Sun City, Arizona, is a landmark in the history of American retirement communities and is often credited with pioneering the concept of active adult living. Sun City was founded in 1960 by Del Webb, a developer with a vision to create a community specifically designed for retirees. Webb was inspired by the idea of “leisure living” for those over 55, where older adults could stay active and enjoy recreational amenities within a planned community, which was a novel concept at the time.

Located in Maricopa County, northwest of Phoenix, the community of Sun City was built on a former cotton farm. Del Webb began construction in the late 1950s, launching with a model home exhibit and five homes available for purchase. When it opened on January 1, 1960, Sun City drew a surprising turnout—more than 100,000 visitors toured the community on the opening weekend, generating significant media coverage and excitement. This instant success marked the start of what would become one of the largest and most popular retirement communities in the country.

Sun City was designed to offer a range of amenities that would encourage active, social living, including golf courses, swimming pools, recreation centers, hobby shops, and bowling alleys. The community also provided medical facilities and shopping centers nearby to make it as self-sufficient as possible. A key feature of Sun City was its emphasis on affordable housing for retirees, along with services and amenities that encouraged a vibrant, engaging lifestyle.

In addition to its unique community features, Sun City was significant for its zoning laws, which restricted residency to adults over the age of 55, with no children under 18 allowed to live in the community full-time. This age-restricted model was groundbreaking and became a model for later retirement communities across the United States. Sun City quickly expanded to meet demand, with multiple phases of development taking place throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

The success of Sun City led Del Webb to develop other similar communities across the country, including Sun City West, which opened nearby in 1978. These communities helped redefine retirement by promoting an image of “active adult” living, moving away from traditional retirement homes toward communities that focused on leisure, social connection, and a high quality of life.

Today, Sun City remains a thriving retirement community, renowned for its recreational amenities and active residents. The original community, along with its neighboring communities like Sun City West and Sun City Grand, continues to be a destination for retirees from across the United States, embodying the concept of an age-restricted, self-contained environment that supports both independence and community among older adults.