Member Spotlight – Middlebrook Farm

Middlebrook is located just south of West Des Moines, nestled in the town of Cumming. There are several must-see attractions in the Agrihood:

3. • Middlebrook Farm’s two-acre town garden offers a diverse range of organic produce. With seasonal changes, frequent visits are a must to discover new, delicious offerings at our self-service Farm Stand! Additionally, Middlebrook’s chicken coop supplies farm-fresh eggs, and a you-pick flower plot rounds out the Middlebrook Farm offerings. Experience the essence of Middlebrook by joining us for Fridays at the Farm for live music, food trucks, farmers market vendors, fresh organic produce and more! Middlebrook welcomes friends and families to kick off their weekends by enjoying the simplicity of life on the farm while connecting with others every Friday mid-May through mid-September from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Keep an eye on our website to discover upcoming community event offerings, which range from gardening workshops to farm to table dinners and everything in-between!
   • Originally a one-room schoolhouse, Middlebrook Mercantile has been restored as a one-of-a-kind coffee shop turned wine bar in the evenings. “The Merc” is also a dynamic event space, purveyor of locally sourced goods, and a destination listening room for live, local music. The Merc offers a full espresso bar, craft cocktails and beer, specialty wines, grab-and-go eats, as well as locally-produced home goods and groceries. Everyone is welcome to stop in for a drink, meet up with friends, be a digital nomad, or to browse the unique offerings found in the general store. Every weekend, The Merc is your go-to spot to see live music! Stop by on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons to catch local acts.
   • Middlebrook Meadow is a 50+ acre nature preserve, featuring 1.5 miles of walking trails, native grasses and flowers, a pond teeming with wildlife, and friendly grazing farm animals. This scenic meadow serves as a connecting point between Middlebrook Agrihood, the Great Western Bike Trail, and Wilson’s Orchard and Farm, creating a harmonious blend of nature and community.
   • Wilson’s Orchard showcases a cider bar, restaurant, bakery, and a farm market, complete with indoor and outdoor seating areas. The 70+ acre polyculture farm will be utilized for fruit trees, berries, pumpkins, flowers, and vegetables. Additionally, nearly 50+ acres will be dedicated to rotational grazing of livestock on the Middlebrook Meadow nature preserve.
   • Mayor Tom Becker Park is a one-of-a-kind park, nestled in Middlebrook Agrihood, featuring an agricultural-inspired playground, large open spaces, and charming landscaping. The park offers an escape for all ages and abilities to explore, discover, and relax at their own leisure. Enjoy a playground scavenger hunt, slides, climbing structures, fun play tractors, swings for big kids, babies and inclusive needs, wooden mulch, a walking loop, benches, covered picnic pavilion, parking, and seasonally open bathrooms and a drinking fountain.

West Des Moines has so many great amenities, and we love that Middlebrook is in such close proximity to West Glen, Jordan Creek, and so many great restaurants, shopping, and attractions! West Des Moines gives our small-town community access to big city amenities.

There’s plenty of exciting projects in the pipeline at Middlebrook, including:

7. • Construction on our first phase of Middlebrook Main Street (Middlebrook Lofts) will be complete by the end of this summer. The Lofts building features retail space with apartment living above.  We’re excited to announce our first retail tenant: The Farmstand by Manastash Mercantile! More announcements of retail tenants will be coming in the next few months. Across the street, we just broke ground on a 23,000-square-foot missed-use office building. Anchored by Peoples Company future headquarters, this development will also feature prime ground-floor retail space.
   • Construction on The Cottages will start in May. Thirty cottages will be available at the end of 2025, offering both two-story and one-story options. These contemporary, detached townhomes, starting in the low $300s, will feature two-bedroom floor plans, a two-car attached garage, a front porch, and a fenced side yard. Each home will be approximately 1,000 square feet and located along the Great Western Bike Trail, just minutes from Meadow, Main Street, Merc, Garden, Wilson’s, and more!