Established in 1955, Mae Ping Tobacco Co., Ltd. was founded by Prince Chuen Siroros and later managed by his son Chao Siroros. The estate began with 50 tobacco drying barns and minimal vegetation, with only two large trees—a rain tree and a tamarind tree—marking the landscape. Over the years, the estate expanded, adding bamboo-and-plaster drying barns and later red brick structures. By the 1960s, two large ponds were dug for irrigation, and worker incentives were introduced to improve operations.

In 1969, a fire destroyed one of the tobacco barns, leading to the construction of the estate’s only twin drying barn. To increase production efficiency, barns were raised to accommodate more tobacco leaves. By the 1980s, the estate’s operations changed when Farm Thung Siew Ltd. took over 35 drying barns and tobacco quotas. Under the leadership of Thawat Cherdsatirakul, the site gradually transitioned from a tobacco estate to a more sustainable model, preserving existing trees and repurposing barns for alternative uses.

As the tobacco industry declined, tobacco processing ceased in 1995, and the estate was transformed into Kaomai Lanna Resort. Between 1995 and 1997, 18 tobacco barns were converted into 36 guest rooms, each furnished with colonial Burmese antiques. A strong emphasis was placed on preserving the estate’s natural environment, with mature trees integrated into the resort’s landscape design.

From 2005 to 2013, further renovations revitalized the site. The station manager’s cottage was converted into Thakan Spa, and historic roads and abandoned barns were restored. The estate’s only twin barn was repurposed into a café, marking the beginning of Kaomai Estate 1955. In 2020, Poliang Bistro was renovated from two old tobacco drying barns, offering a new dining experience. In 2022, Tao Cha Tea House, transformed from a single red brick barn, opened to serve locally grown, house-blended teas.

In 2017, Kaomai Estate 1955 officially opened, introducing a café, amphitheater, museums, and heritage walking trails. The project not only honors Chiang Mai’s tobacco industry legacy but also promotes sustainable tourism and environmental conservation. In 2024, the estate expanded its commitment to nature with the launch of Kaomai Forest, a rewilded educational forest dedicated to biodiversity restoration and environmental learning. Tree health inspections ensure a balanced coexistence between nature, history, and people, cementing Kaomai Estate as a living testament to over 70 years of heritage, transformation, and sustainability.