Iowa offers rural living close to Lake Charles employers
Iowa got its name from its early Midwestern settlers, but it embodies small-town living in Southwest Louisiana. It's a popular bedroom community about 15 miles east of Lake Charles, where many travel for shops, restaurants and jobs, including petrochemical refining, health care and hospitality and tourism. "It's more rural — people who want to live in the country and want to have more land, they can get more for their money out there," says Amanda Sarvaunt, an Iowa resident and Realtor with Compass who often works in the area. Despite its Midwestern moniker, Iowa — pronounced eye-oh-way — celebrates its Cajun roots with traditions like the annual Chicken Run.
New construction homes and extra elbow room in the Iowa market
Iowa's median single-family home price is about $230,000, sitting lower than nearby Lake Charles. Builders such as D.R. Horton are meeting the growing demand with a surplus of new construction properties. Older single-family homes and rental properties can also be found in the town core, while large parels draw many buyers outside the city limits, according to Sarvaunt. Ranch-style properties and open lots may include several acres. "When they're going [to Iowa], that's usually what they're looking for is more space," Sarvaunt says.
Early college offerings through Calcasieu Parish School Board
Iowa claims three schools within the large Calcasieu Parish School Board. Kids may attend J.I. Watson Elementary for preschool through fifth grade and Iowa High for sixth through 12th grade. Both schools earn B grades from Niche. High schoolers can get a head start on college and careers with Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and career and technical classes. The high school also offers biomedical and pre-engineering pathways, which progress from intro classes to more intensive topics.
Quirky traditions endure at the Rabbit Festival and Chicken Run
The Iowa Rabbit Festival draws over 20,000 locals and visitors each March. It first kicked off in Iowa in the 1980s to promote the local rabbit industry. It has since moved to Lake Charles, but continues as a celebration of the region's agricultural roots. The rabbit show and vendor booths are longstanding festival traditions, while the carnival, pageants and live entertainment are more recent additions. Iowa hosts an annual Chicken Run around Mardi Gras, featuring a parade and a chicken toss. Kids attempt to be the one to catch it.
Groceries in Iowa and big-box stores in Lake Charles
Market Basket is available for grocery trips, and the dining scene includes fast-food drive-throughs and a select few local stops. Rabideaux is a specialty meat shop and casual counter-service restaurant with menu items such as turkey legs, boudin and catfish. Lake Charles opens up more options with big-box shopping hubs throughout the city. The revitalizing downtown is gaining more vintage stores, specialty shops, and locally owned restaurants over time. MacFarlane's Celtic Pub offers a traditional Irish food, ambience and a selection of over 140 international beers.
Lawrence Toups Jr. Memorial Park is the go-to green space
Lawrence Toups Jr. Memorial Park is the city's main green space and the former site of the Rabbit Festival. The grounds feature a walking trail, playground amenities, tennis courts, and baseball fields, which host youth baseball and softball leagues. Serenity Garden Park offers a passive green space near the local schools with a walking path and seating. Further out of town, Sam Houston Jones State Park's spacious layout includes 70 acres of longleaf pine forest.
Iowa is car-dependent, but Lake Charles is close
Interstate 10 and U.S. Route 90 provide straightforward routes to Lake Charles. "... With Iowa, there are no bridges to cross — it's straight interstate. It's easy," Sarvaunt says. Locals may rely on cars as no fixed bus routes serve the area. The Calcasieu Parish Public Transit System does offer on-demand rides within the Parish. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, about 16 miles away, offers the region's only Level III trauma center. Lake Charles Regional Airport, about 20 miles away, offers nonstop service to Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
Emergency alerts keep locals informed ahead of hurricanes
Hurricanes are an annual possibility for Calcasieu Parish, situated about 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020 caused flooding and wind damage across the area. Parts of Iowa, particularly around the outskirts, are FEMA special flood hazard areas and may require flood insurance. Locals can sign up for emergency alerts through Calcashout.
