LOOING BACK

Sun City

These days, a reference to Sun City evokes images of leisure-minded retirees tooling the streets in golf carts, but in 1960 a master-planned community centered around active seniors was the yet untested brainchild of developer Del E. Webb.

Tensions ran high over the untried concept, but doubts proved to be unfounded. The idea caught fire immediately, its success garnering national recognition. Opening day of sales saw traffic stacked into the nearby town of Peoria and the community was quickly billed as “Arizona’s Fastest Growing City.”

Sun City continues to thrive, with Peoria’s snowbird-fortified fall traffic regularly hearkening back to that opening-day gridlock. Today golf courses, recreation centers and civic spirit constitute the cornerstones of the community.

And though the model has spawned countless replicas throughout the nation, Arizona will always remain the birthplace and prototype of the modern retirement village.