METRO GUIDE 2017: Chehaw park offers fun for the whole family
With camping, biking, and annual events, Chehaw park more than just a zoo
By Brad McEwen
ALBANY — Since opening in 1937 as Chehaw State Park, Chehaw has grown and evolved into a “natural attraction,” not only one of Albany and Dougherty County, but for Southwest Georgia.
Boasting almost 800 acres of pristine conservation land and a 200-acre zoo, Chehaw is a unique destination that attracts visitors and locals year-round.
In the 1970s, the state of Georgia donated the park to the city of Albany, and in 1977 the city moved its zoo from Tift Park to Chehaw, where it has since thrived and become an Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo — one of two in the state — that showcases a variety of both indigenous and exotic wildlife.
Chehaw prides itself on having diverse exhibits that showcase many animals that call the United States home. Creatures such as gopher tortoises, American alligators, red wolves, bobcats, bald eagles, black bears, and a host of reptiles and amphibians all call Chehaw home.
In addition, the Zoo at Chehaw also features exotic animals such as cheetahs, two southern black rhinoceroses, various types of lemurs, meerkats, two Bactrain camels and others.
While the zoo is likely Chehaw’s most widely known draw, the park also features 44 RV sites with 30- and 40-amp hookups, 14 pull-through sites, 18 tent sites with 15-amp hookups, a comfort station with laundry, bathhouse, dump station and a group shelter. All the campsites have a picnic table and a fire ring with flip top grills for gatherings. Public Wi-Fi access is also provided.
Additionally, there are 11 pavilions available for rent at $35 each per day and a screened-in pavilion with bathrooms and a kitchen for $140 a day. Visitors to the park can also enjoy hundreds of acres of open public space for picnics and other gatherings, river and creek frontage for fishing (free with park admission, limit five per person per day), over 12 miles of biking and walking and equestrian trails, a large playground for kids of all ages, a BMX track, an RC car track, kayak portages and an 18-hole Frisbee golf course.
The park continues to change and evolve, adding new features all the time. In recent years, the park built the Creekside Center, which is used to host meetings, dinners, weddings, receptions and other events. It also added a stage area where it hosts concerts and other events each month.
Additionally, the park hosts various activities organized by area groups, such as bike rides, horse rides, Frisbee golf tournaments, walks and runs, that bring folks into the park every weekend.
“It seems like there’s always something going on week after week after week,” said Chehaw Executive Director Don Meeks. “The park is rapidly becoming the go-to place for fundraising, group activities and outdoor events. We are a full-service community organization. If you think we can help you, call us, ‘Yes,’ is probably the answer.”
Meeks added that in the coming years the park will continue to expand, adding a zip line, a splash park, and new areas in the zoo as well as further developing the waterfront area on Lake Chehaw to include restrooms, improve dock areas and additional campgrounds.
To that end the park is expecting to receive additional SPLOST funding from the city of Albany in the coming months, and if passed this November by area voters, a new SPLOST referendum calls for an additional $1 million to be collected for the park during the coming years.
Chehaw Park Essentials
• Located at 105 Chehaw Park Road, Albany
• Park hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Sundays
• Zoo hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Sundays
• Admission: Park admission, $3 adults and $2 children; zoo admission $7.50 adults and $5.10 for children. Senior, military and educator discounts are also available.
• Membership packages: Packages begin at $35 and family memberships for two adults and four children are $75. Packages allow members to enjoy the park and the zoo all year. Military discounts are also available.
• Executive Director: Don Meeks
• Director of Community Engagement: Morgan Burnette
• Director of Education: Jackie Entz
• Director of Animal Care: Ben Roberts
• Director of Guest Services: Salinda Owens
• Natural Resources Manager: Ben Kirkland
Upcoming events
• The Festival of Lights, Dec. 2-4, 8-24
• The Frontier Festival, Jan. 14
• The Native American Festival, April 8-10
• Website: www.chehaw.org
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