Project Plummet

Project Plummet marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter at Chessington World of Adventures. The project centred on the removal of Rameses Revenge, a once-iconic Huss Top Spin that had thrilled guests for over two decades. As reliable operation became increasingly difficult and the ride aged, plans were drawn up in August 2019 for its replacement. The vision was clear: to bring in a new, modern attraction while preserving the essence of the Forbidden Kingdom.

The chosen replacement would become Croc Drop, a family-friendly drop tower with an immersive Egyptian theme tied to Sobek, the crocodile god of strength and protection. With this bold concept, Project Plummet set out to deliver a new kind of thrill that balanced adrenaline with storytelling. Plans also detailed the relocation of Flying Jumbos, Chessington’s long-standing children’s ride, moving it to the old Carousel site to make way for the new development.

Swift planning approval in November 2019 meant that construction could begin in early 2020. The team wasted no time, starting with the careful dismantling of Rameses Revenge. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic created unforeseen challenges. Despite delays and health restrictions, the project pushed forward with determination and adaptability.

Finally, on 12th April 2021, Croc Drop opened to the public. Towering over the Forbidden Kingdom, the new ride breathed fresh life into the area. Its striking theming, imposing crocodile structure, and drop experience made it an instant favourite. Project Plummet successfully balanced nostalgia with the needs of a modern theme park, offering a thrilling yet family-accessible experience. The result was a new landmark attraction, ensuring the spirit of adventure continues in the heart of Chessington.

News

Chessington Opens for 2021

Chessington Opens for 2021

Chessington Opens for 2021

12th April 2021

Chessington opens for 2021. It’s official! Chessington World of Adventures Resort has finally opened for the 2021 Theme Park…
New For 2021 – Croc Drop

New For 2021 – Croc Drop

New For 2021 – Croc Drop

16th February 2021

New For 2021 – Croc Drop. Chessington World of Adventures Resort has today officially unveiled its new 2021 ride,…
Croc Drop Logo Trademarked

Croc Drop Logo Trademarked

Croc Drop Logo Trademarked

6th November 2020

Croc Drop Logo Trademarked. Following a little digging on the UK Trademark Office. Chessington Buzz can officially reveal the…
View all Project Plummet news

Updates

Ride Hardware Arrives

19th December 2020

In what will likely be our final update of the year, we’ve decided to go out with a bang! Here we have our biggest update to date! Huge progress has been made on the site of the new attraction for 2021, Croc Drop. Please be aware that all of the following photos were taken from publicly accessible locations at the park whilst following all of the park’s rules.

It has arrived! In one of the most exciting parts of our update, we can reveal that the ride hardware has arrived. Now confirmed to be constructed by SBF Visa from Italy, the ride system is thought to be a Drop’n’Twist tower ride. The structure is currently situated at the park, with the base of the tower, with the gondola attached, already thought to have been moved into the resort ahead of being craned into position.

The remaining tower pieces, the seats, as well as the majority of the ride’s mechanical plant equipment is also on site and are being stored before being moved into position in the park, when the ride system goes vertical.

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Croc Drop Theming Work Continues

19th December 2020

In the park, the main theming feature of the attraction, the Crocodile head itself, looks to be nearing completion, with small sections of the head requiring paintwork. The construction walls are also down, giving us a great look at the highly detailed entrance, as well as the doors into the ride’s building. The paintwork on the walls is highly detailed, and two crocodiles adorn each side of the entrance.

Work is progressing well on landscaping around the ride, with a themed fence starting to take shape. The fence features vertical panels and even includes what we believe to be laser-cut glyphs in the panels, a change from Chessington’s more typical wooden queue-line fences. Two TV’s have also been installed in the area, which we believe is a bulk of the ride’s queue. The entrance to the ride is due to be through the former Pharaoh’s Bazaar shop.

Things are all coming together at Chessington, with huge progress on Croc Drop. We’re excited to hopefully see the ride vertical in the New Year and are looking forward to providing more updates in the coming months. Until then, stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s.

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Sobek Takes Shape

5th December 2020

We’re back at the park for another update, and this is a huge one! The crocodile theming has really taken shape over the last few weeks and has risen high into the sky. The theming has reached its full height on both sides, and work is continuing on the thematic painting and styling. The teeth have been put into place, and more work has taken place, painting the main building around the edges.

Construction walls are down in a few places, the trees formerly in front of the site have been removed, and the surrounding area has been tidied up. Progress has been made all around the attraction. Although the actual ride system is yet to arrive, we believe it will arrive in January, and we are led to believe that work on the attraction is a few weeks ahead of schedule!

We cannot wait to see how the ride looks when it’s installed. It is currently unknown what colour scheme the ride will have, and we are excited to see more!

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Theming Details Emerge

1st November 2020

It’s time for one more update before the UK’s second lockdown. This update shows off lots more progress, with the Crocodile head taking shape more, new paintwork on the building going in, and an awesome logo-esque motif over the entrance into the ride’s show building.

The ride’s theming is really taking shape, but the ride hardware is yet to make an appearance. Little is known about when the tower itself will arrive, but we look forward to following the progress of the ride more when the park reopens for its annual Winter’s Tail event.

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More Theming Rises

17th October 2020

With every visit we make, we are surprised by how rapidly things are moving along! The team have started to install the themed crocodile head. Made out of polystyrene, coated in resin, and painted, the sections have been joined together. Giving them a more permanent and striking look. The colours of the theming are darker than expected, but we cannot wait to see this rise more and more over the coming weeks!

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Themed Exterior Begins

1st October 2020

Here we go with another huge update on the site of Croc Drop! With new theming work taking place all over the site! We can finally see the themed exterior taking shape. The building is taking shape, with fantastic attention to detail and work progressing well on the theming work. The site surrounding still looks very bare and temporary, with more landscaping work expected to take place soon. Things are really going well, and we cannot wait to return soon!

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Walls Begin To Rise

20th August 2020

Once again, it’s time for another update, and once again, huge progress is being made. Blockwork walls around the structure have gone in, giving us a better idea of where things will sit. You can see that there are small rooms set off into the corners of the building. These are likely to hold the plant rooms for the tower, as well as the operating cabin.

As with our previous update, it still appears that work on the actual theming structure and ride building is happening first, with it likely that the tower of the ride will be craned in at a later date. Work is progressing fast, and we cannot wait to return to see what else has changed.

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Reaching High

15th August 2020

We’re back on park again for another new update. Croc Drop’s surrounding theming structure seems to be going well. The framework for the rides platform and operating building is in, and work has commenced on adding the roof. The surrounding area of the site is clear and level now, with no other real changes happening. The majority of the work is focused on getting the theming structure in place.

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Framework Continues

10th August 2020

With another update provided by our friend, we now have even more steel vertical! The structure allows us to see where the tower for the ride will sit in the centre. Giving us an insight into how big this theming will be. The final size should be about another two-thirds taller.

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Steel Work Commences

4th August 2020

In an image sent to us by a friend of Chessington Buzz, we can now reveal that Croc Drop is rising. Steel work for the ride’s external theming structure and shelter has gone up. This is huge progress over the last two days, with large amounts of steel framing in place already!

With the attraction now starting to rise, excitement builds with it!

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Groundworks Completed

2nd August 2020

Just a few days since our last update, and it would appear huge progress has been made again! Foundation work now looks to be complete, and work on levelling the site seems finished.

The site appears higher up than we thought it would be based on the plans, but this should help with wheelchair access for guests. Alongside the benefit of making access simpler for the engineering teams within the park. Having the attraction on one level will make things easier all around.

The Egyptian pillar is still standing, and the back of the site looks clear, ready for the ride to go vertical! Exciting times ahead! More updates coming soon. Could vertical construction be imminent?

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Foundations Take Shape

27th July 2020

Lots of progress has been made since our last update, with work moving quickly. A concrete slab has been poured, and wooden sidings have been installed for the walls to be poured with concrete too. Some parts of the wall have already been poured, with wet concrete seen in the photos below.

The former Flying Jumbo’s area has been levelled to allow for access to the Drop Towers site. With trees and fences removed also. Although we don’t believe the actual tower has been delivered yet, work on the groundworks is going at an incredibly fast pace, and we cannot wait to see the tower rise.

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Base Begins to Form

4th July 2020

Construction over the last week has progressed really well. Rebar foundation beds have been put into place, with wooden boards around the side, before the pouring of concrete commences. Also, in place is a hexagonal-shaped section thought to be the position of the supporting bolts for the tower itself.

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