In the very heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry sits Sun City Hilton Head. This charming, gated community is home to over 16,000 residents living in the dozens of wonderful and safe neighborhoods within its borders. The unique feature of Sun City is the age restrictions. This community is geared towards adults aged fifty-five or older and is dedicated to healthy and active adult living. The various neighborhoods are situated around the scenic golf courses providing gorgeous views and spacious yard layouts.
The golf courses, community centers, and restaurants found within the gates of Sun City are all accessible via golf cart or bicycle, which is a method of transportation that many residents enjoy. The tree-lined streets make for a pleasant commute around the community as well as creating a quiet atmosphere that allows the residents to fully relax and unwind.
The combination of picturesque landscapes, incredible amenities, and friendly atmosphere makes Sun City a highly desirable neighborhood and anyone over the age of fifty-five would be lucky to call this incredible community home.
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What is the History of Sun City?
Hilton Head is a charming town of South Carolina with roots that go back to at least 10,000 BC. In the 17th Century, colonization began and was named for William Hilton, an English captain who claimed the island for the crown. The land was originally used as a plantation site, specializing in indigo and rice, as well as a popular hunting site. Later on, cotton crops were added to the land's income and greatly contributed to the Lowcountry’s steadily growing economy.
The land played a significant role as a base of operations during the Civil War, particularly the Southern ports, Savannah and Charleston. The Union built a 60,000-square foot military hospital on Hilton Head Island to serve the troops. After the war, hundreds of ex-slaves flooded the land, where they could buy property, attend school, and serve the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers.
The turn of the century brought wealthy Americans to the land. Wall Street tycoon Alfred Lee Loomis and his brother-in-law Landon K. Thorne purchased a significant piece of property on the island to be converted into a private game reserve. All along the Atlantic coast, large concrete gun platforms were built just in case they were needed to defend the island against invasions and attacks. Hilton Head was a popular training area and military set up along the U.S. coastline.
The population of Hilton Head remained quite small right up until the 1950s when only 500 people lived in the area. The James F. Byrnes Bridge was constructed in 1956, a two-lane swing bridge that opened up the flow of traffic to and from the island of Hilton Head. The island began to gain a reputation as a resort destination and the surrounding areas started to build up.
Across the country in Arizona, a construction mogul, Del Webb, developed the first age-restricted, active adult community. This idea was well-received and brought over to the East Coast, and thus, Sun City, Hilton Head, was created. Del Webb bought the land from the Union Camp Company and began construction on one of the premieres, and soon-to-be top, active adult lifestyle neighborhoods. Construction officially began in April of 1994 and by June of 1995, Sun City opened its gates and received the first 100 residents.
Over the last few decades, Sun City has built up its reputation as an exceptional gated community surrounded by beautiful landscaping and natural resources. The population has grown from that first humble hundred to over 16,000 fifty-five and older residents.
What is Real Estate like in Sun City?
The Sun City real estate market is highly competitive but definitely attainable. The community features brand new construction as well as resale homes for the perfect mix of established homes as well as completely modern designs. Homes for sale in Sun City are primarily free-standing, single-story homes. These beautiful houses feature open-concept layouts, fantastic architectural design, and spacious lots complete with gorgeous gardens and lovely landscaping.
Most of the homes found within the Sun City community include sweeping views over the golf courses, charming ponds, and vast natural areas. With thirteen designs available, potential residents have plenty of options when picking out their dream home. Each house is made up of two to five bedrooms and two to 5.5 bathrooms, complete with grandmaster bedrooms and spa-like ensuites.
The cost of real estate in Sun City varies depending on the specific design, amount of rooms, and the size of the lots. Two-bedroom, 1,162-square foot homes start around $225,000. Larger, four-bedroom homes that are over 3,500 square feet in size can cost up to $699,000. These idyllic homes are perfect for those looking for their dream home to enjoy retirement or just the tranquil atmosphere of a calm, gated community.
Neighborhoods
Sun City is home to a number of wonderful neighborhoods within its gates. Residents and potential residents have a variety of beautiful home designs situated among scenic and diverse landscapes. Some of these stunning homes are located amidst protected wetlands, some are surrounded by mighty, majestic, mature trees, and others are graced with beautiful waterfront properties along the tranquil Lake Somerset. These diverse options offer excellent living conditions for those who wish to commune with nature and relax on a porch among some of nature’s greatest beauty.
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So Much To Do
There is a seemingly limitless amount of amenities, clubs, and groups to participate in and enjoy in the beautiful Sun City community. Though the residents of this charming community are at least fifty-five or older, this is no retirement home. The locals have a multitude of options for keeping a healthy and active lifestyle.
Sun City Hilton Head Community Association organizes and sponsors several incredible chartered clubs and registered community groups. These groups and clubs include a wide variety of hobbies and interests. The card games clubs include Gin Rummy, Bridge, Euchre, Hearts, and more. Hobby-oriented clubs include arts and crafts, photography, woodworking, book club, stamp collecting, and more. General interest groups allow further study of cars, travel, Bible study, and more. Performing arts, such as dance, music, theatre, and synchronized swimming and sports clubs including biking, billiards, bocce, horseshoes, and fishing are all clubs to keep locals more active.
There are three fantastic fitness centers within Sun City’s borders, fully stocked with top-of-the-line equipment for the locals to take full advantage of. Along with the fitness centers, there are also six pools, indoor and outdoor varieties, to get in some laps, participate in the synchronized swimming clubs, or give water aerobics a try.
Related Article: Moving to and Living in Hilton Head Island, S.C. - The Definitive Guide
Enjoy The Outdoors
Sun City, Hilton Head, was developed on over 5,000 acres of picturesque woodlands and peaceful lagoons. With so many beautiful lands and delightful scenery to breathe in, Sun City residents have ample opportunity to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
There are three beautiful golf courses found within the borders of Sun City. Argent Lakes is the only premier executive course in the Lowcountry. This unique eighteen-hole course is perfect for those with a busy schedule or who have additional appointments to attend to, looking to squeeze in a quick, yet highly enjoyable, round. Hidden Cypress and Okatie Creek Golf Club are both more traditional golf courses featuring unique and challenging greens and gorgeous backdrops. Golfers of all skill levels can enjoy these full-length, championship courses.
The center of the neighborhood features a twenty-acre lake. Lake Somerset is a picture-perfect spot to enjoy a scenic walk along with one of the many trails surrounding the lake. The waters are also stocked full of a variety of fish, catering to the fishing enthusiasts of the neighborhood.
With miles of walking and biking trails, the Sun City residents have several options to maintain an active outdoor lifestyle. These trails wind through majestic oaks, mature pines, and peaceful, protected wetlands.
A Look At The Arts
Among the many clubs and programs available to those who reside in Sun City are various theatre, musical, and artistic groups to join. To fully enjoy these activities, Sun City provides a beautiful performing arts center, craft facilities, and top-quality facilities and equipment.
The All About Art Club is known to host an annual fall show to display the beautiful works of art that the members work so hard on throughout the year. This gallery is a chance to not only showcase local masterpieces but also to sell the various pieces put forth by Sun City art enthusiasts at the Yemassee Crafts Center. The artwork displayed by the All About Art Club is a mix of oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, drawing, and mixed media pieces.
Shopping And Dining
The Sun City residents don’t need to travel far to indulge in a variety of excellent dining options. In fact, locals can commute from their homes to these restaurants by golf cart if they want to! Sun City is home to three restaurants that are easily accessible to the residents of the community. Jameson’s Charhouse at Hidden Cypress is a fine-dining experience, The Clubhouse at Okatie Creek Golf Course is a newer outdoor patio setup featuring more casual dining, and Argent Lakes (AL’s) Pub & Pizzeria is the local hotspot for a fantastic selection of casual foods.
Outside of Sun City, locals can find even more options to enjoy dining and shopping. A small plaza can be found just minutes from the entrance of Sun City that consists of several shops and services including a Walmart Supercenter and a collection of banks, convenience stores, auto shops, and more. Within minutes, Sun City residents can access all basic essentials as well as more luxury shopping and dining options.
Venturing farther out, Sun City residents can explore a plethora of charming shopping centers and plazas. The Coligny Plaza Shopping Center and the Shelter Cove Towne Center are examples of the charming shopping to be enjoyed by Hilton Head locals. These quaint malls are filled with eclectic boutiques, locally run businesses, and familiar favorites. Along with the excellent shopping opportunities, the wonderful shopping districts also consist of exemplary eateries. Quaint cafes, themed coffee shops, and fine dining establishments are available to Hilton Head locals and visitors alike.
For those on their way to the golden retirement years and are looking for the perfect retirement destination, Sun City is a community that should be seriously considered. This private and comfortable community is one of the top-rated locations for those over the age of fifty-five to sit back and enjoy retirement in well-deserved peace and quiet. The calm, manicured streets provide scenic views and a quiet and safe atmosphere. Locals can feel safe within the gated community that offers twenty-four-hour security and enjoy the social aspect of friendly and welcoming neighbors. The amount of clubs and programs encourages socializing and comradery among the residents of Sun City. The lucky ones who are able to call Sun City home are the envy of all other communities in the United States.
Interested in a beautiful gated community atmosphere in Hilton Head? Check out Sun City Hilton Head