Sun Lakes

Discover Sun Lakes—an award-winning 55+ community southeast of Phoenix featuring three championship golf courses, picturesque lakes, resort-style recreation centers, vibrant clubs, and easy access to Chandler and Gilbert.

Welcome to Sun Lakes

Your 55+ Lifestyle Destination

Sun Lakes offers a serene, golf-centric lifestyle just 20 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. Developed in the late 1980s, this active-adult community spans more than 4,000 acres and includes three 18-hole championship courses—Ocotillo, Cottonwood, and Ironwood—designed for players of all skill levels. Neighborhoods of single-level homes, patio villas, and low-maintenance condos cluster around sparkling recreational lakes, well-maintained parks, and winding walking trails.

Beyond golf, residents enjoy access to two state-of-the-art recreation centers: The Sun Lakes Country Club and The Maverick Center. Both facilities boast indoor/outdoor pools, fitness studios, arts and crafts rooms, and banquet halls for social events. With over 50 clubs—from lawn bowling and photography to ballroom dancing—neighbors quickly forge friendships in a community that balances peaceful desert living with modern conveniences. Sun Lakes’ prime location near Loop 202 places you minutes from dining and shopping in Chandler and Gilbert, as well as Banner Desert Medical Center and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

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Sun Lakes was conceived by Rossmoor Corporation to provide a premier retirement destination in the East Valley. Groundbreaking in 1987, the community’s development emphasized recreation, social clubs, and open spaces. Over the past three decades, Sun Lakes has preserved its original vision—combining resort-style amenities with a close-knit neighborhood feel—while continually updating clubhouse facilities and birthing new social groups to meet evolving resident interests.

What to Love

Championship Golf Courses: Three distinctive 18-hole layouts—Ocotillo, Ironwood, and Cottonwood—set among desert landscaping and lakeside fairways.
Resort-Style Recreation Centers: Two clubs with indoor/outdoor pools, tennis courts, fitness rooms, arts and crafts studios, and social lounges.
Lakes & Walking Trails: Three man-made lakes—Palm, Oakmont, and Cottonwood—perfect for fishing, paddle boating, and sunset strolls along shaded trails.
Vibrant Clubs & Activities: Over 50 clubs, including lawn bowling, pottery, bridge, dancing, and volunteer groups that keep the calendar full year-round.
Convenient Location: Easy access to Loop 202, with nearby Chandler Fashion Center, health care at Banner Desert Medical Center, and cultural events at Downtown Chandler.

Local Lifestyle

Weekdays often begin with a round of golf at Sun Lakes Golf Club, where Ocotillo, Ironwood, and Cottonwood courses showcase flawless greens and desert vistas. After golf, many residents head to the Sun Lakes Country Club for a lap swim in the heated outdoor pool or a group fitness class in the center’s studio. Birds chirp along the shore of Palm Lake Park, where quiet walking paths weave around the water’s edge.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

For lunch, stop by Sun Shadow Golf Grille on the Ocotillo course for casual fare overlooking a lake, or head into Downtown Chandler—just 10 minutes east—to enjoy modern American dishes at Postino WineCafe. In the afternoon, browse specialty shops at Chandler Fashion Center or catch an art walk and live music at Chandler Arts Week in downtown Chandler.

Things to Do

As the sun dips below the horizon, Sun Lakes lights up with club activities and casual socials. Join neighbors for lawn bowling at the Lawn Bowling Greens, or test your swing at the indoor driving range at The Maverick Recreation Center. On cooler winter evenings, gather at the Chandler Center for the Arts just a short drive away for Broadway-style shows and concerts. With its blend of championship golf, lakeside serenity, and vibrant social life, Sun Lakes invites you to live fully—every day of the year.

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