The Sacramento, California area is blessed with options for the active adult lifestyle. When it comes to the pioneering brand of active adult communities, Sun City by Del Webb, there are actually two choices.
Although they are only separated by ten miles, the subtle distinctions between Sun City Roseville and Sun City Lincoln Hills can be significant for prospective residents. Keep reading to discover what really makes these communities different to help you decide which of these large active adult communities might be right for you.
Size and Location
Active adult community builder Del Webb constructed both of these communities around the same time. Del Webb built Sun City Roseville from 1995 to 2000 and Sun City Lincoln Hills from 1999 to 2008. The developer started construction of Sun City Lincoln Hills just as its Roseville sister was being completed.
Sun City Roseville consists of 3,110 single-family homes, while Sun City Lincoln Hills includes 6,783 single-family and attached homes. The numbers suggest a couple of key distinctions. Sun City Lincoln Hills is the newer community and is over double the size of Sun City Roseville. The size adds choices in home styles and the number of amenities.
With just 10 miles between them, the two communities feature pretty similar locations in Placer County. Sun City Roseville is located in the southern part of the county between the Sacramento River and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The scenic location, mature landscaping, and proximity to Sacramento all attract residents to the community.
Sun City Lincoln Hills is located north of Sun City Roseville, which puts the community about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento. It spans nearly 3,000 acres of lushly landscaped grounds filled with gardens and parks.
Both Sun City developments are reasonable driving distance from all the sights and attractions of Northern California, including Lake Tahoe, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the wineries of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino.
Home Styles and Floor Plans
Another difference lies in styles of home construction and floor plans. Sun City Lincoln Hills offers six collections of floor plans for detached, single-family homes. This includes two Classics collections, two Premiers collections, and two Estates collections that each boast six to eight different floor plans.
Sun City Lincoln Hills also offers four attached home models called Villas. In all, there are over 40 floor plans that range from 901 to 3,068 square feet. Resale homes feature one to four bedrooms, one to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and one- to three-car garages.
Unlike Sun City Lincoln Hills, Sun City Roseville consists solely of single-family homes. Homebuyers can select from 25 different single-family floor plans that include a variety of resale homes for sale. Homes range from 878 to over 2,600 square feet, with more than ample living space. Homes feature one to three bedrooms, one to three bathrooms, and a one- to three-car garage.
All homes are one-level and include low-maintenance landscaping. Home options range from modern layouts to more traditional designs that incorporate a motif described as the Sierra Nevada aesthetic. For golfing enthusiasts, there are homes with golf course views.
Cost Comparison
A more substantial difference exists in costs. Home prices at Sun City Lincoln Hills are greater, ranging from the high $300s to the low $1 millions, while Sun City Roseville prices range from the low $300s to the mid $500s.
The annual cost of upkeep is the reverse, however. Homeowners’ association fees are slightly higher at Sun City Roseville, reflecting the age and maintenance expenses for the homes.
World-Class Amenities
These two Sacramento-area Sun City communities both feature resort-style amenities, but the social lifestyles and amenities do vary between the communities.
Sun City Lincoln Hills amenities center on the 68,000 square-foot Orchard Creek Lodge. It boasts an indoor pool, two outdoor pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor walking track, numerous activity rooms, billiards, and a 15,000 square-foot ballroom with an entertainment stage.
The Kilaga Springs Lodge has 37,000 square feet of space and features a private patio, spa, indoor pool, aerobics room, and an additional fitness center. The facility also hosts The Spa at Kilaga Springs, offering residents massage therapy, nail care, and facial treatments. The two lodges combine for 105,000 square feet of indoor recreational space.
At Sun City Roseville, the Timber Creek Recreation Lodge features 52,000 square feet of amenities. The clubhouse boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, 25-meter indoor lap pool, and an aerobics room. There’s a grand ballroom with stage, Wall Street room, and a billiards room.
Finding a new hobby or club is easy since The Timber Creek Lodge features arts and crafts, ceramics and sewing studios. Residents can enjoy an outdoor resort-style pool and practice facilities for the dedicated golfer.
Residents also enjoy access to the 6,200 square-foot Sierra Pines Recreation Center. This additional clubhouse features meeting rooms, a catering kitchen, and a deli. Outdoors, residents can enjoy relaxing on the patio, grilling on the barbecue, or challenging a friend on the croquet court.
Outdoor Recreation
Sun City Lincoln Hills offers 19 hiking and biking trails that meander over acres of rolling hills, wetlands, creeks, and open space. Eleven community parks provide the perfect setting for outdoor enthusiasts to get out and enjoy nature. Favorite lifestyle activities of the residents include picnics at the pavilion, softball at the regulation-size softball field, tennis, or fishing in the community’s lakes and creeks.
Outdoor enthusiasts can meander the miles of walking and biking trails that wind through Sun City Roseville. There are also six lighted tennis courts, six lighted bocce courts, a pickleball court, and a half basketball court. Active adults can also enjoy some friendly competition with the volleyball court or horseshoe pit or simply enjoy a nice stroll through the community’s parks.
Golf Courses
Golfers of all skill levels enjoy the 36-holes of championship golf at Sun City Lincoln Hills. The Orchard Course and Hills Course were designed by famed golf course architects Billy Casper and Greg Nash. The courses boast well-manicured fairways that are framed by hazards and pine, oak, and redwood trees.
The golf courses’ open fairways meander over rolling hills and natural wetlands. The Meridians Restaurant and Bar is an ideal place to gather with friends after a round of golf or a cozy retreat for elegant dinners.
The Sun City Roseville Golf Club includes 27-holes of memorable golf. Hall-of-Famer Billy Casper and Greg Nash designed the 6,510-yard 18-hole Timber Creek course. The 9-hole Sierra Pines is a par-31 course designed for novices who want to enjoy a shorter, more relaxing round of golf.
Both courses give golfers picturesque views through a bird sanctuary and a system of ponds and waterfalls. After golf, many residents like to gather with friends at the Timbers Restaurant.
