Original Sun City residents look back on past 20 years

When Sun City opened in 1995, its first 100 residents had to drive to Hilton Head Island for groceries.

Those days, of course, are long gone.

"We now boast hundreds of amenities, clubs and activities, and, with close to 15,000 residents calling our community home, we certainly live up to our name as a 'city,'" says executive director Damon Williams.

Sun City Hilton Head, which is split between Beaufort and Jasper counties, has indeed come a long way over the past two decades. On Saturday, residents will mark the age-restricted community's 20th anniversary.

Located on 5,725 acres in the Okatie area, it was the first Sun City on the East Coast and is the largest one in South Carolina, according to Hallie Martin-Hanlin, communication manager at Sun City Hilton Head.

It also was one of the leaders in a rapid development boom in southern Beaufort County, that chugged along until the Great Recession.

But the construction has resumed.

Sun City Hilton Head now has about 7,600 homes, Martin-Hanlin said, and there will be 8,640 homes when the community is completed.

Anniversary events are planned through May 9, including a block party, a showing of a documentary on the history of the community, a scavenger hunt and, of course, a golf cart parade.

The anniversary is also leading some of the pioneer residents to recall what attracted them to the over-55 community and caused them to stay.

Jack Schosser and his late wife, Catherine, moved from Kentucky to Sun City Hilton Head at the end of 1995. In June of 1996, she had to undergo open-heart surgery.

The Schossers knew pretty quickly they had chosen the right place to retire. After Catherine came home from the hospital, neighbors brought dinner to the couple every night for weeks.

Shortly after Jean and Huguette Valiquette moved to Sun City from Long Island, N.Y., a neighbor invited them out for a Thanksgiving meal.

"That was very nice. If you are all by yourself, they will invite you," Huguette said.

And when Jane Hartsig moved to the community with her husband, Jim, from Plymouth, Mich., she had never played Bridge before. She said she is not a good golfer but loves to play that, too.

"I think whatever level you come in, I have found people so welcoming," she said. "They accept you at whatever level you are. You can have fun and make friends."

Sun City now has 75 clubs, and according to 20-year resident Annette Lund, there are clubs within the clubs, making it more like 100.

For example, she said, the Sew What Club has groups for beaders, stampers, folders and basketweavers.

Huguette Valiquette said that when they first moved in, they wanted to try all the fun activities. But after doing so much, she ended up saying to her husband, "I cannot wait to go back to New York to have a rest. I was exhausted because we were doing everything."

Members of the Barrel Landing Club, made up of the first 100 homeowners, fondly look back on the past 20 years. Some of their favorite memories were attending dances together, meeting at the bar every Friday night and singing Christmas carols.

"We made a good decision 20 years ago. We've had 20 years of enjoyment," Jean Valiquette said.

20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

Sun City Hilton Head will celebrate its 20th anniversary May 2-9 with events only open to residents of Sun City.

May 2

Celebration Kick-Off and 20th Block Party, 5:30-10 p.m., Pavilion and surrounding area. This event will feature May River Brass Quintet, Doc Roc and the Remedies. Bring a chair and set up in the grass beside the pavilion. Bring your own food. Bar will sell wine and beer for $2, and soda and water for $1. Cost is $2 a person, cash only. Tickets can be purchased in Lifestyle Services.

May 3

Learn the History of Sun City, 1-3 p.m., Magnolia Hall. A documentary about the community will be shown on the big screen, followed by dance and comedic acts. Guest speakers will review Sun City's past, present and future. Overflow seating will be accommodated in Pinckney Hall. Free event; walk-ins welcome.

May 4-8

Scavenger Hunt, 9 a.m.-Noon, Location to be announced. Find the location and win a prize. A clue will be released in eNews at 9 a.m. Head to the local landmark (look for Del Webb), where a box will contain a limited number of cards to fill out and bring back to Palmetto Commons before noon. There will be three winners drawn per day from the cards received; winners will be announced at the Closing Celebration May 9.

May 4

Woodworkers' Shop and Model Railroad Tours, 12-4 p.m. Tours available at the shop on Red Dam Road.

Karaoke Party, 6-9 p.m., Pavilion. Bring chairs to sit on the lawn. Bring your own food. Wine and beer will be sold for $2, soda and water for $1.

May 5

Pancake Breakfast, 8:30-11 a.m., Pavilion. Sold out.

Softball Game, 8:45 a.m., softball field on Red Dam Road. "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" sing-a-long at 12:40 p.m.

Croquet Club Founders Tournament, 12 p.m., Croquet Courts in Town Square. Bring a chair and enjoy the watch the founders play croquet.

May 6

Celebrating Creativity in Town Square and Farmers Market, Bocce Tournament and Crafts Center open house, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Pavilion and Yemassee Crafts Center. Facilities in Town Square will open their doors for an open house. Stroll through the Crafts Center, stop by the Bocce courts to watch a tournament or check out the special Farmers Market with entertainment by the Mountain Strings. Free event.

Presentation by the Synchronettes and Swim Club, 1-2 p.m., Purrysburg Pool

Tennis Exhibition, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Court 5 Town Square Tennis Courts. Sold out.

May 7

Shotgun Golf Tournament, 8:30 a.m., Okatie Creek Golf Course. No handicap required; register at the Okatie Creek Pro Shop. Sign up as a foursome. Cost is regular golf fees plus $5.

Learn To Fish in Sun City, 9 a.m., Lake Somerset. Join members of the Fishing and Hunting Club for a free lesson. Bring bug spray.

Table Tennis Open House, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Table Tennis Room in the Yemassee Crafts Center

Okatie Creek Golf Course Tour, 2 p.m., Okatie Creek Golf Course. Carts will be available. Sign up at the Okatie Creek Pro Shop. Free event.

May 8

Golf Cart Parade, 10 a.m., Town Square. Participant line-up, 9-9:30 a.m. Neighborhoods will participate in a parade around Town Square with golf carts decked out to the max. Contestants will be whittled down to the top three winners.

Recognition Ceremony and Army 3rd ID Band, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Pavilion. The Government and Business Affairs Committee welcomes all residents to see the Sun City Veterans Association Color Guard, hear remarks from government officials and listen to tributes to those who helped develop Sun City Hilton Head. The Fort Stewart 3rd ID Army Band will perform until 8 p.m. Bring a chair; no tickets necessary. Listen to the Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet, Acoustic Rock Band and the Armed Services Medley.

May 9

5K Fun Run/Walk, 8:30 a.m., Town Square. The Silver Striders will kick off the race. Preregister at the Purrysburg Fitness Center. All amenities in Town Square will be closed during the event. Free event.

Closing Celebration, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Lakehouse. Party, fireworks, performance by the WannaBeatles, and announcement of scavenger hunt winners.

Details: www.SunCityHiltonHead.org

Follow Amy Coyne Bredeson at twitter.com/IPBG_Amy.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 7:45 PM with the headline "Original Sun City residents look back on past 20 years."