Turtle Creek

Reviews

• AJ

  alec jackson

  Feb 11, 2026
  4.0
  Management and maintenance at Turtle Creek were rocky when I first moved in, but they’ve improved and are now much more responsive. My unit still has some minor cosmetic issues, and it wasn’t well‑cleaned at move‑in, though I can’t speak to how things are handled now. My 1‑bedroom is a good size for one person and could work for two, though it might feel tight. The living room has a nice wood‑burning fireplace and a full mirrored wall, but the lighting is poorly placed and requires lamps. The kitchen works fine, though the dishwasher is loud and the sink is outdated. The bedroom is spacious with plenty of closet space, including a walk‑in. The bathroom is large with lots of storage and a big mirror; the shower is good, though the toilet could use a new seat. My patio is disappointing, with a view of the parking lot and other units. More importantly, the insulation around the windows and patio door is poor, making it hard to heat or cool the living room and bedroom. Ventilation and airflow also seem weak. The property itself has pros and cons. The location is convenient, but being next to the interstate means constant noise, especially with the poor insulation. The extremely bright parking‑lot floodlights shine directly into my windows, making it feel like it never gets dark unless you buy blackout curtains. The pool is large and nice, though it could be cleaned more often. The gym and clubhouse look good, though I haven’t used them. The parking lot has several large potholes, and litter around the grounds isn’t cleaned up as quickly as it should be. Overall, it’s a decent place for a single person who’s often away. For the price, I’d rate it about 3.8/5. If rent increases without improvements, I’d drop that to around 2.9/5 and consider moving elsewhere. The value is fair now, but a higher price without upgrades wouldn’t feel justified
• MJ

  Mary Beth Jenkins

  Jan 19, 2026
  5.0
  I’ve had such a wonderful experience at Turtle Creek Apartments! From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel valued and taken care of. A huge shoutout to Alivia, the General Manager, whose leadership and professionalism truly shine through in every interaction. She is attentive, knowledgeable, and clearly dedicated to creating a great community for residents. Her leasing agents are absolutely wonderful as well—friendly, patient, and always willing to go the extra mile to help with questions or find solutions. Their teamwork and positive attitudes make the entire leasing process smooth and stress-free. If you’re looking for a place where the staff genuinely cares, Turtle Creek Apartments is the place to be!
• PJ

  Paul Joy

  Jan 17, 2026
  1.0
  Turtle Creek Apartments in West Des Moines has a great location and unique floor plans, but Richdale Management makes living here stressful and frustrating. Make no mistake, they are the epitome of impersonal, corporate-style management. Richdale also manages other communities in the Des Moines metro area, including BelleMeade Apartments and SaddleBrook Apartments. Major red flag: After I moved out, Richdale took nearly a month to process my security deposit return. Then they claimed to have mailed the check, but it never arrived. When I contacted corporate, I had to go through multiple layers of screening to reach a call-center representative who was hard to understand. I was told I would have to wait three months for a replacement check unless I paid a fee. To get my own money sooner, I had to sign paperwork stating I would not cash the original check if it ever appeared. No accountability, just corporate red tape. Communication is unreliable. Emails often go unanswered, and calling repeatedly is usually the only way to get a response. Even then, follow-through is inconsistent. Maintenance requests and rent payments must go through a slow, outdated website. Some maintenance requests were marked “completed” when no one had entered my unit, and rent payments sometimes processed so slowly that it was unclear whether they went through. Automatic payments are not available! Forced fees add to the frustration. Residents are REQUIRED to pay for a valet trash service and a cable package whether they use them or not. Trash often sits in hallways on pickup days, causing odors, and in the age of streaming, paying for unwanted cable makes little sense. Maintenance and repairs are slow and disorganized. Blanket permission is required, but residents are rarely informed when staff will arrive. They might appear in your unit weeks later with no notice. Contractors appear to be chosen based on cost rather than quality. Appliance repairs took months to resolve, even with repeated follow-ups. I had to wait nearly FOUR months for my washing machine to be replaced! In one case, a replacement appliance was installed but didn’t work due to a basic setup oversight. Meanwhile, corporate continued sending cheerful promotional emails about contests and referrals, creating a tone-deaf contrast to unresolved resident concerns. The apartments themselves are aging. Many units show signs of wear, outdated fixtures, harsh fluorescent lighting, and inconsistent move-in cleaning. When I moved in, it appeared cleaning had happened BEFORE drywall and paint touch-ups. There was dust and paint flecks everywhere. The bathroom, in particular, showed moisture issues like mildew, loose grout, and poor ventilation. Parking and common areas were also problematic. Spaces were often taken up by guests, oversized vehicles, or contractor equipment. Trash areas were poorly maintained, large discarded items sometimes sat out for weeks, and parking lots had potholes and uneven pavement. One massive indentation is bad enough to scrape the bottom of your car. There is a small, easy-to-miss sign nearby. Yes, the indentation has been there long enough to warrant a sign. In one instance, my car was towed and the office couldn’t even provide the towing company’s contact information. The positives: The location is excellent—close to Mills Civic and Jordan Creek—and the floor plans are more interesting than most. Features like fireplaces, built-in shelving, and office spaces are nice. Final thoughts: Believe the negative reviews. Talk to current and former residents. Some “positive” reviews appear to be written by staff. Even when local employees mean well, they have little authority to improve your experience. Based on my experience at Turtle Creek Apartments in West Des Moines, I would strongly caution anyone considering a Richdale Management property in the Des Moines metro area, including BelleMeade Apartments or SaddleBrook Apartments. Richdale prioritizes corporate systems over resident experience. You deserve better.
• JJ

  Jessica Jackson

  Dec 29, 2025
  1.0
  Because of these reviews, I will be canceling my tour appointment.
• CS

  Chaz Stevenson

  Dec 9, 2025
  4.0
  Toured yesterday and forgot to tally up. Great staff with pleasing taste in presentation as well layout Tad pricey