Neighborhood Highlights
Bird-Watching at Water Ranch
The Preserve at Water Ranch was built around a massive man-made lake and designed to mirror the surrounding desert landscape. It attracts more than 200 varieties of birds and the bird-watchers that seek them out. Take a tour or, if you’d like to stay longer, grab a permit and set up camp.
Hale Center Theater
At the Hale Center Theater, you can catch classical musicals like “Bye Bye Birdie” one night and musical tributes to stars like Elton John the next. The theater-in-the-round staging seats up to 350 patrons and provides a truly intimate experience for every performance.
Koli Equestrian Center
Saddle up and enjoy miles of scenic horse riding trails in the heart of the Gila River Indian Reservation. All ages are welcome. Youngsters can join the Koli Kids Club, while adults can gain experience and confidence with Horsemanship 101.
Gilbert: Past and Present
Gilbert is named for William Gilbert who, way back in 1902, provided land to the Arizona Eastern Railway. There wasn’t much to see then – Gilbert didn’t open its first grocery store until 1910.
Still, it became a thriving agricultural community known as the “Hay Capital of the World”. The town finally incorporated in 1920, but its population remained under 2,000 until the 1970s. The Town Council then looked to growing neighbors like Tempe and Mesa and wisely began to plan for more future development.
Today, Gilbert is home to nearly 300,000 residents and has been ranked the twelfth most livable town in the U.S. Vacationers come from far and wide, as do foodies and day trippers from nearby Phoenix. If its popularity is any indication, expect many more families to make this desert community their home.
