Nakhon Ratchasima is abuzz with excitement over the newly redesigned Khao Yai police booth featuring an adorable little elephant head waving to greet tourists, becoming a new landmark on Thanarat Road.
On 27 Dec 2025 GMT+7, reporters noted that along the Thanarat–Khao Yai tourist route, a sight is causing drivers to slow down—not due to traffic signs or regulations, but because of a "smile" from a small police booth with a little elephant statue waving warmly, continuously impressing locals and tourists passing by.
The police booth is located at Ban Rai 2 intersection, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, under the care of Mu Si Police Station. It is designed to be friendly and approachable, breaking the traditional stern image of police booths and instead symbolizing warmth and safety.
Many say this little elephant-headed police booth does not invoke fear but instead brings smiles and a sense that government officers are close to the people, approachable, and ready to serve.
This police booth was also blessed for good fortune by Luang Pu Suttham Sutthammo, abbot of Wat Pa Ban Tat in Udon Thani Province, to bring auspiciousness to the officers and road users.
Ms. Kokorn Trakarnsubkul, 56, and Ms. Nattanun Taenayobai, 58, representatives of generous local elders who helped support the construction of the elephant-headed booth, expressed pride in participating in the “Im Ok Im Jai” project. Although initially unclear about the design, seeing the completed work within just three months filled them with joy and inspired a desire for all community sectors to engage in improving Thai society positively.
Meanwhile, Mr. Amnat Saenkhot, 53, a local community representative, said the project fosters love, unity, and community development. It not only enhances safety but also creates a new tourist attraction, boosting the local economy and generating income for the community.
Ms. Jinin Trakarnsubkul, Chairwoman of the Im Ok Im Jai Foundation, revealed that along the Khao Yai tourist route, one sight causes many to slow down—not due to traffic laws but because of a small “Disney-style” booth with a waving little elephant greeting passersby. It is not a symbol of authority but a gentle signal to everyone that safety does not have to come with distance.
This “Disney booth” is designed not just to maintain order but to be friendly, warm, and accessible, helping the road regain a feeling of “we are one.”
This image tells all Thai people that the police are ordinary people committed to maintaining peace, the public is the heart sustaining the nation, and when we understand each other, old perceptions that once distanced us can gradually fade away.
Khao Yai does not ask us to forget the past but invites us to “start anew,” beginning with small smiles, kind words, and forgiveness on days when someone may feel weary.
A city’s beauty is not from buildings, roads, or mountains but from people who still believe they can love, care for one another, and move forward together.
Thus, Khao Yai is not just a tourist destination but a small example of hope that if we care for each other sincerely, unity will not remain just a beautiful word in the news but will become a real, ongoing reality throughout the country.