It was the nickname given to Sun City shortly after opening: "The great social experiment." The literal equivalent of a Petri dish that became a human endeavor to try something unique and different. Sociologists and physiologists told the Del E Webb Corporation (DEVCO), it was pure folly. They claimed seniors would never, NEVER leave their families, their churches or their social network and move to a community of old people waiting to die; especially in the middle of the desert. Experts...can't live with them, can't live without them. The reality is, the concept had more than its fair share of disbelievers, including some from the company itself. Webb joked with L C Jacobson when he would call him and question, "how's that old folks home coming?" Owen Childress, the finance guy asked, "how am i going to get a 30 year mortgage on a 65 year old man?" Even Tom Breen (one of the founders), as the guys were sitting around Manuel's bar New Years Eve (the night before opening), looked across the table and asked, "do you think anyone will come?" It was daunting, and their professional careers were on the line. Jim Boswell and Del Webb supplied the money behind the project, both had resources far beyond the roughly $6ook they each contributed to start Sun City. If it failed, neither of them would miss a beat. They were that wealthy. We know now, the cars started coming first thing the morning of New Years Day, 1960 and they haven't stopped, some 65 plus years later. Sun City exploded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. The experts were more stunned than anyone. Historically we became the first age restricted active adult community of its kind. We set the stage and the tone for countless companies to try and replicate us. The Webb Corporation launched a brand and a model of living that has some 3000 similar (not identical) settings. Federal and state laws were passed (the Fair Housing Standards Act) that gave us the legal right to "discriminate based on age." The evolution has been staggering; the Villages of Florida has bypassed us in size, nearing a population of 150,000 and covering three counties. The vast majority of senior communities are far smaller than Sun City and amenities included in those built the past 15 years being vastly different. If there are golf courses, they aren't owned by the community. Most of them have community gathering spaces where socializing exists beyond club activities. Years of research has gone into reshaping newer developments. The PULTE Corporation bought out the Webb Corporation in 2001 because they wanted to own the Del Webb Sun City name and brand. They've done well with it and along they way their surveys conducted have provided the direction newer communities have taken. Anyone who has read or followed those surveys knows and understands the changes and why they have been made. Clearly there was a blueprint. In spite of that, Sun City has remained one of the popular destinations for seniors looking for something different than where they were born, raised or lived. We've always considered what Sun City offered a "lifestyle choice." Way more than just a house. Unfortunately, along the way, we slipped into a mindset that remaining cheap was a better option than evolving along with the costs that inevitably follow owning vast amenities that are almost beyond compare. As we've begun to push forward, those costs, much like everywhere else, are higher than many of us expected. It's the cost of owning 8 recreation centers, 8 golf courses, a lake, softball field, dog park and all the accompanying grounds. Nothing is cheap and as they age, they have to be repaired or replaced. We all know, that replacement gets really expensive. It's challenging, but Sun City and more specifically the RCSC, has a lot of money on hand and better yet, is debt free...as it always has been. We don't borrow money with significant interest rates, we pay for what we do with cash in hand. That was how our documents were written. There's no question in my mind (and hopefully not yours), the choice to move to Sun City was one of the better ones you made. I know we (my wife and i, and my mother and father before us), always looked at the community as a gift we found. It allowed us to live full lives in retirement without the ridiculous costs associated with life outside our white walls. With that out of the way, let's talk about an opportunity: I get crazed when i watch what has/is happening across our country. I'm not picking political sides, i'm just stating the polarization that is ripping us apart isn't healthy. I'll leave it there because this piece has nothing to do with politics This is simply about us, those living in Sun City. I don't care if you are a home owner, a renter, a winter visitor or if you are someone who one day hopes to find their place in the sun. This community was built by and for those wanting something different, something better. This community was successful because those moving here refused to let it/us fail. This was, is and hopefully always will be one where we are the "owners." I would challenge anyone reading this article to tell me they wouldn't love to be a part of a rebirth of that "great social experiment." I know there's some who would say, nope, not for me. I also would bet a dollar to a door nob, the vast majority of you reading this would be delighted to become party to an effort to rebuild, regain and renew that sense of community that helped shape Sun City. Maybe i'm wrong; Lord knows my wife can tell you how often that happens. In this case, i think not. The only question now is, are you interested in finding out if we can once again create "the great social experiment?" Stay tuned, details coming.
Bill, have you seen the Del Webb communities in Huntley, IL....really very nice. Modern and beautiful. I just think we can AT LEAST, build 2 new modern Rec centers being MV and one day Lakeview. Again if we do this, this will be the key to bringing in more new homebuyers, and new capitol into our aging area. Your idea of the community room would be such a welcomed addition. Please consider bringing your idea on this to the next exchange. Please Bill, I believe everyone would welcome the concept. That is the one real thing that can help build back community. Thank you!
Huntly was built in 1998, 38 years after SC AZ. I was living off Route 47 and passed by it often. In order to modernize our facilities by 38 years we would have to tear down and have a do over. How many buyer PIF's and CIF's would we need.
Eileen, many Sun City residents agree a communiy social area is needed. At the first “gathering” last month, to restore our “…sense of community,” a community social area and a welcoming effort were top suggestions among many to do so. Come to “gathering #2” next Thursday, July 24th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Sonora room at the Grand Center. Join the discussion as we explore and define those suggestions and how to move forward creating them, vision-casting! Together we might even come up with a better name than the “gathering.” Hope to see you, share your ideas ****RECAP OF FIRST “GATHERING.” They came to help grow a renewed sense of community founded in Sun City, “ The Community That Changed The Nation!” Almost every chair was filled in the Sonora room at the Grand center Thursday afternoon, June 26th, 2025. Making time to gather together, participants put down their cell phones to get to know one another, sharing why they love Sun City and ideas to make it better, now and into the future. Imagine, actual person to person communication. Many great ideas and offers to help explore how they might become reality. Sun City is, after all, “City of Volunteers!” This first effort was so successful there’s another one scheduled next month, Thursday, July 24th, 6:30pm- 8:30 to accommodate our residents still working. Same location, Sonora room at the Grand Center.Thanks to the Sun City Foundation for reserving it so quickly. Details as we near the date. Will you join us? Hope so… YOU belong here!
Smarter people than we would have stopped believing years ago. I still think there is hope for humanity, civility and restoring that sense of community. Join us on Thursday night, July 24 at the Grand Center, 6:30 pm till 8:30 or so.
If you have any other ideas about what you feel a sense of community should be, or want to offer suggestions for the future going forward, please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas at the next session. Everyone is invited to participate in the discussion about how we can improve our community for today and the future.
We are not the first age restricted community. There is probably a tie between Youngtown and Cherokee Village in AR for that, although I do believe YT was first. If memory serves me both were started in 1954, CV closer to 1955. Neither have the over 55 status now. The Wiki page on CV is incorrect. It was initially an over 55 community. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/john-alfred-cooper-sr-6240/ We visited CV in 2022. Their sales office/welcome center has a brief summary of their history which confirms this. They also gave up their age restriction and have a form of governance which depends upon which area you purchase in. Not to say anything negative, but their governance structure makes the RCSC look pretty good. In addition, there is Dreamland Villa in Mesa which started in 1958. They are still a senior community. I would argue though not the first I would say we are the most successful and affordable long standing over 55 community.
Not to be argumentative E, but i have had this argument numerous times: Sun City was the "first active age restricted retirement community in the country." In fact there were others, mainly Florida, that catered to seniors looking to retire. The difference was, they had no amenities. Youngtown did start in 1954, and by 1960 when we opened, they had sold 1200 homes and the only amenity they offered was a tiny club house for gatherings (if memory serves me, it was a house someone donated). The funny thing is, age restrictions weren't legal when either YT, SC CV or any of the others out there opened. That came along much later (mid 80's) for reference purposes only, Sun City had a recommended age of 50. The DEVCO folks were instructed by their legal department not to state it was just for people that age, but the implication was for those 50 and older. Subtle difference for sure. The reality is virtually every other senior community before us, built and sold homes with a premise and a promise to some day add the amenities. Which was the exact reason Sun City opened with a nine hole golf course with club house, lawn bowling green, large community center (with already included clubs rooms for wood working, etc) great outdoor pool and surrounding area along with the other aspects (shopping center, bar/restaurant, gas station and motel for visitors). It was all here the day Sun City opened and btw, Youngtown residents were excited because they finally had a shopping center. No one argues Youngtown was first, the differences are dramatic and are defined in the words; "active retirement." In the end, it is of no matter. In my mind what does matter is where we go from here. Anyone with thoughts about that should stop by the Sonora room at the Grand Center next Thursday night from 6:30 pm till 8:30 pm. We heard people tell is loud and clear, those still working wanted to be heard. Hope to see many of you there.
Good point that the 80s federal age legislation wasn't in place until decades later. You should have been a lawyer. You did qualify your first post with "of it's kind" and we certainly were the first in uniqueness, (amenities already in place), which other over 55 communities that came after us strove to emulate. I hope the gathering goes well and you get your community room.
