SAMPRAN RIVERSIDE LEISURE PARK TAKES NEW LEASE OF LIFE FROM ITS OLD NAME ROSE GARDEN WHICH STARTED IN 1962 AND ITS VERDANT GARDENS WITH RARE, MATURED TREES ARE A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
FOR DECADES, ROSE GARDEN WAS ONE OF BANGKOK'S MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
NOW RUN BY THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE FOUNDING FAMILY, IT HAS RECENTLY CHANGED ITS NAME TO SAMPRAN RIVERSIDE AS THE OWNERS ARE NO LONGER GROWING ROSES, ITS FORMER MAINSTAY.

IT STARTED WHEN THE FOUNDER AND HIS WIFE BOUGHT SEVERAL ACRES OF LAND TO SAVE THE RARE TREES BOUND FOR TIMBER. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE BUILT A WEEKEND HOUSE BUT SINCE THEY WERE ARDENT GARDENERS AND LOVED ROSES, THEY PLANTED ROSE BUSHES TO SUPPLY BANGKOK.

THE PROPERTY BECAME KNOWN AS 'SUAN SAMPRAN' OR 'ROSE GARDEN' AND THE NAME STUCK,

HOWEVER, GROWING ROSES FOR VASES, BOUQUETS AND DECORATION CONSUMED MUCH FERTILISER, RESOURCES AND ENERGY SINCE THE HOT, HUMID CLIMATE WAS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR ROSES. NOW THEY ONLY GROW LOCAL ROSES WITH SMALL FLOWERS FOR THEIR OWN USE.

ROSE GARDEN OR SAMPRAN RIVERSIDE NOW BOASTS OF A 4-STAR HOTEL WITH 160 ROOMS, 6 ANTIQUE THAI HOUSES FOR RENT, ARUSAYA SPA, 4 RESTAURANTS, 10 MEETING ROOMS, 10 ACRE ORGANIC FARM, WEEKEND FARMERS' MARKET AND THE HIGHLIGHT---THE THAI VILLAGE CULTURAL CENTRE WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN HOW TO MAKE TRADITIONAL THAI PRODUCTS LIKE BALMS AND WOVEN FLOWERS PLUS SWEET TREATS AND EVEN HAVE A GO AT MUAY THAI!

SPUNKY AND GYM FIT NG HAN MIN PUT ON THE GLOVES FOR SOME MUAY THAI ACTION IN THE RING! WE CHEERED HIM ON! 

WELL DONE, NG HAN MIN! YOU WON THE MUAY THAI MATCH!