The original Sun City that started it all! Built in the 1960’s to the late 1970’s by Del Webb, the very first Sun City, Arizona is the “grand daddy” of 55+ resort retirement communities. Its success launched an entire industry of resort-style living for retirees.

This first Sun City in the country opened six model homes on Jan 1, 1960 and was an instant and overwhelming success. Thousands lined Grand Ave waiting to get in, and by the end of the first weekend alone more than 100,000 people had toured the models and 237 homes were sold (with an average price of about $10,500).

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

Before the opening of Sun City, Arizona, only wealthy people bought “retirement homes”. Sun City brought affordable resort-living retirement to middle-class Americans and launched a whole new housing market – active adult communities. Del Webb has since gone on to create numerous “Sun Cities” throughout Arizona, and throughout the country. The other “Sun Cities” in the Phoenix area, in order of construction are: Sun City West, Sun City Grand, Sun City Festival, and Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch.