Chehaw Wild Animal Park

With over 700 acres of pristine, conservation land and a wild animal park dedicated to education, Chehaw is a unique attraction for South Georgia. Being one of the only two accredited zoos in Georgia, aside from Zoo Atlanta, Chehaw continues to be devoted to the three areas it was founded on: conservation, preservation and education.

From the Wild Animal Park to the endless recreational opportunities, Chehaw has an activity for every visitor. Come see what nature's playground has to offer you.

Our Beginning

Originally 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. It is enclosed on two sides by a large, clear water bayou formed by the conjoining of the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks. 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. Artifacts such as arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks, hoes, drill, scrapers, clay pipes and stone celts were commonly found during original park development. Variations in artifact design show the land was used by distinctly different tribes over several hundreds of years.

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