Sun City

Sun City in Menifee is one of Del Webb's original master-planned active adult communities and the first of its kind in the Inland Empire. Developed between 1962 and 1981 by Del Webb and Presley Co., the community spans approximately four square miles with 4,762 residences — a mix of low-maintenance single-family homes and attached villa/condo-style homes ranging roughly from 729 to 2,420 square feet. In 1997, the community formally transitioned to a 55+ age-restricted community under 'Project 55,' aligning with federal Housing for Older Persons Act standards (at least one resident 55+, no permanent residents under 19). The heart of community life is the Sun City Civic Association, which operates three major recreation facilities: Civic Hall, North Town Hall, and Webb Hall. Civic Hall houses the fitness center, billiards room, card and game room, arts and crafts studio, and woodworking shop. North Town Hall and Webb Hall are large event spaces with 500-person ballrooms, catering kitchens, and meeting rooms — regularly hosting karaoke nights, themed dances, seasonal festivals, and holiday celebrations. A full-time activities director coordinates programming across more than 40 social clubs and interest groups including agriculture, art guild, bike, book club, bridge, ceramics, chair volleyball, computer, garden, jewelry, knitting, Mah Jongg, needlecraft, organ and piano, swim club, T.O.P.S., travel, and woodshop. Outdoor amenities include two swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor), a spa, an outdoor amphitheater (the historic Greek theatre), barbecue patios, lawn bowling courts, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, pickleball, paddle ball, and shuffleboard. A public golf course — the historic Cherry Hills layout opened in 1963 — sits within the community footprint, with the nearby Menifee Lakes Country Club providing additional championship-style play. Many residents get around by golf cart. The community is organized into multiple HOA sections with varying fee structures, all managed by Avalon Management Group. Monthly HOA fees range from $33 to $311 depending on section, with an additional annual recreation center assessment of roughly $650 per year supporting the civic association facilities. Homes are primarily modest ranch-style single-stories, many with Spanish-influenced tile roofs and stucco exteriors; homes north of McCall Boulevard typically feature double garages rather than carports. Set in the Menifee Valley along Interstate 215 roughly equidistant between Los Angeles and San Diego, Sun City offers an unusually convenient Southern California location. The on-site commercial center includes supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and a library, allowing many residents to handle daily errands without leaving the community. Note: ongoing debate surrounds proposed redevelopment of the former Cherry Hills and North Golf Course sites, which residents have actively opposed to preserve open space and the 55+ character of the community.