Project Amazon Station Goes Vertical And Theming Work Continues
Saturday 9th July 2022
Project Amazon is being built at lighting speeds at Chessington! The park is not sitting around with the main theming feature for the rollercoaster at its maximum height and now the framework for the station has been assembled and bricks can be seen around the building ready to enclose the station so theming work can begin.
Support footers for the track to sit on can be seen running through the station with a load and unload platform on both sides of the building. With this being a wing coaster, guests will need to cross the station. Towards the front of the station, extra steel work can be seen for what we expect will be the transfer point/bridge for guests and an operations booth for the ride operator. Something that's different to the plans is the station being fully enclosed, we were slightly worried that if it was an open air station elements of theming could get ruined.
Work on theming the huge structure on the side of the site has begun, and construction workers could be seen cladding the structure in a mesh sheet along with metal rebar for concrete to be sprayed onto. Could this be universal rocks doing this work? We could see any merlin magic-making vans sat around.
Spotted on the floor next to a footer that's still yet to be poured, it looks like we can confirm the manufacturer of the rollercoaster. Written in the corner of the plans is the company name BOLLIGER & MABILLARD.
All photos taken from public areas, never enter a busy construction site!
Project Amazon Work On Theming Structure Continues
Sunday 26th June 2022
Work on the huge theming element at Chessington for Project Amazon is continuing. Each week this huge metal structure looks more and more complete but we think this huge beast is almost complete.
Over the past few weeks work on building the structure has been happening but it appears work on installing beams going around the ride has now begun. Huge circles have been added around the structure, creating a base for theming elements to be bolted onto. Our wish would be for Universal Rocks to come on-site and theme this! Spotted on the floor next to the structure, anchor points for theming to be attached to can be seen. Looking at the theming element closer, there are a few sections that these have already been installed onto.
Interestingly during our visit today (Sunday 26th June) some workers were spotted jet washing one of the foundations. Something we've never seen before.
Around the rest of the construction site, more trenches are being dug and it looks like work on foundations for one of the new flat rides for the area has begun. Work on the station continues with more foundations/rebar being installed ready to be poured over the next few weeks.
Project Amazon Theming Element Reaches Maximum Height
Sunday 19th June 2022
The theming structure for Project Amazon keeps getting bigger and bigger by the day. The height of the structure now appears to be at the maximum height with a face starting to form on the front of the structure. This is going to be a huge theming element and we cant wait to see the rollercoaster track wrap around it in the next few months.
Across the rest of the site, a retaining wall has been installed near the site office, more holes are being dug for foundations and the construction site is nearing closer to track delivery and more things going vertical.
Foundations for the station have been poured and it's now apparent where the track will run through the station. With a loading platform on both sides of the track due to the train design. Just like The Swarm at Thorpe Park!
Project Amazon Goes Vertical
Monday 13th June 2022
It's been a big week at Chessington for construction and one of the biggest changes at Project Amazon has been one of the theming elements going virtual.
In our last update, we reported that steel beams for the station building had been delivered to the site. However, it appears we were wrong and it was in fact steel for one of the huge theming elements in the area.
Around Project Amazon footers continue to be poured with not many left in the car park or sat around the site waiting to be poured. We've spotted nuts and bolts sitting on lots of footers around the site, waiting for supports to be craned in when delivered over the next few months.
Of course, as soon as track and supports are delivered we will be able to figure out who the manufacturer for the rollercoaster is.
Station Steelwork Arrives And More Footers Are Installed
Saturday 28th May 2022
Project Amazon is slowly progressing at Chesssingotn with work on more major elements such as the foundations for the rollercoasters station beginning. Located at the bottom of the site we can see a large area is being prepared ready for foundations to be poured over the next few days and weeks.
Around the construction site is a sea of footers and foundations, when riding Dragons Fury you can see an outline of the rollercoasters layout. Since our last visit to the park, the big green fences that cut off views from the explorer gate entrance have been removed and have been replaced with new fences which if you are lucky you can see through when the wind picks up. Peering through the fence we can see huge foundations for supports and in some areas double footers which in our past experience will be used for curved sections. A big mound of dirt can be seen in the middle of the site blocking views from inside the park. QR coded advertising the ride has been stuck on the construction walls around the area. When you scan this code it takes you to a website saying something wild is coming to the park in 2023.
Looking into the site car park where footers and materials are stored it seems that there aren't many footers left to install. Steelwork for the station appears to have started to be delivered to the site. It won't be long until the station foundations are poured and we start to see this construction site go vertical.
Project Amazon Rollercoaster Foundations Near Compilation
Sunday 15th May 2022
Groundworks for Project Amazon are fully underway at Chessington and it shouldn't be long until we start to see the rollercoaster track and buildings start to be constructed. But all in good time!
Work on foundations across the whole site has progressed rapidly since our last visit a few weeks ago. We've gone from seeing holes in the ground to full foundations ready for supports to be bolted onto. Around the whole of the Project Amazon site, we can see footers complete along with some still in progress. Those that are still being poured and made have plates sitting next to them showing off how many bolts and the space required between them. This could be our first proper clue as to who is manufacturing this ride!
Comparing the template of support bases we think it's between two manufacturers, Intamin or Bolliger & Mabillard. Comparing these bases against photos and plans we would say we're learning more towards Intamin, seeing as the ride will have a launch section. We've included a image of a Stealth support base which seems to match the guide plate.
Very exciting times are ahead at Chessington and we cant wait to see this project progress further.
Chessington Begins Advertising For 2023 Rollercoaster
Thursday 12th May 2022
Chessington has started to market the new for 2023 rollercoaster and 2 smaller rides. Currently code named Proejct Amazon the theme of the area is currently unknown.
OUR WILDEST ADVENTURE EVER...
There’s rumblings of something new coming to Chessington World of Adventures Resort in 2023. Something big, something dense… something never seen before.
Our specialist team of adventure experts have been sent to explore what’s growing in this unsuspecting corner of the Resort, but they have yet to return and report back.
Be sure to sign up below to join our exclusive mailing list below, where you’re guaranteed to be the first to find out anything and everything about our most exciting new adventure EVER here at Chessington.
https://www.chessington.com/explore/theme-park-zoo/2023/
Main Column Foundations For Project Amazon Installed
Sunday 24th April 2022
Chessington's newest rollercoaster is one step closer to going vertical. Foundations are continuing to be installed across the site, however, one big foundation for the end of the track/boomerang section has been installed over the past few weeks and looks ready for concrete to be poured into it. Looking at the plans this foundation is for the large upward barrel roll which the train will travel up and then roll back down again.
Across the rest of the site, small red spikes can be seen coming out of the ground where the ride's station will be installed. We expect these small spikes will form the concrete base for the foundations to sit on.
Remember consutrction sites are dangeous places and should never be entered. All photos we take are from public areas!
Project Amazon Constriction Site Comes Alive
Wednesday 13th April 2022
During a quick visit to Chessington yesterday we took a quick glimpse at a very active Project Amazon site. Due to normally only visiting during the weekends we never get to see work being done as construction sites only normally work during the week.
Whilst we watched the construction team drill holes in the ground ready for supports to be poured and installed. Metal rebar poles were inserted into the ground ready for concrete to be poured into them to form footers for supports to be mounted to.
Towards the other end of the site, rounder concrete barrels can be seen ready for footers to be poured and if you look closely, some metal rods are already waiting for these concrete barrels to be placed over them and to be poured.
It's always exciting to see a project like this make progress in person! We cant wait for things to get more exciting when track and buildings start to fly up.
Work On Project Amazon Foundations Begins
Monday 11th April 2022
Chessington's next rollercoaster is getting closer by the day, work on Project Amazon is progressing well! The next phase of the project appears to have begun, with drilling and pilling for supports started. Metal rebar lines foundations for the rollercoaster and supports, most of which can be spotted as you drive into the Lodge Gate car park.
Since our last look at the construction site more digging and preparations have occurred. Posters advertising events at the park this year have also now been installed on the green construction walls down located down the Wild Woods path by The Vampire. However, this next phase of preparing the area will be the longest and slowest. We cannot wait for the rollercoaster track to be delivered so we can see who the manual will be and for the exciting stage to begin! We would expect the track for the rollercoaster to be delivered around August / September time.
