Project Chimps sits at 2031 Lowery Road in Morganton. Its trails are open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, and the suggested contribution is $2 per hiker. Dogs are welcome. If you hike often, an Annual Trails Pass costs $25. The tours are what most people hear about, and they are priced for visitors planning a special trip. The trail is priced for the people who live a few miles away.
This fall, the timing works out for locals. The sanctuary has new residents, the feeding tours end with November, and on one weekend in late October the guided tour costs less than lunch.
The Trail Is Open Every Day
The Chimp Trails are self-guided. You pick up a map at the start, and the trail graphic marks a creek section and a sunset spot along the way. You can pay the $2 at the parking lot kiosks, in the gift shop, or online ahead of time.
The sanctuary says hikers may hear the chimpanzees calling from their forested habitats. With some luck, you can also see them from the Overlook when they're out in the Peachtree Habitat. Two more stops along the route are worth knowing:
- Project Harvest, where food is grown for the chimpanzees.
- The Remembrance Garden, which honors chimpanzees who have died at the sanctuary.
You can take a dog walk here on any day of the year, at sunrise or close to dusk. Bring $2 and the dog. You don't need a reservation.
What It Costs to Get Closer
The trail costs little because it keeps you at a distance. Getting near the habitats means a guided tour, and those are priced for visitors and private groups. Here is the fall 2026 menu from the sanctuary's own pages:
| Way in | Price | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Chimp Trails | $2 suggested per hiker, or $25 for the year | Self-guided, dawn to dusk, every day |
| Chimp or Treat, Oct. 24–25 | $11 per child age 3–12, one adult free with each child ticket | 45–60 minute guided walking tour |
| Airbnb sanctuary tour | $110 per adult, $80 per child | About an hour, 10 guests max |
| Airbnb Lunch Launch | $165 per adult, $80 per child | Adds 30 minutes of feeding from the Chateau rooftop |
| Apes & Grapes | $150 for ages 21 and up, $75 for ages 20 and under | Two hours, four wine tastings or a nonalcoholic option |
| Private Supporter Tour | $550 for 1–20 guests, plus $38 per extra guest | 60–90 minutes, book 72 hours ahead |
| Banana Bus | $900 for 1–12 guests | Two-hour round trip through the sanctuary |
Apes & Grapes runs at 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Banana Bus is listed for 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For private tours, the sanctuary asks for requests three days ahead. It recommends early visits and usually starts tours at 10 or 11 a.m.
Look at the table again. For one adult and one child, the Airbnb tour costs $190. On one October weekend, Chimp or Treat gets the same pair onto a guided walk for $11.
The October Weekend When the Price Drops
Chimp or Treat runs Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, 2026. Kids are invited to come in costume. Each child gets a 45–60 minute guided walking tour and a chance to see the chimps in their habitat areas. Each child also gets a treat bag of vegan, palm-oil-free candy plus small non-food items like temporary tattoos and erasers. If your child takes part in the Teal Pumpkin Project, you can ask for a bag with non-food items only when you check out.
Each 3-12 year old child's ticket comes with a free adult ticket!
Additional adults pay $38, and children two and under get in free. You book an arrival window between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., and staff assign your exact tour time when you check in. The sanctuary asks guests to arrive 30 minutes before their window opens.
Before you pick a time, know the terrain. The walk is a moderate hike on gravel roads with some steep climbs, and it doesn't work for strollers. The sanctuary says it can be hard for young children, less active adults, and anyone with limited mobility. There are a few golf carts. To use one, you have to buy the Cart Tour option when you book, and walk-up requests on the day can't be guaranteed. The event runs rain or shine, and tickets aren't refundable. If plans change, the sanctuary will move your tickets to someone else's name or turn them into a donation.
Sightings are very likely but not guaranteed. The chimps can choose to stay out in view or stay hidden in the forested habitat.
The next Saturday, October 31, Morganton Point Campground and Recreation Area at 475 Lake Dr. holds its own Trick or Treat from 5 to 9 p.m. Pumpkin contest entries are due by 5 p.m., and trick-or-treating runs from 7 to 9. That gives Morganton two Halloween events, a week apart.
Who Lives Up the Hill Now
This fall's tours have new faces. On June 1, 2026, Project Chimps announced six male chimpanzees who had come from the New Iberia Research Center in Louisiana: Tory, Tommy, Tweetybird, Twirp, Duane, and Charlie. Tory's profile gives his arrival date as May 20, 2026. It lists Tommy as a frequent companion and describes Tory as shy but growing more confident with his caregivers. Charlie is the full brother of Tony, who came in the previous year's transport, and his profile says he loves food and drinks. A September update from the sanctuary said Tory was spending time in the South Peachtree Habitat with eight other chimpanzees as he settled into his new group.
As of October 1, 2026, the sanctuary's homepage says 104 chimpanzees live there. All of them retired from biomedical research. The sanctuary describes three forested habitats covering eight acres. It says more habitats and housing are planned for a future Phase Two expansion.
Feeding Season Ends With November
The Lunch Launch is the one way to help feed the chimps, and it is seasonal. The Airbnb version runs March through November. The private version starts at 10:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday, over the same months. It includes a 60–90 minute walking tour and then 30 minutes of feeding. On the Airbnb option, guests feed from the Chateau rooftop, and the sanctuary provides gloves and masks. From today, October 4, that leaves about eight weeks before the season closes and doesn't reopen until March.
For Neighbors Who Want More Than a Visit
Volunteering is another way in, and it costs time more than money. The sanctuary is recruiting volunteers who can work four-hour shifts twice a month, usually between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The work covers care, enrichment, administration, fundraising, communications, events, facilities, and grounds. Once accepted, volunteers attend a half-day orientation. It costs $25, which includes a shirt, a name badge, and online training, and the fee can be discounted or waived on request.
After 100 hours, volunteers may qualify to clean villas and prepare food and enrichment. After 250 hours, they can move into volunteer leadership roles. Neither volunteers nor staff have direct physical contact with the chimps. Of all the ways to know Project Chimps, volunteering is the one that requires living close enough to show up twice a month.
At Laura Elleby and the E+E Group, we love Morganton places like this one, where a $2 walk on Lowery Road comes with the sound of chimpanzees in the trees. If you have family visiting this fall and want help planning their weekend around Chimp or Treat, or around the last weeks of the Lunch Launch, give us a call.