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Table of Contents
Sun City, Arizona
There’s a place in Arizona where 79-year-olds become cheerleaders and 92-year-olds play softball twice a week.Sun City didn’t just change how Americans retire, it changed how they think about life after 55. Here’s how Sun City became the place where retirement got a total makeover.
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Del Webb
Del Webb was a New York property developer who co-owned the New York Yankees. At age 60, he built Sun City in 1960 based on the idea that retirees wanted active lifestyles rather than quiet isolation.
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Sun City, Arizona
Dell’s company applied lessons from building San Manuel, Arizona for the Magma Copper Company in 1953. His plan centered on recreation, social connection, and continued activity for retirees. Construction began July 1959 with roads and the first nine-hole golf course.
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Opening Day Frenzy
Home building started in September, with the first model home built at 12801 West Augusta Drive. Five model homes awaited visitors on January 1, 1960.
Traffic jammed Grand Avenue as 100,000 people arrived that weekend. DEVCO sold 237 homes worth $2.5 million in those first days. Webb had projected 1,700 homes over three years but sold 2,000 in the first year alone.
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America’s First Age-Restricted Community
Sun City rules require at least one resident in each household to be 55 years or older. No one under 19 years old may permanently live in Sun City homes. These requirements exist as legal deed restrictions built into property titles.
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The Sun City Community
Eight recreation centers form the community core. No other 55+ community in America offers as many dedicated facilities. Fairway Center completed a two-phase renovation in 2011, adding a state-of-the-art fitness center and indoor walking track…