Mel Ray Mobile Home Community Introduce
Mel Ray Mobile Home Community, conveniently located at 2301 SW Oralabor Rd Unit 20, Ankeny, IA 50023, USA, offers a distinctive living experience for individuals and families seeking affordable and friendly community housing. While the platform category "RV Parks Near Me" might initially suggest short-term recreational stays, Mel Ray Mobile Home Community primarily functions as a residential mobile home park, providing long-term homeownership and rental opportunities for manufactured homes. It distinguishes itself through its strong sense of community and dedicated management, making it a compelling option for those looking to settle in the Ankeny area.
The environment of Mel Ray Mobile Home Community is consistently praised by its residents, fostering a welcoming and secure atmosphere. Reviewers frequently highlight the exceptional friendliness of the neighbors, describing them as "as friendly (maybe more so) than any other neighborhood I’ve ever lived in." This emphasizes a strong communal spirit, where residents feel comfortable and connected. The community takes pride in maintaining a "clean and attractive environment," indicating that residents can expect well-kept common areas and individual lots. While specific details about natural landscaping are not extensively provided, the focus on a well-maintained appearance suggests manicured spaces conducive to comfortable living. As a mobile home community, it is designed for permanent or long-term residency, differing from transient RV parks. Its location in Ankeny, IA, a growing city just north of Des Moines, places residents within a suburban setting, offering access to local amenities while maintaining a residential feel. The community is described as "safe," providing peace of mind for its residents. The overall environment cultivates a sense of belonging and stability, which is a significant factor for those seeking a long-term home.
Mel Ray Mobile Home Community provides a range of services designed to support its residents and ensure a comfortable living experience. A key aspect of its services is the management team, particularly the Director, Debbie, who receives overwhelmingly positive reviews. She is described as "awesome," "super helpful and fair," "delightful," and someone who "really knows her stuff" and "holds us accountable to the park rules in a respectful way." This strong and supportive management presence is a significant service, addressing concerns and fostering a positive community. Beyond management, the community offers specific housing solutions, including manufactured homes available for both sale and rent. For those looking to rent, individual mobile homes are available, often equipped with essential amenities like in-unit laundry (washer and dryer), heating, and central air conditioning in newer units. Rent for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit has been observed around $1,024, with a security deposit typically matching the rent. Garbage collection is included as a service, simplifying waste management for residents. The community also enforces standards for lawn care and noise reduction, contributing to the overall quality of living and maintaining a pleasant environment for all. Pet-friendly policies are another valuable service, with both cats and dogs allowed, making it easier for residents to bring their furry companions. Off-street parking is provided, a practical amenity for residents with vehicles. While some residents have noted occasional "disappointment in response times to inquiries and service requests," the overall sentiment toward management and provided services remains positive, emphasizing the community's commitment to its residents.
The features of Mel Ray Mobile Home Community cater to a comfortable and convenient lifestyle, distinguishing it as a desirable residential option. A prominent feature is the availability of modern manufactured homes, which offer "large open concept kitchens, updated appliances and spacious bathrooms," bearing "little resemblance to the outdated mobile homes of the past." These homes are designed to be "affordable," providing an accessible entry point into homeownership or a cost-effective rental solution compared to traditional apartments or houses in the Ankeny area. The community itself is built around a strong neighborly spirit, a feature that fosters social interaction and a sense of belonging. While specific on-site recreational amenities like a swimming pool, basketball court, clubhouse, or playground are not explicitly mentioned in the provided information for Mel Ray, similar well-regarded mobile home communities often feature such amenities to enhance resident lifestyle. However, the core features of Mel Ray revolve around its well-maintained environment, the quality of the manufactured homes themselves, and the positive interpersonal dynamics fostered by the management and residents. The "clean and attractive environment" is a consistent feature that contributes to resident satisfaction. The community's policies, such as pet-friendliness and enforced standards for upkeep, are also key features that maintain its quality and appeal. Its location on SW Oralabor Rd ensures reasonable access to local shops, restaurants, and other city amenities in Ankeny, which is a growing suburb with a good school district and various points of interest, including parks like Sawgrass Park and Carney Marsh, and proximity to higher education institutions like Des Moines Area Community College. These external features contribute to the overall attractiveness of living at Mel Ray.
For those considering Mel Ray Mobile Home Community, understanding promotional information and the application process is important. While specific short-term "promotions" in the traditional sense of an RV park might not apply, the core promotional aspect of Mel Ray is its offering of affordable living in a high-quality, friendly community. The price point for rent, often significantly "cheaper than the current market rate for a 2 bedroom home in Ankeny," serves as a strong economic incentive and a key promotional message. Homes are available for both rent and purchase, providing flexibility to prospective residents. Information regarding current available units, whether for sale or rent, would be obtained by contacting the community directly. The phone number provided, (515) 236-3338 or +1 515-236-3338, is the primary point of contact for inquiries, tours, and application details. Prospective residents should inquire about the application process, which would typically include background checks, credit checks, and income verification, as well as specific fees associated with lot rent, utilities, and any pet deposits. The strong positive reviews from current residents, particularly regarding the management, act as significant word-of-mouth promotion, building trust and confidence in the community. Any "move-in deals" or incentives, while not explicitly listed, could potentially be discussed upon direct inquiry. Overall, Mel Ray Mobile Home Community promotes itself as a stable, welcoming, and affordable residential option in Ankeny, ideal for those navigating the "RV Parks Near Me" category with a long-term living solution in mind.
Mel Ray Mobile Home Community Photos










Mel Ray Mobile Home Community Location
Mel Ray Mobile Home Community
2301 SW Oralabor Rd Unit 20, Ankeny, IA 50023, USA
Mel Ray Mobile Home Community2301 SW Oralabor Rd Unit 20
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Mel Ray Mobile Home Community Reviews
I’ve lived in 2 different trailers here over the last 4 years. The neighbors here are as friendly (maybe more so) than any other neighborhood I’ve ever lived in. Debbie, the Director, is awesome. If I could rate her only — I’d rate her a 5, for sure. She’s always been super helpful and fair. She really knows her stuff. She’s a delightful person and also holds us accountable to the park rules in a respectful way.Apart from Debbie, I’ve been disappointed in response times to inquiries and service requests. I hope they get that figured out!
Apr 29, 2025 · Sarah EcklesI won't lie, in my time living here so far it's been a bit confusing to keep up with the management changes but I just had the most pleasant experience with Debbie. She's always been amazing to communicate to and is so kind to me every time I've ever had a question or concern!
May 01, 2025 · Emma RivasI've lived here for years, the selling of the park has definitely rocked the community with all the changes that comes with it but the worst may have been taking on Heidi Johnson as a property manager. Thankfully she's gone and at least on my side there feels to be more stability. Debbie Smith has been with us for years and if I trust any one who's with the park it's her, she's definitely looked out for me and has been a great help through out the years.
Feb 16, 2025 · Judith DuenasIf I could give Mel Ray a negative review I absolutely would. MANAGEMENT IS THE WORST, THE ABSOLUTE WORST. They rarely return calls or emails, they are never in the office during posted business hours. When I first initially moved there I had a fiasco with my water bill being outrageous, Heidi Johnson the manager at the time kept saying it had to be a leak so I had someone with a trailer repair company come inspect my trailer and provided their findings to the office stating I had no leaks. Heidi comes back and states because Debbie had some conflict/dislike with the owner of the company they would not accept that as proof I had no leaks and I would have to call someone else. Come to find out, Heidi had been inputting the readings in the system the wrong way the whole time so it reflected me using 2x more water than what I actually was. I had a lot rent increase while neither of my surrounding neighbors did and I questioned whatever manager was there at the time and she stated it was due to market and I said well why wouldn’t my neighbors also have an increase and she couldn’t give me an answer to that. I ended up moving out in September 2023 and provided my notice of selling my trailer, my trailer sat for almost a year empty while trying to sell it and the whole time kept getting average water bill while it was unoccupied and I questioned the office about this and they said it must be some “flat rate” again another bull shit excuse. Next fiasco was my security deposit, finally sold the trailer and was told by the manager at the time I would not be getting my deposit back as I did not provide proper notice, I sent her the email I had sent in September of 2023 notifying them of me selling and vacating the property. We went back and forth regarding this and she finally just said oh I was told wrong information and you will be getting your deposit back. Management truly was the absolute worst there and I wouldn’t recommend living there to ANYONE.
Oct 05, 2024 · Daniell Van GorpThe neighborhood is good. Never heard of any problems between the residents. Kids play outside and enjoy the park and playground. Management on the other hand is a problem. They only care about the money, no concern at all about the people that live there. You own the house, pay property taxes, and you still pay rent. They change property managers so frequently that we never know who to call. The number always goes to voicemail, rarely do they return calls. The owning company has a website but the only contact info is the sales team. They have changed hands a couple times in the less than 2 years I have lived there. My lot rent has gone up 2 times also. I picked this location because the manager at the time was wonderful and really made the neighborhood into a community. Now, it is a place to sleep that costs more and gets you less.UPDATE: It is even worse than when I put the original rating.
Aug 26, 2024 · Jamie LaPointe - Boughner
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