Chehaw Park

About Chehaw Park

Chehaw Park is a park and zoo in Albany, Georgia, covering nearly 800 acres of moss-covered subtropical cypress swamp, hardwood forest, and burn-controlled pine and wiregrass habitat. It opened as Chehaw State Park in 1937 on 586 acres donated to the state of Georgia by private landowners. The Wild Animal Park within it was designed by naturalist Jim Fowler, a Albany native known for television's Wild Kingdom, and opened to the public in 1977.

The park is governed today by the Chehaw Park Authority, created by the Georgia Legislature in 1979 as a public corporation charged with governing, preserving, and developing the property. Its nine-member board is appointed by the city and county commissions of Albany, Dougherty County, and Lee County. Chehaw's zoo was an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums from 1997 to 2018, making it one of only two AZA-accredited zoos in Georgia during that period; it is not currently AZA accredited.

The zoo's current materials describe 234 animal specimens representing more than 73 different species, viewed largely from boardwalks that carry visitors through cypress swamp and natural habitat exhibits. The park's stated mission centers on conservation, education, and preservation, and beyond the animal exhibits it includes a large play park, a splash park, camping facilities, and a network of recreational trails.

History

Chehaw's roots go back to 1937, when the state of Georgia accepted a donation of 586 acres near Albany to create Chehaw State Park, enclosed on two sides by a bayou where the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks meet. The property takes its name from the Chiha, or Chehaw, a Creek Native American tribe that once inhabited the area; original park development turned up artifacts including arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks, and clay pipes left by multiple tribes over centuries.

In 1974, the city of Albany leased 100 acres of unused park land from the state to build a wild animal park where exotic and indigenous species would be displayed in naturalistic habitats. Albany and the Chehaw Wildlife Society commissioned Jim Fowler and WT Hill to design and oversee construction. Animals were relocated from Albany's Tift Park Zoo between 1975 and 1977 — famously including the largest female Asian elephant in the U.S. at the time, who was walked the full five miles by Hill rather than trucked. The state then donated the entire Chehaw Park acreage to the city, and the Chehaw Wild Animal Park was officially dedicated in October 1977.

The Georgia Legislature created the Chehaw Park Authority in 1979 to govern the property. Fowler returned in 2004 to advise on further development, and new exhibits for African black rhinoceros and African lesser flamingos opened in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Between 1997 and 2002 the park added the Creekside Education Center, a Children's Play Park, a BMX bike track, and supporting infrastructure including a quarantine facility, veterinary hospital, the Savannah Café, restrooms, a reptile house, and a ticket booth.

Exhibits and habitats

Chehaw's animal exhibits are reached largely by a boardwalk system through the park's swamp area. The zoo's historical collection has included endangered or vanishing species such as the red wolf, south-central black rhinoceros, cheetah, black-and-white colobus monkeys, four species of lemur, bongo, duiker, Grant's zebra, black bear, American bison, bobcat, Bactrian camel, several antelope species, and birds including ibis, flamingo, grey crowned crane, ostrich, bald eagle, and turaco. Native species on view include fox, squirrel, beaver, bobcat, gopher tortoise, and white-tailed deer.

The park also runs several distinct attractions built around its animals. Ben's Barnyard is an interactive petting zoo area where visitors can compare their own abilities to those of wild animals, including climbing into a mock bald eagle's nest and testing a standing long jump. Alligator's Outpost is a boardwalk over a natural swamp habitat where American alligators live, with weekend feeding opportunities. The Wiregrass Express train runs a 20-minute ride through the pine and wiregrass restoration area from March through December, while the African Veldt safari ride, running March through November, carries guests through a 40-acre exhibit where antelope, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, eland, and impala roam and herd freely.

Animal highlights

Chehaw's own materials describe at least 73 species listed on the zoo's website, represented across 234 individual specimens. The collection spans natural, outdoor exhibits featuring cheetahs, black rhinos, prairie dogs, black bears, and American alligators, alongside lemurs, colobus monkeys, bongos, zebras, and a range of native Georgia wildlife such as gopher tortoises and white-tailed deer.

Conservation and programs

Chehaw describes itself as dedicated to protecting endangered species and their habitats, and states that responsible zoological facilities like it contribute to conservation through research and education. The park frames its animal exhibits as an opportunity for visitors to develop personal connections with wildlife that, in turn, help build broader public appreciation for animal populations in their native habitats.

Planning your visit

As listed on the zoo's website, Chehaw is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., though animals begin being brought in for the night starting at 4:30 p.m. and guests must exit the grounds by 5:00 p.m. A park pass is required to enter the grounds, and Zoo admission is an additional cost on top of that pass; discounts are listed for seniors and military visitors. Beyond the zoo, Chehaw's grounds include a Splash Park (open seasonally from 9:30 a.m. until dark, included with park admission) and a Play Park described as one of the largest in South Georgia. The park also operates a campground with 40 RV sites, 18 tent sites, unlimited primitive camping, and camper cabins set among tall pines, as well as nature trails, BMX trails, and an 18-hole disc golf course. Because hours, pricing, and seasonal ride schedules can change, confirm current details on the official Chehaw website before visiting.