"Shhhhh - This is our best kept secret"
(Click on the singing frog)

     Carlisle is is a small community located just five miles southeast of Des Moines on a timber-covered hillcrest overlooking two rivers, wetlands, rolling hills and farmland.  Setting comfortably in nature's embrace yet close enough to see the Des Moines skyline and enjoy the amenities of the Des Moines metro complex.  Residents of Carlisle are only 15 minutes from the Des Moines International airport and 20 minutes from downtown Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and largest city and residents who commute to work in the metro area always have the morning and evening sun at their backs rather than in their eyes.

     That same commute is likely to reveal herds of whitetail deer as they graze.  You can see  flocks of Canadian geese and mallards.  There are wild turkey, pheasant and a host of other wildlife.  If you are lucky, you may see one of the bald eagles that fish and nest along the rivers.  

     On a chilly morning,  a blanket of fog sometimes covers the low-lying areas like smoke.  It clings to the ground as it silently navigates the valleys that separate the rolling hills and farms.  When the morning sun chases away the fog, you can see the pristine blueness of the sky and the whiteness of the clouds.  Close your eyes and inhale the cool, fresh air of the morning and you can feel the ambiance of the area.  All these things I have seen.

The Scotch Ridge Center is a must see for the naturalist.  Located along the North River at the HWY 5 gateway to Carlisle, it's primary feature is an extremely rare transect of four distinct soil-based ecosystems:  a riparian wetland, a riparian woodland, an upland prairie and an oak savannah, all within walking distance of one another.  It is being developed as a place for celebrating, preserving and learning about the area's unique environmental and cultural heritage.

The outdoorsman is only 10 minutes from state-owned public hunting land, wetlands and  the new Summerset State Park which features a modern and supervised handgun, rifle and shotgun range as well as trout fishing, hiking and mountain-bike trails and an improved bike and pedestrian trail that connects to the trail head in Carlisle.  

     Carlisle is a place one comes home to, at the end of a hectic day at work, to escape and to enjoy the home and family.  This is as it should be.  Carlisle residents enjoy living here.  This good feeling is passed from one neighbor to another in the form of a contagious smile and a friendly wave of the hand.  It has a uniqueness of family and community that can't be surpassed by any other place. These are the simple joys of living here. 

     Carlisle currently has a population of approximately 3,500 and boasts over 100 businesses and industries, including the only municipal electric utility in the Des Moines metro area.  Carlisle's attractions are many and include a brand new football stadium at the high school, a new Aquatics Center, several parks and the beautiful "Gardens at North Park".            

     Annual events include a Garden Party in the spring, "Come Home to Carlisle" in the fall, Farmer's Market and Craft Sales, a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the end of November, a Christmas Tour of Homes and "Light Up Carlisle" on the Sunday before Christmas.

CARLISLE SCHOOLS

      Committed to success of the students, Carlisle is privileged to have a great public school system for it's students. The Carlisle School District maintains a middle school campus in Hartford and a high school/elementary school campus in Carlisle and offers a year round variety of athletic and cultural events.  Our students consistently outperform the state and national averages in both college entrance exam scores and graduation percentages while its class sizes consistently rank below the state and national averages.  The district’s school-to-work program provides students with hands-on experience before they graduate.  The Carlisle Schools are large enough to offer a broad range of activities but small enough so that everyone can participate.   

Click HERE for a look at the academic, sports, and performing arts success enjoyed by Carlisle students and for a closer look at what our school district has to offer, follow this link to the Carlisle Community Schools website.  It will open in a new window and you can return to this page by simply closing the school web page.

"THE NATURAL CHOICE"

With it's rich history, it's diversity of neighborhoods and recreational opportunities and it's easy access to the urban amenities of the metro area, Carlisle is truly "The Natural Choice" for business, personal and professional development.  Because of it's location and strategic planning, Carlisle is poised to seize the chances for economic growth that are expected to occur in the greater Des Moines area during the next few years.

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