That means red-tiled roofs and neutral tones of stucco. The community buildings are a classy terra cotta with copper and turquoise accents. Sun Lakes, which has grown to more than 10,000 people, is about 20 miles from downtown Phoenix, but is still considered part of the Valley because of its proximity to Interstate 10. As you're heading southeast to Tucson, Sun Lakes springs out of agricultural fields like an oasis of towering trees and ample golf courses. Here, too, seniors find plenty of ways to have fun and stay busy with social clubs, recreation opportunities, places of worship and performing arts.
Every major holiday brings some kind of get-together at the community centers.
The community was built in three phases, beginning in 1972, and homes are still going up, with the aim of bringing the population to 20,000. Its 3,500 acres are basically organized around the five country clubs, called Sun Lakes, Cottonwood, Palo Verde, Ironwood and Oakwood. Many of the streets are circular, with the golf courses and lakes as the focal points. Housing runs the gamut from luxury villas and modest garden homes to townhouses and mobile homes. Although the growing city of Chandler and regional shopping malls are fairly close to home, Sun Lakes residents can get much of their shopping done within the community.