Matt and Jo Daly flanking daughter Hannah with Matt’s dad, Dale in rear

The great thing about Stelle and being here is the quiet, country living with a big sense of community. Our family has 3-generations living here. We bought the original Stelle schoolhouse, renovated it into our home, and couldn't be happier. 

David and Rejeana Gilleland

Rejeana and I moved to Stelle 8-years ago when I took a job in Chicago. We could have chosen to live closer, but we were looking for more than a house - we wanted a certain lifestyle.

Stelle exceeded our wildest expectations. Stelle embodies community in every sense of the word and that's why we love it here. Our neighbors are our friends and family in Stelle.  I don't think there is a better place to live whether you're retired or raising a young family. Stelle has something for everyone. We have learned so much living here.

Susan Wilson

I moved to Stelle more than 30 years ago with my 6-year-old son.  I was fortunate that my brother and his family, as well as my parents, were already living in Stelle.  A few years later, my younger sister and her family moved to Stelle, too!  Because home prices are quite reasonable here in Stelle, I was able to purchase a home shortly after moving here.

Stelle was a wonderful place to raise my son.  He went to the Tri-Point school district and received a very good, well-rounded education.  He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree and is enjoying his job as a network engineer. I went to Kankakee Community College and received my license as a Registered Nurse.  I worked at Riverside Medical Center until I retired a few years ago.

Stelle is a very safe place to raise children.  They feel free to play outside and wander to the playground, basketball court, volleyball court, or sandbox.  We also have a ping pong table at the Community Center.  One of our homeowners has a beautiful in-ground pool which they generously make available to residents. And there are always fish to be had at the nearby pond, which is owned by the CSC (Center for Sustainable Community).  They also have a garden co-op for those who enjoy gardening.  So there’s plenty of recreation for young and old alike.

Another thing I enjoy about Stelle is that there are plenty of opportunities to participate in social activities (potlucks, special events, etc.) as well as volunteer activities.  Stelle has a few employees, but we also rely on volunteers to keep things running smoothly.  Residents are free to join any of the committees or run for the town board.  I served on the Administration & Common Grounds committee for many years as well as the Board.  By volunteering, residents are given the opportunity to help make the decisions of how our town functions.

I’m so glad that I moved to Stelle many years ago.  I can’t imagine living any place else!

Nicole and Jake Brown Family

"We’ve lived in Stelle since November of 2019. As soon as we saw our house and the neighborhood, we knew it was what we were looking for.

The community is wonderful, and it is always so refreshing to see so many people from all walks of life coming together to be good neighbors. There are many things to enjoy in Stelle and we love raising our children here."

Sara Watts

We moved our young family to Stelle 23 years ago! It's hard to believe that our sons were only ages 3 and 4 when we arrived.  While we moved to Stelle to be near family, the Community was amazing too.  Stelle provided a perfect setting for our boys to grow up in!  

Some of the many fun traditions in Stelle have been: Community Gardens; The Stelle Annual 4th of July Celebration including the parade, Lawn Tractor Race, and Variety Show and Fireworks, Swimming in the Pool;  Monday Night Supper Club or potluck complete with a kids table;  Annual Christmas Tree Walk and Party.  Who says that living out in the country can't be fun?

Spencer Keyes and Ruth Kamen

From Ruth: I love living in Stelle because it is a quiet, beautiful, natural place where my husband and I can enjoy our morning and evening walks! We have an intentionally low level of light pollution here so that we see a nightly star, moon and sky show.

I know who my neighbors are, and they know me, but we never intrude on another’s privacy! However, when neighborly help is needed, it is always given freely! Most of us enjoy food from our private gardens and also our community organic garden!

I am so glad that I moved here from a noisy Chicago apartment 15-years ago! My health and general contentment have improved a lot since living here! I would never want to go back to big city life!

Carroll English

Hello, I seem to be the original resident of Stelle.

I became involved in the organization that founded Stelle, even before the land was purchased for this community in 1970. Construction began in 1971 and I moved in with the first residents in 1973 being the teacher of the children of the school that we founded up in Chicago, before moving down here, and have gratefully lived in the same home ever since, except for a year at home in south Florida and a three-year sojurn in the West seeking for him who was to have taken the place of Richard Kieninger, the author of THE ULTIMATE FRONTIER, the book upon which Stelle was originally founded.

In my early years here, I was happily involved with the education of the Stelle children, but once the community opened up to outsiders in 1982 and became a homeowner’s association,  the children started attending the public schools in the area, due to the lack of sufficient families to maintain a school in Stelle.   I have since done yard work, cleaned the Community Center that was established in the building where the Founders and offices of the community were originally housed, and began accepting Social Security at age 62.  I sojourned in the West for three years, seeking "him who was to take the Founder's place," then transferred to the Dallas area in hopes of participating in the  community that he had established there at the behest of his Teachers.  But after not being accepted by "his group," I rented a truck and drove back to Stelle with the personal goods I had stored in my aunt's barn in Kentucky while I was absent from Stelle.  

Though I am still very fond of the original vision of Stelle, to become a large, thriving, and enlightened city, and would welcome its arrival, I am grateful for the quiet nature of Stelle and for the people who have been attracted to live here, becoming my neighbors over the ensuing years.

If you would like to learn more about me, about my other life’s adventures (I’ve written a few books), and of the original vision of Stelle, as I see it, visit my website blog or contact me directly through the site. If you would be interested in becoming involved in assisting  to help Stelle achieve its original vision. I would welcome your support.

                                                                                           Sincerely, Carroll English

Bill Wilson

I’ve lived in Stelle for well over 4 decades.

I met my wife Rebecca here, we raised 4 sons, and now one of them has returned to make Stelle his home as well.

With this rural and relaxed setting, it is a wonderful place from which to run our home business (Midwest Permaculture) and host occasional trainings.

I love the sense of community we have developed in Stelle over the years. It’s not in your face but always just a hands-reach away for all who invests in it.