Information About the Chehaw in Albany GA

Chehaw Park is a park and Zoo is located in the Albany Georgia. The park was originally opened as Chehaw State Park in 1937, the property of this park has consisted of 586 acres donated to the state of Georgia by private landowners in Daugherty and Lee Counties. It is confined on two sides by a large, clear water bayou formed by the adjoining of the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks. The property has developed to nearly 800 acres and subsist of moss-covered cypress swamps, hardwood forests, and well-maintained wire grass habitat.

The park was named after the Chiha, or Chehaw, an association of Creek Indians who lived throughout the property and befriended white immigrant. Artifacts such as arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks, hoes, drill, scrapers, clay pipes and stone celts were generally found during the original park development with Albany GA Attractions. Variations in artifact design show the land was used by the distinctly different association over several hundreds of years.

A New Home

In 1974, the city of Albany is leased 100 unused acres of the Chehaw from the state of Georgia with the intent to develop a wild animal park where the exotic and indigenous animals would be displayed in their natural habitats. With the inception of the wild animal's habitat, then the state denoted the entire chehaw acreage to the city further development. The City of Albany with Chehaw instruct Jim Fowler, an endemic of Albany and host of the popular television show the Wild Kingdom, to design and supervise the manufacture of the wildlife area.

Where the original animals were moved from the Tift Park Zoo in Albany to their new home at the Chehaw between 1975 and 1977. Chehaw Wild Animal Park was formally dedicated and opened to the public in October of 1977. certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) was achieved in 1997.

Expansion & Infrastructure

Between 1997 and 2002, the parks at Chehaw began to examine the other parks venues that would be a valuable asset to the community. After the evaluation, the construction of the two million dollar creekside education center, the Children’s Play Park and a nationally licensed BMX bike track began. Additional infrastructure constructed in which included the animal quarantine, veterinary hospital, Savannah Café, bathrooms, reptile house, and ticket booth.

Also, Chehaw has the rich, has a unique setting, a skilled and diverse staff, strong city support and outstanding support organization and a new vision of the future. The vision will encompass the principal on which the chehaw was founded the...conservation, education, and preservation. There are also available many Things To Do In Albany GA.