All Dogs Welcome at Pant Hoot Dog Park in Morganton, Georgia!

There’s a new addition at the Project Chimps’ sanctuary, but this one’s going to the dogs! 

That’s right—it is with great happiness and zoomies that we announce our Pant Hoot Dog Park in Morganton near Blue Ridge is open for play! 

Why a Dog Park?

A dog park may sound like a strange fit for a chimpanzee sanctuary at first, but dogs have been welcome guests at Project Chimps for years. We love seeing them enjoy our hiking trails and all the unique sights, smells, and sounds of the sanctuary. 

So, when our Executive Director, Ali Crumpacker, heard her community’s dog park in Blairsville was shutting down, the answer seemed clear. Build a new dog park here! 

She noticed an empty field on the Project Chimps sanctuary that would be perfect for the dog park and spoke to the board of directors about her idea. They agreed! 

With the help of our supporter community, the park soon took shape. This is where we got the name “Pant Hoot!”. One generous donor funded the construction of the park and named it after the sound chimps make (“pant hoot”), which is also a play on dogs “panting”!

Come and Play!

Looking for a new dog park in Morganton near Blue Ridge? Our off-leash play area has ample space to run, shady areas to rest, and smells for your furry friend to sniff!

Located just across from the public parking area, the park is open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year. It offers nearly endless opportunities for your pups to play and make friends, all while supporting the care of over 100 retired research chimpanzees now living in sanctuary at Project Chimps.  

Like the Chimp Trails, donations from the park will go towards supporting the sanctuary and our chimpanzee residents. Daily Park access is $2, or for $25, your dog can receive unlimited annual access and an official dog tag!

What to Expect

The dog park has two areas—one for small dogs, and the other for large. However, “it’s based on what you feel your dog is best suited for,” Crumpacker tells us. 

So, if your 150lb gentle giant would prefer to sunbathe in the small dog area rather than play on the large dog side, that’s perfectly okay. The same is true if your small dog prefers big company. 

It’s all about dog park etiquette. For example, if someone is already in the park when you arrive, you might want to do a fence meet and greet with your dogs and talk with their humans to help make sure each dog can enjoy the space.

Not only that, but your pups are welcome on the hiking trails too! Each time you register for the dog park, you’ll also receive complimentary access to our hiking trails. Just please remember to use a leash on the trails! 

When you’re done, don’t forget to check out our gift shop for water, snacks, chimp-themed squeaky toys, dog treats, bandanas, and more! We even have Project Chimps branded dog poop bags if you’re interested! 

Why Your Dogs Will Love It Here

The Pant Hoot dog park in Morganton is truly a unique place thanks to the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and our chimpanzee residents, all of whom are retired from biomedical research.   

If you’ve hiked our trails before, you’ll know what a treat it is to hear the occasional “hoot” or other playful noise from the chimp habitats. For many dogs, it’s no different. Getting to experience these new sounds from the chimps can be very exciting for our pups! It encourages their natural curiosity and provides great enrichment for their senses. 

Crumpacker, who has four dogs of her own, believes the dog park and hiking trails together offer a great balance for dogs and their humans alike. Say you want to go on a hike with your dog, but after a mile, you’re tired and your pup still has a lot of energy. “Just take off their leash in the park right after your hike! You rest, they run.” 

Similarly, even if your pup is not feeling up to playing in the dog park, you can still have a great day on the trails!  

There are opportunities for them to meet new friends at Project Chimps outside the dog park, too! Each October, Project Chimps hosts our annual “5k-ish” event on the Chimp Trails, which usually sees a great turnout of dog participants. Your pup is free to register and will receive a commemorative bandana which they can wear as you both take the trails at your own pace, meeting other dogs and their humans along the way! 

Thank You to Our Community

We’d like to thank every guest—canine and human—who has visited our sanctuary thus far! The monetary donations we receive from your use of the dog park don’t just support its upkeep. They also help continue our mission to care for chimpanzees in need while educating and inspiring humanity.

As a private nonprofit organization, we rely on the support of generous people like you, and every bit helps. Whether you choose to take advantage of this new dog park in Morganton near Blue Ridge, hike the Chimp Trails, book a tour, or make a donation, we thank you for making our mission possible! 

Give us a visit and let us know what your pups think!