History

Chehaw has a rich history, a unique setting, a skilled and diverse staff, strong city support, an outstanding support organization, and a new vision for the future. This vision encompasses the principles on which Chehaw was founded… conservation, education, and preservation.

First 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 Chiaha, 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.

In 1974, the city of Albany leased 100 unused acres of Chehaw from the state of Georgia with the intent to develop a wild animal park where exotic and indigenous animals would be displayed in their natural habitats. With the inception of the wild animal habitat, the State donated the entire Chehaw acreage to the city to further development. The City of Albany with Chehaw commissioned 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 their new home at 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. Between 1997 and 2002, the then Parks at Chehaw began to examine other park venues that would be a valuable asset to the community. The Wild Animal Park became The Zoo at Chehaw in 2016.

In 2019, Chehaw partnered with the Flint RiverQuarium and Thronateeska to form the Artesian Alliance. The collaboration created by the partnership has already led to joint programmatic efforts, greater operating efficiencies and cost containment, and a more effective use of limited resources for the three organizations involved. The Artesian Alliance designation also paves the way for future joint staffing and programming, as well as memberships and fundraising.

Our Staff

Parker Webb Douglas- Director of Membership & Development

Parker Webb Douglas is a native of Albany and a graduate of Deerfield-Windsor School. She attended the University of Georgia, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. After college, Parker returned to Albany and worked in real estate, where she gained a greater understanding of what it means to work and build a life in the city of Albany. She, her husband Rob, and their two children are firmly rooted in the community. Parker remains committed to making life better for all of Albany’s residents.

Tommy Gregors- Director of Artesian Alliance

A native Albanian, Tommy Gregors has served as Executive Director of Thronateeska Heritage Center since 2002, Flint RiverQuarium since 2013, and Chehaw Park & Zoo since 2019. Prior to his employment at Thronateeska, he worked for the Georgia Wildlife Federation as Special Projects Manager. Tommy is a member of the board of directors for the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Southwest Georgia Chapter of Quail Forever, and the Georgia Wildlife Federation. He also serves on the Albany Citizens Transportation Committee, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Albany Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. Tommy is married to his wife Sandy, who is the Albany Visitor Center Manager.

Morgan Seegmueller Burnette- Director of Chehaw

Named the Director of Chehaw Park & Zoo in 2020, Morgan Burnette blends her passion for wildlife with leadership in providing excellent guest experiences. She has worked at Chehaw in a variety of roles since 2010. A native Albanian, Morgan happily returned to her much-loved hometown after graduating from Valdosta State University with a bachelor's degree in communication and an emphasis in public relations. Morgan is passionate about serving her community and strives to make a difference any way she can. She is involved with Dougherty County Rotary, Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, Leadership Albany, and co-founded a nonprofit called Happy Trails of SOWEGA. She enjoys spending her free time in nature with her daughter Bennett and her dogs and horses. Morgan is enthusiastic about the opportunities for Chehaw and the potential benefits to the community through the avenue of the Artesian Alliance.

Jackie Entz- Director of Education

Jackie Entz Shores serves as the Director of Education for the Artesian Alliance. In this role, she oversees and coordinates all education staff and programming for the Alliance. Jackie was previously employed at the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, where she also earned her Master of Science degree. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgia Southwestern University. Jackie is excited about the joint educational opportunities that lie ahead for the Artesian Alliance.

Samantha Kerns Sassone- Director of Living Collections

As the Director of Living Collections, Samantha works with curators at both Chehaw Park & Zoo and the Flint RiverQuarium to create a consistent and high standard of care and welfare for all animals managed by the Artesian Alliance. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Marshall University and an Associate of Science in Zoo Animal Technology from Santa Fe Community College. Samantha previously worked as a zookeeper at the Lubee Bat Conservancy and Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens before arriving at Chehaw Park & Zoo in 2009.

Tommy Gregors- Director of Artesian Alliance

A native Albanian, Tommy Gregors has served as Executive Director of Thronateeska Heritage Center since 2002, Flint RiverQuarium since 2013, and Chehaw Park & Zoo since 2019. Prior to his employment at Thronateeska, he worked for the Georgia Wildlife Federation as Special Projects Manager. Tommy is a member of the board of directors for the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Southwest Georgia Chapter of Quail Forever, and the Georgia Wildlife Federation. He also serves on the Albany Citizens Transportation Committee, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Albany Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. Tommy is married to his wife Sandy, who is the Albany Visitor Center Manager.
Morgan Seegmueller Burnette- Director of Chehaw

Named the Director of Chehaw Park & Zoo in 2020, Morgan Burnette blends her passion for wildlife with leadership in providing excellent guest experiences. She has worked at Chehaw in a variety of roles since 2010. A native Albanian, Morgan happily returned to her much-loved hometown after graduating from Valdosta State University with a bachelor's degree in communication and an emphasis in public relations. Morgan is passionate about serving her community and strives to make a difference any way she can. She is involved with Dougherty County Rotary, Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau, Leadership Albany, and co-founded a nonprofit called Happy Trails of SOWEGA. She enjoys spending her free time in nature with her daughter Bennett and her dogs and horses. Morgan is enthusiastic about the opportunities for Chehaw and the potential benefits to the community through the avenue of the Artesian Alliance.
Jackie Entz- Director of Education

Jackie Entz Shores serves as the Director of Education for the Artesian Alliance. In this role, she oversees and coordinates all education staff and programming for the Alliance. Jackie was previously employed at the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, where she also earned her Master of Science degree. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Georgia Southwestern University. Jackie is excited about the joint educational opportunities that lie ahead for the Artesian Alliance.
Samantha Kerns Sassone- Director of Living Collections

As the Director of Living Collections, Samantha works with curators at both Chehaw Park & Zoo and the Flint RiverQuarium to create a consistent and high standard of care and welfare for all animals managed by the Artesian Alliance. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Marshall University and an Associate of Science in Zoo Animal Technology from Santa Fe Community College. Samantha previously worked as a zookeeper at the Lubee Bat Conservancy and Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens before arriving at Chehaw Park & Zoo in 2009.
Parker Webb Douglas- Director of Membership & Development

Parker Webb Douglas is a native of Albany and a graduate of Deerfield-Windsor School. She attended the University of Georgia, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. After college, Parker returned to Albany and worked in real estate, where she gained a greater understanding of what it means to work and build a life in the city of Albany. She, her husband Rob, and their two children are firmly rooted in the community. Parker remains committed to making life better for all of Albany’s residents.

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