Chattahoochee Nature Center began with 6.7 acres and a group of residents determined to preserve green space along the river. Fifty years later, the Roswell nonprofit spans 127 acres and welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually.
Founded in 1976 through efforts led by John Ripley Forbes and Frank McCamey, the center at 9135 Willeo Road grew around a belief that experiencing nature firsthand would inspire people to protect it, according to its history.
Nearly 1,500 guests attended three anniversary events in June. The celebrations also introduced a refreshed brand and the tagline “Discovery Flows Here,” the center said in a September sponsored post published by SaportaReport.
The milestone reflects decades of expansion in environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation and native plant conservation.
Wildlife programs and bird walks began in 1977. The first Possum Trot race followed in 1978 as a fundraiser to help meet payroll, according to the center’s anniversary newsletter.
The first marsh boardwalk was built in 1979, with a loop completed in 1987. Camp Kingfisher began in the 1990s and now serves more than 2,000 campers each summer.
The Discovery Center opened in 2009, followed by the Unity Garden in 2010. The garden grows produce for donation to North Fulton Community Charities. The renovated River Boardwalk Trail and pedestrian bridge across Willeo Road opened in March 2022, improving access between the main campus and riverfront.
Parker House, a volunteer operations center, was completed in 2025 as part of the center’s Growing Tomorrow’s Nature Enthusiasts capital campaign.
For some visitors, the center’s influence has lasted a lifetime.
Linda May recalls visiting on a kindergarten field trip in 1977, when a naturalist introduced her to an eastern kingsnake. She later studied forestry and natural resources at the University of Georgia and now serves as outreach coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Conservation Section.
She has returned to the center to teach Master Naturalist classes, according to the anniversary newsletter.
Beth and Bob St. Jean became regular visitors after moving to Roswell in the 1980s. Beth later volunteered in horticulture and native plant programs, earning the center’s Ambassador Award in 2023.
Residents can experience the river themselves during a free Canoemobile Community Day on Saturday, Nov. 7. Wilderness Inquiry guides will lead introductory paddles aboard 10-person Voyager canoes.
Advance registration is required, according to Visit Roswell.
