Mayhem and new scenery across the area. ZUFARI sign has been removed and replaced with a Wanyama Village on the walk between Forbidden Kingdom and ZUFARI, the reverse now welcomes you to Forbidden Kingdom.

Gruffalo’s queue has been extended further into the old Picnic area with Dragon’s Fury getting more shelter for external elements around the station. This remains un-themed for 2022. River Rafts has had its entrance moved to opposite Tomb Blaster, this is due to the length of the queue however does take it out of the Rainforest. Also for the Rainforest the viewing area for the animals has finally had a window installed!

The explorer extrance has been completely changed for 2022, with a new entrance area far more open, with new themed car and the first of many “grass” animals you will see across the park. This has been mainly done due to the construction for 2023 on the old unused green area by the entrance.

In the Zoo, a re-fresh of Penguin Cove and Animal Antics Lawn have been completed, with another animal change in the already removal of the Clouded Leopard and return of the Binturong. After several months work starting in 2021, new scenes and work have been completed in the Sea Life. The first major works since early expansions 10 years ago. Room on a Broom is moved into the Chessington Zoo area from Adventure Point.

Fast Track become a thing of the past as the park adopt Reserve and Ride and on the shop front, Dragon Delights is themed more into Land of the Dragons style for 2022.

The Summer saw a couple of freak incidents, with the rides Scoprion Express is closed early in the season after malfunction not to return until 2023. In the Zoo the sad death of the Capybaras left a hole in the Rainforest. A new male Giraffe arrives at the park, with one of the others leaving (due to breeding program)

2023 will see an all new Adventrure open at the park…