"Dr. Chaiwat" The owner of Siam Park announced the sale of land along with rides for 10 billion baht, admitting the current crisis is very severe and lamenting that dwelling on regret only causes mental suffering.
On 3 Oct 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that Siam Park Sea Bangkok in Khan Na Yao district was heavily damaged by flooding. The amusement park, covering over 300 rai with about 270 rai dedicated to rides and water park zones, suffered extensive damage. This year marks the 47th year Siam Park has been in operation.
A survey inside Siam Park found it remains closed, with rides not operational due to over 95% damage. Some vendors have been gradually returning to collect belongings and reopen shops after the flooding.
Currently, the water has become stagnant and foul-smelling due to prolonged flooding, with murky pools emitting a strong odor. The zoo now has only a few surviving animals, as most have died. Remaining animals include sand gazelles, chickens, ducks, lizards, and horses—over 100 in total—being considered for relocation.
Dr. Chaiwat Luangamornlert, chairman and founder of Siam Park City Group, revealed that after the flood, over 400 employees together with Khan Na Yao district office brought in pumps to expedite water drainage, successfully removing water quickly. However, many other communities nationwide continue to suffer from flooding.
Dr. Chaiwat admitted that the crisis at Siam Park is the most severe he has ever faced in his life. Previously, it was suggested the park could reopen in 3-6 months, but repairs require over 300 million baht to hire expert technicians from the ride manufacturers abroad to fix all rides in Thailand.
Currently, Siam Park faces severe financial difficulties with depleted cash reserves and no operating income. Financial institutions have not approved loans due to his age of 90 years. Employees are also suffering; he feels deeply sorry for them. He has been providing meals daily but is now unable to continue and cannot pay salaries. If payment is delayed 1-2 months, employees may have to resign.
He is now planning to accelerate Siam Park's restoration and has contacted foreign companies to handle repairs to reopen as soon as possible. The initial estimate is 3-6 months to resume operations, pending further assessment from foreign engineers who own the rides.
Damage is estimated to exceed 300 million baht since some rides cannot be repaired in Thailand. Normally, Siam Park earns about 1 million baht daily.
He personally requested government assistance of about 500 million baht. Yesterday, his son was busy all day negotiating with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Chamber of Commerce, and government officials. The prime minister reportedly told him, "It's okay, you have plenty of land, you're rich," implying that selling Siam Park land would yield vast sums, so there should be no hardship. He expressed bitterness, saying he built the park with heart and hands for over 40 years. If it must close, he regrets losing a place for people’s recreation. Despite losses, he sold other land parcels to cover business costs out of determination, never intending to sell or convert it into other real estate.
Regarding Siam Park's future operation, nothing is certain yet. It depends on the company and banks involved in loans. He may have to consider bankruptcy or other measures, as survival otherwise is impossible.
When asked if he regrets his decades of work, he said fate is unfavorable and regret is useless. He has not slept for seven nights but remains determined. However, fighting alone is difficult after more than 40 years. If he can continue, he will stay and not abandon Siam Park. He added that if someone says selling the land will bring wealth, he does not know what he would do with the money since he is 90 and uncertain if he will live to next year.
He also shared that on the first day of flooding, he felt suicidal but has fought on. He is now considering launching a value package to encourage Thais to visit Siam Park’s amusement and water park, offering annual coupons at 1,000 baht each, hoping for public support to fund repairs and keep Siam Park alive.
Regarding the zoo, plans are underway to relocate animals to Wat Phra Buddha Chinawong in Phayao Province. Most animals are domestically bred and have been cared for over 30 years. The flood forced urgent relocation efforts, but staff lacked expertise in animal transport. Some animals were scared and injured; some died, such as sand gazelles, which declined from over 20 to about 10.
On warnings, the Meteorological Department had alerted about rain and flooding but did not expect such rapid water arrival. If warnings had been like those in 2011, the flood could have been prevented, but this time it came so fast and massively, like a home invasion with gunfire upon arrival.
If the government offers no aid, he will have to sell Siam Park to find peace, possibly selling the land and rides together. He announced Siam Park’s land is for sale at 10 billion baht. When asked if he regrets this, he said dwelling on regret only tortures himself and harms visitors and employees. But selling would allow compensation for staff.