Pricing ranges from
    $1,969 – 3,589/month

    Holiday Illahee Hills

    8308 Colby Pkwy, Urbandale, IA 50322
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living

    Compassionate staff, safe and welcoming

    I moved my dad in here and I'm very pleased - Jess and the staff were kind, responsive, and helped with everything; the place is clean, welcoming, and safe (the fall button literally saved his life). The meals are great, there are plenty of activities, on-site therapy and transportation make life easy, and the community feels warm and family-like. My dad is settled, social, and well cared-for - I'd recommend a visit.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Pricing

    Prices shown are estimates and subject to change. Contact your senior living advisor for current pricing.

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Assistance with dressing
    • Hospice waiver
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system

    Meals and dining

    • Meal preparation and service

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.44·(183)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.3
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      4.3
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      3.6

    Pros

    • Compassionate and attentive staff
    • Restaurant-style dining with multiple entree choices
    • Robust daily activities and organized outings
    • On-site physical and occupational therapy services
    • Complimentary local transportation and appointment shuttles
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • On-site beauty salon and barber services
    • Secure building with emergency call/pull-cord systems
    • Renovated and well-maintained common areas
    • Attractive grounds and walkable outdoor paths
    • Small, close-knit community atmosphere
    • Range of apartment sizes (studio through two-bedroom)
    • Accessible on-site laundry and amenity spaces
    • Dedicated theater and media rooms
    • Fitness classes and exercise programs
    • Private dining and entertaining spaces for visitors
    • Pet-friendly accommodations
    • 24/7 on-site live-in managers
    • Utilities and many services included in rent options
    • Engaged activities director and resident-led programs
    • Frequent social events (happy hour, ice cream socials, performances)
    • On-site rehab through contracted therapy partners

    Cons

    • Variable food quality and menu consistency
    • Inconsistent housekeeping and maintenance follow-through
    • Staffing turnover and scheduling gaps
    • Limited clinical care and no 24/7 licensed nursing
    • Small apartment layouts and limited in-room kitchens
    • Pricing transparency and add-on fee concerns
    • Marketing and photo-accuracy concerns
    • Occasional odor concerns in some common areas
    • Limited covered parking and site-access challenges on slopes
    • Ongoing renovation disruptions and phased updates
    • Inconsistent managerial communication and tour experience

    Summary of reviews

    Holiday Illahee Hills presents as an independent-living community with strong strengths in social engagement, hospitality, and a residential atmosphere. Reviewers consistently describe compassionate, attentive staff and a small, close-knit resident population that supports frequent social interaction. The community emphasizes restaurant-style dining (typically three meals daily), a wide calendar of activities (bingo, crafts, fitness classes, outings and bus trips), and a variety of on-site amenities including a theater, library, salon, laundry, and workout room. Grounds and common areas are often described as attractive and well maintained, and several accounts highlight successful transitions and ongoing support from named staff members.

    Care and clinical services reflect an independent-living model rather than assisted living or skilled nursing. The facility offers on-site therapy through contracted partners (physical and occupational therapy) and daily outsourced RN coverage in some arrangements, plus emergency call systems and 24/7 live-in managers. However, reviewers frequently emphasize that the community is not a step-up facility: there is limited around-the-clock licensed nursing and it is generally best suited for residents who are independent or who have light supportive needs. Safety features such as pull-cords and medical-alert buttons are noted positively.

    Dining is a clear focal point: many reviewers praise the chef and the restaurant-style presentation, personalization of meals for dietary needs, and the social dining environment. At the same time, a recurring pattern is variability in food quality and menu offerings — several comments describe a decline in variety or quality at times, burned or cold items, and mismatch between menus and served dishes. Families also cited bundled meal plans and all-inclusive pricing as convenient for some, but others raised concerns about paying for services they did not use or noticing rent increases and additional charges.

    Activities and resident life are consistently highlighted as a major strength. The activities program is described as broad and active, with frequent performances, field trips, fitness options, hobby groups, and resident-led opportunities. This engagement supports a social, family-like atmosphere that many residents and families find reassuring. Facilities quality is mixed: parts of the building have been recently renovated and receive praise for cleanliness and design, but other areas show the need for updating. Reviewers mention ongoing renovations that can cause disruption, occasional sanitation or odor concerns in corridors or specific common areas, and some carpeting or finishes that are dated or mid-renovation.

    Operationally, the facility draws mixed feedback about management and service consistency. Positive notes include helpful tours, clear pricing explanations on some visits, and staff who resolve issues when they arise. Negative patterns include perceived sales pressure during tours, rushed or inconsistent communication, housekeeping schedules that are sometimes irregular, and staffing turnover that can affect continuity. Pricing transparency and add-on fees emerged as a recurrent concern; prospective residents should review contract terms carefully to understand what is included and what triggers extra charges. A small number of comments also raised concerns about the accuracy of online photos or promotional materials, suggesting prospective customers verify spaces in person.

    Overall, Holiday Illahee Hills appears to deliver a socially active independent-living experience with notable strengths in staff engagement, dining format, and activity programming. It is best suited to seniors who are largely independent and who prioritize community life and convenience services. Prospective residents and families should confirm the level of clinical support available, clarify pricing and included services, inspect the specific unit layout (kitchen capabilities and storage vary), and ask about current renovation timelines, housekeeping schedules, and parking arrangements before making a decision.

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    Location

    Map showing location of Holiday Illahee Hills

    Holiday Illahee Hills is located at 8308 Colby Pkwy, Urbandale, IA, 50322.

    About Holiday Illahee Hills

    Holiday Illahee Hills sits on a hill with nice views of the countryside near Urbandale, Iowa, just outside West Des Moines and close to places like Mercy Medical Center and Valley West Mall, and does give you a peaceful feeling right when you drive up, looking out over the manicured lawns, landscaped gardens, and nearby fishing lakes and golf courses, and you'll usually hear people talking about the pleasant walking paths and quiet neighborhood, since the building is only two stories tall and sits among gardens, so you can sit out on a patio any warm day and watch the sun or just stroll around if you feel up for it. The community offers both apartments and cottages with one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and studio floor plans from about 310 to 686 square feet, and people can bring their pets and decorate how they want to make their space feel like home, and you'll see a mix of sleeping alcoves, patios, balconies, and kitchenettes, all with comfortable beds, dining tables, walk-in showers or tubs, safety rails in bathrooms, and individual thermostat controls for each unit, so you can keep your room the way you like it. There's the option for handicap barrier-free units and cottages too, which makes a difference for a lot of folks, and there's parking out in the lot and under some covered spaces, plus transportation for errands and doctor visits when you need it, which comes in handy if going out on your own is tough some days.

    Inside, you'll find inviting lounges, a library, a beauty salon, chapel, fitness equipment, a game room, and a big entertainment room with a large screen TV where people get together to watch movies or play Wii golf, and there are common areas with things like a baby grand piano and decorative curio cabinets that give the place a cozy touch. Residents gather for meals in a dining room set with round tables, stylish chandeliers, and large windows, and three meals a day are cooked from scratch by the chefs, usually with a private room set aside if you want to celebrate something special or have guests over, and there's always a coffee pot going in the lounge, which is nice for visits throughout the day with friends. Weekly housekeeping, linen service, and a laundry room for residents are standard, so you don't have to worry about the big cleaning jobs, and there's WiFi in the common areas, a business center, and a locked mailbox system for privacy and security.

    Holiday Illahee Hills keeps things social, so you'll find a steady list of activities like book clubs, art classes, poker or casino nights, card circles, and fitness classes, plus organized outings, field trips, and walks on the neighborhood trails, and all the while, people find it easy to meet each other because of all the shared spaces and events going on, and with community managers living on site, there's always someone around for extra support and 24-hour security. The community offers independent living for older adults aged 55 and up, and allows residents to hire home care agencies or third-party providers for whatever care or therapy they need, which can include skilled nursing, diabetes care, IV care, respiratory care, wound care, medication management, and therapy services, along with help from aides for dressing, bathing, grooming, or medication reminders, so the options go all the way from independent living to assisted living, skilled nursing, and even memory care with extra support for Alzheimer's or dementia, as all the different levels are right there on one campus.

    The grounds include gardens, patios for outdoor dining or sitting, and lawn areas for walks, while many folks like to venture out to nearby Saylorville Lake or take part in the local fishing or golf, since transportation services make that possible. There's a feeling of comfort and flexibility, since people can arrange for all their support services right on-site using Home Instead or any outside providers, and all apartments include modern kitchenettes and cable TV, which makes daily life easier for everyone. Holiday Illahee Hills gives residents a steady routine, chances to stay active or social, and varying care options, in a peaceful setting just outside the city, which helps keep life straightforward while letting folks make the place feel like their own.

    About Holiday by Atria

    Holiday Illahee Hills is managed by Holiday by Atria.

    Holiday Retirement, founded in 1971 by Bill Colson, was one of the largest independent living operators in North America with over 300 communities at its peak. In 2019, Holiday Retirement was acquired by Atria Senior Living, creating one of the largest senior living providers in the United States. The communities now operate under the Atria brand while maintaining many of the traditions and values that made Holiday Retirement a trusted name in senior living for nearly 50 years. Holiday pioneered the concept of affordable, all-inclusive independent living for seniors, offering residents a worry-free lifestyle with meals, housekeeping, activities, and transportation included in one monthly fee.

    People often ask...

    Holiday Illahee Hills offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $1,969 per month.

    Holiday Illahee Hills offers independent living and assisted living.

    There are 68 photos of Holiday Illahee Hills on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 8308 Colby Pkwy, Urbandale, IA 50322.

    No, Holiday Illahee Hills does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Holiday Illahee Hills. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Holiday Illahee Hills directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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