Chehaw Park & Zoo

HistoryOriginally developed as Chehaw State Park in 1937, the property consisted of 586 acres donated to the state of Georgia by private landowners in Dougherty and Lee Counties. The property has expanded to nearly 800 acres and consists of moss-covered cypress swamps, hardwood forests, and a well-maintained wiregrass habitat.The park was named after the Chiha, or Chehaw, a tribe of Creek Indians who lived throughout the property and befriended white settlers. In 1974, the city of Albany leased 100 unused acres of Chehaw from the state of Georgia and comissioned Jim Fowler, a native of Albany and host of the popular television show Wild Kingdom, to design and supervise the construction of the wildlife area. The original animals were moved from the Tift Park Zoo in Albany to Chehaw between 1975 and 1977. Chehaw Wild Animal Park was officially dedicated and opened to the public in October of 1977. Accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was achieved in 1997.SpecialtiesAZA Accredited Zoo Wiregrass Express Train African Veldt Ride Weekend Animal Feedings & Programs Campground Play Park 18 Hole Disc Golf Course BMX Track 10+ Miles of Mountain Bike/Nature Trails Birthday Parties Summer Camps Animal Presentations