Here's the timeline for the Gorilla Haven Project  (revised 24Nov2007)

·        1982-1987 - Jane’s interest in gorillas intensifies.

·        1988 - Steuart’s computer company is #115 on the INC 500 list of fastest growing privately held US companies. We start to think about how we can use our good fortune to help out a small bit of the world.

·        1989 - Steuart and Jane are invited to meet the signing gorilla Koko, who replies to Jane’s sign of "I love gorillas" with "love gorillas YOU!"

·        1990 and 1992 - Jane attends the first and second International Gorilla Workshops in Columbus, OH and Milwaukee, WI, meeting world renowned gorilla experts, who become friends and mentors.

·        1993 - The name "Gorilla Haven" is chosen and we start talking about sometime in the future acquiring land for GH in the southeastern USA.

·        1994 - Steuart’s mother becomes ill (and dies), and we both put our lives on hold to help take care of her. During this time, we reflect on our own lives and towards the end of 1994 decide the time may be right to sell the company.

·        1995 - By August, after pulling off a minor miracle, Steuart sells his company, which he had started 20 years earlier in the basement of his home. It’s the end of an era. The land search for GH intensifies.

·        1996 - In December we purchased 275 acres, and GH goes from dream to reality. We put our fancy home in Chicago on the market to help finance the next phase of GH.

·        1997 - Steuart and Jane attend the third International Gorilla Workshop in Pittsburgh, PA and officially announce the establishment of GH. Gorilla experts from Japan, Germany, Switzerland, England and Holland visit the site and offer encouragement and support for the project. By the end of the year, our Chicago home is sold and Steuart’s father dies: two more eras end, as another begins. In September the local newspaper runs an article about GH plans in Fannin County. A small but vocal group demand an "anti-gorilla ordinance", the absurdity and outrageousness of which brings the attention of the world-wide media.

·        1998 - Elections held in Fannin County support our feelings that the majority of our neighbors are either unconcerned, or thrilled and excited to have GH in their midst and the anti-gorilla ordinance fails. The anti-gorilla people are shown to be associated with some and/or developers with a personal and financial interest in seeing us move on, perhaps so they can develop our pristine 275 acres themselves. The rest of the year is quiet, as facility designs and plans continue. In October we attend the UK Primate TAG (Taxon Advisory Group) meeting in Paignton, England, where our plans for GH are warmly received and welcomed by Britain's top primate experts.

·        1999 - A full time project manager and gorilla expert, Pete Halliday, arrives in March and we begin construction of the infra-structure - access roads, drainage/septic and site grading.

·        2000 - Building construction begins as plans get finalized.  In May 2000 we present our plans to the Gorilla S.S.P. (Species Survival Plan) and Zoo world, which goes over very well, although many are still waiting to see finished facilities.  The Great Wall of Morganton is the big highlight of the year (see updates), as concrete pads are also poured for the first 2 villas.

·        2001 – This year had more great construction milestones, including the construction of Silverback Villa in April.  In May Steuart and I go to Cameroon to attend the PASA meeting and Jane spends almost a month at Limbe, including a search for wild gorillas in southern Cameroon, before returning home to GH.   In June our second gorilla keeper, Kelly joined us, working with Pete to prepare all the paperwork – procedures, protocols, etc needed, in addition to helping supervise and advise on construction issues. We also purchased more surrounding land, bringing the total up to 324 acres. 

·        2002 - Most of this year was spent on a substantial revision to our veterinary facility plans and completion of all the details for Silverback Villa and other support buildings. Our vet clinic was originally designed for emergency surgery and small procedures with the expectation of working with a nearby zoo for any major surgery. However, the AZA wanted us to be completely self-sufficient. This required a full surgical theatre with X-ray, gas anesthesiology, piped-in oxygen, pulse oximetry, autoclave etc. plus separate Recovery and Necropsy facilities. Fortunately, we were able to accommodate all of these requirements. So far everyone who visits says the same thing:  They’re amazed at the attention to detail and quality of standards and the obvious amount of hard work involved in making GH a reality.  But as Steuart would say “If it were easy, others would be doing it too!"

·        2003 - in early January, all inspections (USDA, DNR, SSP) were completed and on March 30th following approval by the Gorilla SSP, Gorilla Haven welcomed its first resident: Joe who was transported from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.

·        2004 - Construction of the steelwork for the three remaining villas is well underway along with a number of minor revisions based upon our experience with Silverback Villa. Also, extensive work on the habitat took place this year with several natural ponds being added plus a comprehensive plan of pollarding most the tall trees in the habitat.

·        2006 - Emma Villa was completed in April, in time for Oliver's arrival in mid-May.

·        2007 - Bonz villa is now expected to be completed in the fall of 2008. Although all that remains for Pitchou Villa and the Group Building is some of the steelwork and that could be completed by the end of 2008, these two buildings are currently on hold until the long-term funding issues for the project are resolved.