Kathy Holstein

Where Your Dreams Come Home

Alta, Iowa Area Guide

History

Alta was originally founded due to the expansion of the Chicago Railroad system. The president of the railroad company, John I. Blair, named the railroad depot Alta in 1870, although it is not known if he chose that name because the area is the highest point in the state or because his daughter is named Altai Blair. Settlers began moving to the area in 1869, and the construction of the railroad depot was later followed by the construction of a post office. In 1872 a land company began planning a new settlement in the area consisting of four square blocks on the original plat. After hearing of the plans for the new settlement, P.G. Peterson of Chicago moved to Alta to build a hotel to help establish the town. Several other businesses from Chicago flocked to the area including an elevator company, a blacksmith shop, a hardware store, a general store, a community health clinic, and a law firm. Today the area has become a bustling town with a variety of recreational activities, good schools, and many profitable industries being represented here.

Alta Parks and Recreation

Alta Golf and Country Club
601 East 6th, Alta
200-2442

West Links Golf Course
“The only executive course in the area”
100 West Links Drive, Alta
200-2137

For more information about these golf courses visit http://www.altaiowa.com/golf.htm

Alta Attractions

Wind Farm
Wind Farm has enormous turbines that are 26 stories tall with blades as wide as the wingspan of a jumbo jet. Each tower weighs about 57 tons and each individual blade weighs about 8,000 lbs. Built along side the Buffalo Ridge, the Alta Wind Farm is one of the largest wind farms in the world.