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Sun City Arizona was the first 55+ active adult retirement community in the country. Del Webb started Sun City in 1960 and it now has over 26,000 homes, 11 golf courses and countless amenities and social clubs. It is renown for its incredible home values, low property taxes and minimal association fees.
On New Year’s Day 1960 Del Webb’s Sun City Arizona opened their doors to the public. Years of anticipation led to an astonishing 100,000 visitors who toured the property in the first weekend. Del Webb went on to sell 400 homes in the first month and 2,000 in the first year. Between 1960 and 1978, Del Webb continued to build a community that catered to the retirement dreams of thousands of Americans. Sun City Arizona is now home to over 44,000 full and part-time residents.
Despite the construction of more newly established active adult communities around the Phoenix area, Sun City Arizona remains a popular retirement destination. Sun City is preferred by buyers who want low property taxes, reasonably priced homes and mature landscaping in a good location near extensive shopping and close to the highway. These attributes, along with newly remodeled homes and recreation centers, make Sun City Arizona a value that cannot be ignored.
Del Webb pioneered the active adult concept with the notion that residents should be able to live in an entirely self-contained community with access to nearly every imaginable amenity. Residents of Sun City enjoy the community’s interconnectedness with the surrounding attractions. The golf-cart legal streets provide a convenient mode of transportation to the recreation and shopping centers within Sun City, AZ.
Sun City Arizona Amenities
Sun City Arizona boasts one of the highest rates of golf holes per capita of any active adult community in the country. Although Sun City has been a favorite destination for golf enthusiasts, there are many exciting attractions for non-golfers as well. There are seven recreation centers that host a vast array of amenities including restaurants, fitness centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, indoor walking track, racquetball courts, woodworking shop and numerous hobby and card rooms.
In addition to the recreation centers, Sun City Arizona is home to 30 churches, a synagogue, social hall, grand ballroom, performing arts theater, two libraries and an on-site hospital.
The grounds of Sun City Arizona are an active adult playground rich with amenities that cater to physically active adults. On any day of the year, it is common to see residents walking on the miles of trails or socializing with friends on the pickleball, tennis, horseshoe, lawn bowling and bocce ball courts. Plus, the softball field and fishing lakes are a great place to take the grandkids when they come to visit.
Sun City Arizona Homes & Real Estate
Homes in Sun City Arizona are applauded for the affordability. As expected, homes built in the 1960’s and 70’s show their age and lack some of the modern features and floor plans favored by active adults. However, many of the homes have been remodeled and now incorporate designs that include open floor plans, modern kitchens and desirable finishes.
There were over a hundred floor plans offered by Del Webb throughout the 18-year construction of Sun City, AZ. Although, due to remodeling, many homes no longer retain the original floor plan as when the home was built. Buyers can select from ranch style single-family homes, patio homes (duplexes) and garden apartments. The many home styles and prices accommodate buyers of almost any budget.
Sun City Arizona Lifestyle
There are an estimated 200 clubs and interest groups represented in Sun City. Regardless of your passion, you are likely to find another like-minded group of residents who share similar interests. In addition to the many clubs and interest groups, Sun City hosts an exciting lineup of fun activities that include fitness classes, continuing education, parties and organized trips to area attractions.
Sun City Arizona is known as “The City of Volunteers” for its overwhelming sense of community organization and resident participation. The impeccably maintained grounds, well-manicured shrubs and trash free boulevards are attributed to the volunteerism of the residents.
Association fees in Sun City are only $420 per year and property taxes are among the lowest in the country. A homeowner with a $200,000 home can expect to pay around $800 per year in property taxes.
Area
Sun City, AZ is situated 16 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix. While originally constructed in the middle of the desert, the explosive growth of the northwest valley has encapsulated Sun City with great shopping and many social and cultural attractions.
Within six miles, residents can enjoy the Arrowhead Mall, Challenger Space Center, West Valley Art Museum, Wildlife World Zoo, Arizona State University-West, Rio Salado College and Lake Pleasant. Plus, sports enthusiasts will enjoy the proximity to sporting venues hosting local teams such as the Cardinals (NFL), Coyotes (NHL) and several Major League Baseball spring training camps.
- 7 Recreation Centers
- 11 Golf Courses (8 Public, 3 Private)
- Restaurant
- 19 Shopping Areas
- Fitness Centers
- Indoor Pool
- 6 Outdoor Pools
- Aerobics & Dance Studios
- Indoor Walking Track
- Card Rooms
- Ceramics Studio
- Woodworking Shop
- Arts & Crafts Studio
- Lapidary Studio
- Stained Glass Studio
- Ballrooms and Social Hall
- Performing Arts Theater
- Computer Center
- 2 Libraries
- Billiards
- Tennis Courts
- Pickleball Courts
- Racquetball Courts
- Handball Courts
- 2 Bowling Alleys
- Bocce Ball Courts
- Shuffleboard Courts
- Horseshoe Pits
- Lawn Bowling
- Softball Field
- 2 Fishing Lakes
- Parks & Natural Space
- Walking & Biking Trails
- Sun Bowl Amphitheatre
- Picnic Area
- Boswell Hospital
- 30 Churches & 1 Synagogue
There are plenty of activities available in Sun City. Here is a sample of some of the clubs, activities and classes offered here.
- 500
- Aerobics
- All That Jazz
- Apple Macintosh
- Aqua Fitness
- Armchair Photo Explorers
- Art
- Artistic Stained Glass
- Artistic Weavers
- Ballroom Dance
- Bell Shuffleboard
- Bell Stitchers
- Bell Tea
- Best Friends Dog Club
- Bocce
- Bunco Broncos
- Calligraphy
- Camera Guild
- Canasta
- Card Sharks
- Ceramics
- Ceramics and Porcelain
- Chamber Orchestra (Division of Musicians Club)
- Chess
- China Painters Cupboard
- China Painting
- Choraliers of Sun City (Division of Musicians Club)
- Chorus (Women)
- Clay
- Clay Corner
- Computer
- Concert Band/ Pops Band
- Conserv/Sportsmen
- Crafts
- Creative Quilters
- Dance for Fitness
- Democrats
- Euchre
- Friendship Quilters
- Garden
- Golden Anniversary Club
- Gourmet Social
- Grand Slam
- Grandmothers
- Handbell Ringers
- Handi-Capables
- Handicrafts
- Handweaver/Spinners
- Hatha Yoga
- Kachina
- Knitters
- Ladies Exercise
- Lapidary BC
- Lawn Bowls
- Leathercraft
- Line Dance
- Mah Jongg
- Master Swimmers (Division of Swim Club)
- Metal
- Mini Golf
- Mixed Cards
- Mixed Cribbage
- Model Railroad
- Musicians
- Needle Arts/Crafts
- New England
- Newcomer Hospitality
- Oakmont Lapidary and Silver Club
- One Partner
- Organ and Keyboard of SC
- Palo Verde Artists
- Piano Club
- Pickleball
- Pinochle
- Republicans
- Rhythm Ramblers
- Roadrunner Pinochle
- Rockhounds
- Rose and Garden
- RV LLC
- Saguaro
- Saturday Pinochle
- Senior Softball
- Sew N Sew
- Shuffleboard - Outdoor
- Silver Stones
- Silvercraft
- Singles Ballroom Dance
- So Grand Exercise
- Spanish
- Squares
- Stamp Club
- Sterling and Stones
- Stretch and Slim
- Sun City Carvers
- Sun City Duplicate Bridge ACBL
- Sun City Players Community Theater
- Sun City Singles Social
- Sundial Dance
- Sundial Shuffleboard
- Swim (Sync)
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Tip Top Dance Club
- Travelogue
- Women's Social
- Woodworking
That being said, however, the best way to get a feel for Sun City living is to stay here for awhile, as the previous reviewer did. Rent here for a few months in the Winter, purchase a privilege card that gives you access to the wonderful recreation centers and join clubs that have similar interests as you. It is very inexpensive to do this. Or, if you are a golfer, get involved in the golfing activities. Park your RV in our excellent, secure, and inexpensive RV storage facility. Stable your horse in the Sun City stable. Man we have it all!
If you do what I have suggested above, I can almost guarantee you that you will want to spend your retirement years living here.
Well, after almost a year of investigation, I ended up buying a home in Sun City because: It is very affordable; the homes, although built 30-50 years ago, are mainly upgraded and modern; the ammenities are excellent (including 11 golf courses and 7 rec centers)it's near to the 101 Freeway and only a half hour from Sky Harbor Airport; it's safe; the people are nice; there are restaurants, shopping, live theatre, movies, medical facilities (really whatever you could ever need) within a mile or two.
I could go on and on, but will end with the comment that now that I'm 10 years older, I like it even better and (guess what) people don't seem as old any more!
I am a frequent poster to the 55places website and find the articles interesting and the analysis of other communities fascinating. For example, a recent column was regarding "affordable" California communities.
Which is the perfect segue into living in the original Sun City AZ development. Affordable is a relative term and Sun City (in my opinion) is the best buy for the money. More amenities at the lowest cost imaginable. My wife and i pay $432 per year; we have 8 golf courses and 7 rec centers, all within reach on our golf cars which are street legal (electric by the way). Throw in the fact our 2700 sq ft home has property taxes at $1000 a year and we are truly an "affordable" place to live.
As long as I am gushing, let me tell you the rest of the story: While Sun City is a great value, more importantly are the values that have come from 50 years as a self governed community. We run ourselves with millions of hours per year given back by residents. We have a wonderful hospital within the walls and our medical services are extraordinary.
Perhaps the best of all worlds is that age in Sun City is immaterial. My folks lived here and I refused to come to Sun City because i didn't want to be with a bunch of "old people." At 49 I broke down and within 1 day of being here I called my wife back in Minnesota and said this is where we will retire; she started laughing at me. She visited 3 months later and found the same attachment.
At 51 we bought a place, rented it out in the winter months and at 55 retired and moved to Sun City permanently. We are baby boomers and i was a flaming workoholic (please note "was"). I have never once looked back as the community has afforded me the opportunity to be a part of something very special.
Come visit us, you will be as amazed as i was. Nice to know love at first sight is still out there eh?
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