The Vampire roller coaster at Chessington World of Adventures has been out of action for several days now, and it’s looking increasingly unlikely that the ride will reopen in 2025. Recent rumours have begun to circulate, casting even more doubt on the future of this beloved classic attraction.
Last week, scaffolding was spotted on the second lift hill of the iconic Arrow suspended coaster — which, since its opening in April 1990, has thrilled generations of guests. Designed by the legendary John Wardley, Vampire has long been a cornerstone of Chessington’s lineup, but it’s no secret that the ride is beginning to show its age. Normally, a bit of scaffolding wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows — but this time, it might be a sign of something more serious.
According to growing speculation, there could be more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
Chessington currently has two major projects in development: the highly anticipated PAW Patrol land set to open in 2026, and a rumoured — though all but confirmed — Minecraft land, complete with an indoor roller coaster manufactured by Intamin. Both projects are reportedly very expensive, and if the whispers are true, the park may have spent more than originally planned on these new additions.
As most theme park fans will know, Merlin Entertainments — the company that owns Chessington — has been tightening its purse strings across its UK attractions due to financial pressures. Despite this, Chessington has received significant investment in recent years, suggesting the park remains a key focus for the group.
However, with the Vampire now facing potential technical issues, it’s unclear how this classic attraction fits into Chessington’s future plans. Rumours have circulated online mentioning a whole variety of things, such as oil leaks in the station, problems with the brake run, and problems with the second lift hill (a rumour proven with photos circulating of scaffolding surrounding it). More worrying still are rumours suggesting structural issues with some of the ride’s supports, with a few allegedly deemed unsafe.
But are any of these wild speculations to be believed?
If indeed true, repairing or replacing these supports would be an extremely costly and time-consuming process. Combined with Chessington’s already ambitious and expensive development projects, the park could be facing a tough decision about how to prioritise its spending.
While work appears to be underway on the lift hill — perhaps just a short-term fix — the structural concerns could pose a much larger challenge. Whether these rumours are accurate or not, the future of Vampire remains uncertain.
Sadly, it’s looking increasingly likely that we won’t see Vampire soar again in 2025.
For the time being, rest easy, Vampire. Get well soon.
