Sun City Palm Desert, California facts for kids
Sun City Palm Desert is a special neighborhood in Riverside County, California. It's a gated community, which means it has controlled entrances for safety and privacy. This community is about 11 miles (18 km) east of Palm Springs in a sunny area called the Coachella Valley.
This community was built between 1992 and 2002 by a company called Del Webb Corporation. They designed it as an "active" place for people aged 55 and older. It has about 5,000 homes built in a style called "Spanish Colonial".
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How Sun City Palm Desert Got Its Name
When this community was first built, it was called Sun City Palm Springs. But even though it had "Palm Springs" in its name, it was actually about 15 miles (24 km) away from the city of Palm Springs. Its mail was handled through a nearby area called Bermuda Dunes.
As the community was almost finished, the people living there worked with the city of Palm Desert. They wanted their mail to go through the Palm Desert post office. So, they changed the community's name to Sun City Palm Desert. Even with the new name, it's still not officially part of Palm Desert. This means the residents don't vote in Palm Desert's local government.
Today, Sun City Palm Desert is no longer managed by the original company, Del Webb. Instead, it's run by its own community association, which is like a group of residents who manage the neighborhood.
Fun Activities and Places to Go
Sun City Palm Desert has many cool places for its residents to enjoy.
Golfing at Mountain Vista
Inside the community, there's a big golf club called "Mountain Vista". It has two 18-hole golf courses, making a total of 36 holes! Famous golfers Billy Casper and Greg Nash designed these courses. The two courses are:
- The San Gorgonio course, which is 6,669 yards long.
- The Santa Rosa course, which is 6,720 yards long.
Recreation Centers and Clubs
The community has three recreation centers, which are like community clubhouses. There are also three restaurants and a coffee bar where people can sing karaoke. For staying active, there are two gyms and a large indoor swimming pool that's the size used in the Olympics.
Residents can join more than 80 different clubs, so there's something for almost everyone! The community even has its own TV channel, a magazine, and an official website to keep everyone informed.
The Ballroom and Theater
There's a large ballroom and theater that can hold over 600 people. It has professional sound and video equipment. This space is used for:
- Plays and concerts.
- Big parties like Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day celebrations.
- Weddings and other special events.
Who Lives in Sun City Palm Desert?
About 9,000 people live in Sun City Palm Desert. Many people live there all year, but about a third of the residents are "snowbirds." This means they only live there during the winter months to escape colder weather elsewhere.
Because of its beautiful scenery, Sun City Palm Desert is also a popular spot for professional photographers. They often use the area to take pictures for postcards and travel brochures that show off Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley.
What Happened to the Name?
In 2008, officials from Riverside County said the community was renamed Desert Palms by the county government. The original company, Del Webb, stopped using its trademark name when it went out of business. The golf club operations were then taken over by another company called Pulte Homes Inc.. However, for everyday business and for people buying homes, the retirement community is still known as Sun City Palm Desert.
