The arrival of new roller coaster track at Chessington World of Adventures has provided the clearest look yet at the resort’s upcoming Minecraft-themed land. Recent deliveries appear to confirm several key features of the area’s headline attraction, including a launch section, a predominantly indoor layout and what could be a spike element hidden inside the show building.
But the track pieces now sitting on site represent only a small part of a much larger project. Scheduled to open in 2027, Minecraft World will transform the former Wild Asia area into a fully themed land based on one of the world’s most successful video game franchises. For Chessington, the development represents one of the largest investments made by the park in recent years and the latest step in a broader expansion programme that has already seen the opening of World of Jumanji and World of PAW Patrol.
From Wild Asia to Minecraft
The project was first revealed through planning documents submitted in 2024. Those plans outlined the replacement of Wild Asia with a new themed area featuring multiple attractions, retail and dining facilities. Merlin later confirmed that the land would be based on Minecraft, marking the first permanent Minecraft-themed area at one of the group’s theme parks.
Several existing attractions were removed or closed to make way for the redevelopment. The wave swinger Monkey Swinger was permanently retired, while the Disk’O coaster Kobra was removed from the site with plans for it to return in a new location and with a new theme as part of the finished land.
Construction accelerated throughout 2025 and 2026. Large sections of the former area were demolished before work began on what has become the dominant feature of the project: a vast show building housing the new roller coaster.
A world-first Minecraft roller coaster
At the centre of the land will be what Chessington has described as the world’s first Minecraft roller coaster. The attraction is expected to be supplied by Intamin and is planned as a predominantly indoor experience. Planning documents previously referred to a multidimensional coaster, while recent construction activity has begun to reveal more about the ride’s layout.
Track installation began during spring 2026. Early construction suggested that a significant portion of the ride would take place inside the large show building, with launch track installed near the beginning of the layout. More recent deliveries appear to confirm the presence of launch hardware, while additional track sections have fuelled speculation that the attraction could include a spike element.
The latest deliveries have also revealed the coaster’s colour scheme. According to photographs taken on site, the outdoor sections will use red track supported by green columns, while the indoor sections are expected to use black track and black supports.
Although Chessington has not released official technical specifications, the size of the building suggests the attraction will be among the largest indoor roller coasters in the United Kingdom when it opens.
More than just a coaster
Despite the attention focused on the roller coaster, Minecraft World is planned as a complete themed area rather than a single attraction.
Planning documents indicate that the land will include an additional indoor attraction, retail facilities and food outlets. The returning Kobra ride is also expected to become part of the area following its relocation and retheming. Foundations visible on site in recent months are believed to be connected to that project.
Construction photographs have also shown space within the show building that may eventually house shops and dining facilities, although Chessington has not yet announced detailed plans for these elements.
A key project for Merlin
The significance of Minecraft World extends beyond Chessington itself.
Minecraft remains one of the best-selling video games ever created and continues to attract millions of players worldwide. For Merlin Entertainments, the project provides access to a globally recognised intellectual property with strong appeal among children, families and young adults.
The land also follows a broader strategy adopted across Merlin’s theme parks in recent years. Instead of adding standalone attractions, the company has increasingly focused on developing fully themed lands based on established brands. World of Jumanji at Chessington, which opened in 2023, was one of the first examples of that approach. World of PAW Patrol followed in 2026, while Minecraft World is expected to become the resort’s next major expansion.
What comes next?
While much of the roller coaster remains hidden inside the building, construction has entered a new phase. Track installation is continuing, the station structure has largely taken shape and exterior cladding is being added to sections of the building. Additional staircases, lift structures and evacuation routes have also appeared throughout the project.
The arrival of launch track and additional coaster components suggests that installation of the ride system is accelerating. Over the coming months, more of the attraction’s layout is likely to emerge as work continues both inside and outside the show building.
For now, many details remain unknown. Chessington has yet to reveal the attraction’s name, storyline, ride duration or technical specifications. However, with track now arriving in large quantities and the main building approaching completion, Minecraft World is beginning to move from a construction project to a future attraction that guests can finally start to picture.
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