The original active retirement community, Sun City Arizona is the "grand daddy" of retirement communities designed for retirees age 55 or better. It was built in the 1960's to the late 1970's by Del Webb, who has since gone on to create numerous "Sun Cities" throughout Arizona, and throughout the country . When it was created, it was 30 miles from Phoenix, and in the middle of nowhere! The only amenities were the stores and conveniences in the community itself. Now, the Phoenix area has expanded, and Sun City finds itself right in the middle of the fast-growing areas of Surprise and Peoria.

How it began

The "Sun City" idea – a master-planned community built specifically for active adults – turned the way we had traditionally thought about retirement upside down. Experts had long assessed that being around younger people made older folks feel youthful, and others wondered who in their right mind would uproot themselves and move to the Arizona desert?

When The Del Webb Development Company (DEVCO) opened their six model homes on January 1, 1960 thousands of cars lined Grand Avenue and long lines snaked around the model homes. Many visitors purchased homes within the first hour. By the end of the first weekend, more than 100,000 visitors had toured the six model homes, and DEVCO had sold 237 homes (with an average price of about $10,500).

Sun City was an immediate and overwhelming success! The company had planned to sell 1,700 homes in its first three years, but far exceed those expectations, and by the end of 1960 had already sold 2,000 homes. Sun City continued to receive favorable and widespread media attention, and the outdoor Greek theater (later replaced by the Sun Bowl) hosted such big-name stars as Lawrence Welk, Rich Little, Rosemary Clooney, Guy Lombardo, and Bob Hope.

The community didn’t get its name until about a month prior to its January 1, 1960 grand opening. The project was originally referred to as the “Marinette Retirement Community” until a suitable name could be found. A nationwide contest was held to name the community and, as legend has it, Del Webb himself selected the winning name after seeing it among the thousands of entries.

The Growth of Sun City

As Sun City grew, DEVCO added more recreation centers, golf courses and shopping facilities. By 1968 there were three recreation centers in Sun City: Oakmont, Fairway, and the new Mountain View Recreation Center. The three recreation centers were separate entities controlled by three separate boards and assigned to specific units or neighborhoods. Residents living in one Sun City neighborhood were restricted to using their own recreation center and prohibited from using another center. In 1968 the community voted to bring all three recreational centers under one non-profit organization that would later become the Recreation Centers of Sun City, Inc (RCSC). Now RCSC Cardholders have access to all seven Sun City Recreation Centers and all eight golf courses. The unification also brought about another novel concept that would eventually be adopted by every other builder of master-planned communities: an assessment on all residents to help pay for the recreational amenities.

Lakeview Recreation Center opened in 1970 and within three years work begain on the Sundial and Bell Recreation Centers. A final facility, Marinette Recreation Center, opened in 1979. RCSC completely renovated the Bell Recreation Center in 2006 and the Fairway Recreation Center in 2010. The revitalized centers now boast state-of-the-art fitness centers, updated swimming and lap pools and other amenities.

In the early years of Sun City, the nearest hospital was in Glendale, which was a bit too far for a community consisting entirely of senior citizens. A committee to examine the idea of building a Sun City hospital was established in 1966. A community fund drive capped off by a $1.2 million donation from the James G. Boswell Foundation (named after the man who once owned the land where Sun City now exists) allowed for the creation of Boswell Hospital. Ground was broken in 1969 and the facility’s first two towers opened in 1970. As Sun City and the West Valley have grown, Boswell has added services and facilities to better serve the region’s needs. In 2008, Boswell Hospital finished an extensive multi-million dollar expansion to improve medical and health-care services to Sun City and the surrounding area.

Sun City now boasts more than 27,000 homes and more than 43,000 residents.

Sun City Recreation Centers

Sun City has seven recreation centers. Every center offers a myriad of activities and amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, social halls and special-interest clubs. RSCS Cardholders have access to all seven recreation centers. Activites include 2 Bowling Alleys, Miniature Golf, Boating and Fishing, Billiards and Pool, Swimming and Hot Tubs, Lawn Bowling, Shuffle Board, Ping Pong, Racquet and Hand Ball, Basketball, Soft Ball, and many other activities.

Over 130 Chartered Clubs:

Sun City Golf Courses

Sun City has 11 golf courses - eight available to Sun City residents and their guests plus three private country clubs that are open to non residents as well.

Many types of housing exist in Sun City. Residential choices within Sun City include: single family homes, duplexes, condominiums, independent living centers, assisted living centers, life care communities and apartment complexes. Annual property taxes for a $100,000 (assessed value) home are approximately $700.

     TYPICAL HOMES:

     GOLF & HOA INFO:

Five regulation courses and three executive courses are available for Sun City residents and their guests. There are also three additional Country Clubs available.

Country Clubs: SUN CITY C.C., Palmbrook C.C. and Union Hills C.C. Visit the golf info link below for more details.

• Sun City Golf Info
• Sun City Golf Rates
• Sun City Recreation Facilities
• Sun City Community Website
• Sun City HOA