On your next road trip, make sure to stop and visit Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Dahlonega, Georgia for bears, monkeys, and more!
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Surprise Bears!
It’s always a good day when I get to meet a bear! On our way back from Unicoi State Park, Kevin and I stopped at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo in Dahlonega, Georgia to see their grizzly and black bears.
When we passed the yellow “Zoo” sign featuring tigers and a giant arrow on our way to Unicoi for the weekend, I tried looking up the zoo. The sign didn’t have a name on it and my quick Google search took me to a petting zoo in the area, which definitely didn’t have any bears. But on the way back, Kevin, the amazing bear-finding boyfriend, insisted I look again because the sign advertising tigers could not have been that petting zoo I’d found.
And lo-and-behold, that giant yellow sign had been for the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo! And they have two bears! So that is how we came to be parked right in front of the bear den.
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo
This fully licensed rescue, exotic animal, and wildlife preserve has over 100 animals roaming the 20 acres of rolling hills and farmland. The preserve takes in animals that the state would otherwise have to put down. There’s no proper ticket window, just volunteers and workers who will roll up in a golf cart and give you a wrist band.
I barely pulled myself away from the grizzly bear long enough to give the worker our $15 admissions. Simon Augustus, the grizzly bear, spent his time investigating the outer portion of his habitat, which included some toys and a pool of water to splash in. Little Bear, the black bear, stayed back in the covered portion for the day.
More Than Just Bears
Kevin finally pulled me away to go see the rest of the animals. The zoo is sprawling so you can take your time walking and looking.
All the cats were taking their cat naps in the heat of the day. Zebras and emus roamed together on the hills. The zoo even has some z-donk calves, little donkeys that look like they’re wearing zebra-stripe socks.
Near the monkey house, I went through a path in the bamboo forest that clearly hadn’t been used in a while because I came out through a giant spider web. Kevin, my hero, had to save me by whacking the spider off of me. I still have a bruise from it.
To distract me from my horrifying arachnid encounter, we went back to the bears, who had decided it was time for a dip in the pool.
Where to Stay in Dahlonega
Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Dahlonega, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.
- Where We Stayed: Barefoot Hills Hotel
- Top Hotel: The Smith House
- Great Value: The Dahlonega Square Hotel & Villas
- Unique Stay: Villa della Luna Tuscan Villa
More Things To Do in North Georgia
Make the most of your visit to the North Georgia mountains! Check out these top things to do in the area.
- A Wine Weekend Getaway in North Georgia Wine Country
- A Day Trip to Helen, Dahlonega, and Anna Ruby Falls
- Hiking Brasstown Bald at Sunset
- A Romantic Mystery Weekend in Dahlonega, Georgia
- 26 Fun Things to Do in Dahlonega, Georgia
Ready to visit Dahlonega, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find accommodation: You can find top cabin rentals in Dahlonega using VRBO.
- Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
- Explore Dahlonega in a New Way: Enjoy a Mystery Weekend in Dahlonega to discover more of the town.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you visited the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo? Let me know in the comments!
