The 200-acre (81 ha) sanctuary is located in Eddie D. Jones Nature Park[2] in Keithville, Louisiana, approximately 22 miles (35 km) southwest of Shreveport.

In 2000, the Caddo Parish Commission[7] in Northwest Louisiana donated 200 wooded acres of the Eddie D. Jones Nature Park[2] to Chimp Haven to build the new facility.

In 2000, the United States Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection (CHIMP) Act.

[5] The mission of Chimp Haven is: "To provide and promote the best care of sanctuary chimpanzees and inspire action for the species worldwide.

[1] To fulfill its mission of educating the public about these endangered nonhuman primates and the need for conservation in the wild and protection in captivity, Chimp Haven has established several public education programs including Chimpanzee Discovery Days and Chimp Chat & Chew.

At Chimp Haven, chimpanzees retired from research experience many of the pleasures and freedoms they would have enjoyed in the wild: climbing trees, living in large, bonded social groups, and choosing how they spend their days.