About Pella
Pella...A Touch of Holland
You may think most midwestern towns are the same, but just wait until you visit Pella. Pella is a Dutch community filled with sights, tastes and sounds reminiscent of Holland.
Pella has a unique Dutch Heritage with 27 churches, an excellent school system with five public schools and two Christian schools, the Pella Christian Grade School and the Pella Christian High School, and a four-year liberal arts college (Central College) known for its international studies program.
Pella has many recreational activities including two golf courses, ten tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bicycle paths, and Lake Red Rock for boating and skiing. Beautiful Lake Red Rock, consisting of 19,000 acres of uncrowded water, is Iowa’s largest recreation area.
Pella is a growing community with a balance between industry and professional workers. We are located less than one hour from Des Moines.
Pella hosts an annual Tulip Time Festival the second week in May when our Dutch Heritage is celebrated. Pella features unique architecture in their downtown store fronts. You’ll love our delicious bakery goods, brick streets, rows of tulips, and friendly people.
Pella is a very clean community with a low crime rate. Pella has a new medical center and a modern hospital. Our average winter temperature is 24.7 degrees and our average summer temperature is 73.3 degrees.
Newcomers are welcome to Pella and find Pella a wonderful place to raise their family. For more information on Pella, call the Chamber of Commerce at 641-628-2626.
Places to see:
Scholte House & Gardens, the original home of Dominie H.P. Scholte, the founder of Pella, is a 23-room mansion. The home is furnished with many pieces owned and used by the Scholte family. More than 28,000 tulips and other flowers are planted in the gardens directly behind the house. Admission charged (No admission charged for gardens). Hours 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays.
Tulip Toren, located on the south side of Central Park, commemorates the original settlers of Pella.
Pella Historical Village is a collage of 21 buildings nestled in a courtyard laced with red brick walkways. Some of the buildings are over 100 years old: others were built later or moved in and restored. Craft demonstrations include wooden shoe carving, weaving, pottery making, milling, Dutch cookie making, spinning and Dutch folk painting. Admission: Adults $5.00; Students (K-12) $1.00. Group rates available for 20+ people. Contact the Pella Historical Society for advance ticket sales - 641/628-4311.
Fire Station Museum was reconstructed in 1882 and houses an antique fire engine, antique fire fighting equipment, fire fighting memorabilia, and a cold, desolate jail. Free admission. Open 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. each Tulip Time day.
The Klokkenspel is a clock with eight four-foot mechanical figures that perform at regular intervals to the music from a 147 bell computer-driven carillon, which can also be played manually for live concerts and special events. The four figures reflect Pella’s Dutch Heritage.
The Pella Opera House, built in 1900, is furnished with an ornate tin ceiling and stained glass windows. Operas gave way to silent movies, and the House closed. The building became a skating ring, a bowling alley and a hardware store, and in the process, much of the original building was demolished. A group of Pella citizens succeeded in restoring it to its former grandeur, and Pella now enjoys a full season of musical and theatrical performances from nationally know artists. The Opera House can be reserved for special events.
Bos Landen, which means "Land of Woods" in Dutch, is a beautiful golf community nestled in 350 acres of rolling hills. This new development, which features a scenic five-acre lake and 200 year-old oak and hickory trees, offers relaxing country living within the Pella city limits.
