Makes you want to live in Sun City... Now that some of the excitement has died down from several of this site's member's having bought here, we find ourselves posting quips and barbs but little in the way of substance. Only natural as having potential buyers sharing their stories gets all of us pumped. The only one MIA is j_ and V_ and I unfortunately know all of the players in the game and am just staying out of the mix. I've written often about how while reading the early sales brochures from DEVCO how I was mesmerized by the quality of the writing. These guys were good and rather than try and explain it, I'll simply reproduce two of the pages from a 1963 brochure. It's pure joy for the heart and unbelievable image for the mind: Look forward to every day... The first morning in your new Sun City home brings with it a sense of adventure such as few of us have felt since carefree youth. You awaken to the touch of golden Arizona sunshine, turning myriad flowers, clipped green lawns and the deeper green of fairways into a sweep of living color. You're here, in a home that's "YOU" to the smallest detail, feeling you can mold life nearer to your heart's desire...for all the materials are at your fingertips. You want to see and try everything. So you close your front door and saunter down the avenue on a tour of discovery. As you walk, you are greeted by new neighbors...most of them en route to the recreational area, only a stone's throw from YOUR house. Many Sun Citians are already there...twanging bows on the archery range; lawn bowling with professional seriousness; visiting over shuffleboard or croquet. Some of the men are playing horseshoes. There's a crowd around the Riviera-size swimming pool, splashing in the 3-foot and 5 foot depths...diving at the 10-foot end...or just sunning and chatting on the terrace and covered cabana. A congenial crowd. You stroll on, liking everything you see. People you haven't met smile in passing; it gives you a warm glow. It's easy to make friends here. There's the Town Hall, where you'll meet these neighbors socially, politically and for entertainment. It has everything: big sound -equipped auditorium, stage and dressing rooms, a deluxe all-electric kitchen, men's and women's club rooms. Cutting a green swath around the Town Hall is that beautiful golf course...it even has a full-time "pro" to serve you. Like a deluxe Country Club, except for the Cost... Nowhere else at any time in history have thousands of people had SO MUCH for SO LITTLE COST. Why, even if you're on a retirement budget, you can afford Sun City privileges. All of the facilities...swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, lawn bowling and putting greens, Town Hall facilities, Arts and Crafts Center and Agricultural Center are being donated by the Webb Corporation to a non-profit corporation composed exclusively of residents of YOUR town and operated by them for the benefit of all of you. Assessments for use of these facilities are just $20 per person per year...except for the golf course, where you and your neighbors have the advantage of greatly reduced rates. You saunter homeward, pleasantly aware that you can take your choice of any or all activities...relax in solitude or enjoy companionship...exactly as YOU please; for here live and let live is more than a phrase. Your sense of adventure is still with you; you need never lose it, in Sun City
For me it's the memories ! Grandparents moved here in '67, Parents in '86 and now it's my run. The people I've met have been the icing on the cake, sadly though time takes it's toll. but I'll always have the memories and that to me is priceless.
Welcome 3G; way cool on the family history. That's 3 new folks today from city data; welcome to all of you. Great to have you on board.
Thank You for the Welcome Emily Litella ( I remember that classic Name ) As far as stories go I'll have to get a bit more organized, But I still remember when Bell Rd. was gravel.
I posted this piece from the 1963 sales brochure, because after 50+ years, most people moving here still feel the same way. I'll never forget our first year living in Sun City. We had owned the home for 4 years and came down as often as possible. Yet it was wholly different the day we officially moved to Sun City. Knowing we didn't have to leave, knowing this was now our home was a very special time. I especially love the words they used in the brochure to draw people in. Remember there wasn't all of the technology available to tempt folks and make them yearn for something different. It was purely an exercise in getting potential buyers to visually put themselves in the community even though they had never even visited it. Imagination was the tool and words were technique. If I were Khov, I would be studying some of these marketing tools at the Museum. Heck, when I was there, I wanted our board to approve reproducing some of these to help market Sun City all over again. While several of the activities have gone by the bye, so many others have taken their place and painting them on a canvas would be fun and a wonderful reminder of just how good it was...and better yet, just how could it could be by buying here. It's one of the things that sets us apart and makes us unique. Our history, our present and our future are all interchangeable. How cool is that?
Welcome 3rdGen. I too will be interested to read some of your early memories of Sun City. Multi-generation residents speaks volumes about the staying power of the community. It, just like the sales pitch from the old brochure, has stood the test of time. Good stuff!
Thanks for the Welcome Mullet Here is a quick one, The home my Grandparents almost bought was a model home and they did not want to wait, so my Parents ended up buying it in '86. Every time Grandma would come over as soon as she walked in the door was " We almost bought this place " :joyous:
Welcome 3rdGen. I'm also a 3rd Gen'r. My grandparents bought in late 1965, my parents in 1984 and we got our house in 1998 so I'm just a few years ahead of you. My first trip to visit my grandparents in Sun City was rather exciting. Over Christmas break in 1965 my parents put me on a Greyhound Bus in MN and I took a solo round trip to AZ which was quite an adventure. I still have my bus ticket and luggage tags. Somewhere I have a daily diary which was always required on these adventures.
1967, they were golfing with friends in South Texas who were on their way here to checkout Sun City and Grandma & Grandpa tagged along and ended up buying.
