When Chattahoochee Nature Center opened its doors in 1976, the concept was so new to Georgia that longtime staffer Dotty Etris remembers fielding calls from confused residents with all sorts of wild misconceptions about what went on there. Fifty years later, there's no confusion left - CNC is one of metro Atlanta's most beloved outdoor destinations, and this year the nonprofit is celebrating a milestone half-century.
Founded by citizen activists John Ripley Forbes and Frank McCamey, CNC began as a modest 6.7-acre plot along the Chattahoochee River.Today, that grassroots effort has grown into one of Georgia's most beloved destinations for nature lovers of every age. It spans 127 acres and welcomes more than 150,000 visitors a year, offering trails, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental education just minutes from downtown Roswell.
"It's hard to believe Chattahoochee Nature Center is approaching its 50th year," said CEO Natasha Rice, crediting decades of support from volunteers, members, and the surrounding community for the center's growth.
Along the way, CNC added the marsh boardwalk in the 1980s, launched Camp Kingfisher in the 1990s, opened the Discovery Center in the 2000s, and introduced the Unity Garden in the 2010s — which still donates all its produce to North Fulton Community Charities. The nonprofit also recently wrapped a nearly $10 million capital campaign to modernize its campus for the next fifty years.
The anniversary celebration continued throughout this summer with the "50 Things to Do at CNC" challenge and concluded with the official 50th Anniversary Community Celebration –a free-to-all, family-friendly day filled with nostalgia, excitement and community spirit.
Half a century later, Chattahoochee Nature Center remains what it always was: a place to fall back in love with the outdoors, right in our own backyard.
chattnaturecenter.org