First, a big thank you for sticking with the Sun City Scoop! It’s been a minute since the last issue as I took a little break from the weekly publishing schedule, and I truly appreciate your patience while the Scoop was quiet.

Now we’re back and ready to catch up! There’s plenty happening around Sun City, Sun City West and The Grand, along with upcoming events and a few things worth knowing. Thanks for being here, and as always, thanks for reading the Scoop!

In this week’s Scoop:

Have an amazing week out there…🙏

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~ The newly redesigned Sun City West Citizens Academy makes it easier than ever to learn how the community works. Start with Sun City West Essentials, a quick orientation to life in SCW, then move on to the second-tier conference for a deeper dive into the organizations, services and people that keep the community running.

If you’re a resident of Sun City West and are wanting to learn more about your community, be sure and check out this program, happening this fall. (link)

~ 🎉 Surprise is celebrating a brand-new community gathering place! The city is inviting residents to the grand opening celebration, on September 3rd, of its new Community Center, giving the public a chance to explore the facility, learn about its programs and see what this new space has to offer. (link)

~ Will Colorado River Cuts Affect the Sun Cities?

The latest Colorado River water restrictions may sound alarming, but Sun City and Sun City West are not directly dependent on Colorado River water for their household supply. EPCOR primarily relies on groundwater from the West Salt River Valley aquifer to serve these communities, so residents should not expect immediate changes to their water service or new restrictions because of the cuts.

There could, however, be longer-term effects. Colorado River water plays a role in Arizona’s groundwater replenishment system, so continued reductions could make maintaining groundwater supplies more difficult and expensive over time. For Sun City residents, the bigger concern isn't whether water will continue flowing from the tap, but what increasingly scarce regional water supplies could mean for future water costs, conservation efforts and long-term planning.

Learn more in this article at AZFamily.com

~ 🕰️ What did Sun City leave behind 50 years ago? The Del Webb Sun Cities Museum and RCSC will open a time capsule from 1976, on November 15th at the Sundial Recreation Center, revealing its mysterious contents, including letters written 50 years ago specifically for Sun City residents of today. Read the full article at YourValley.net

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Long before the Valley had sprawling entertainment districts and indoor attractions, Phoenix had something much more ambitious: its own theme park.

Legend City opened on June 29, 1963, near 56th and Washington streets on the Phoenix-Tempe border. The brainchild of local artist and advertising executive Louis Crandall, the park was envisioned as Arizona’s answer to Disneyland, but with a distinctly Southwestern personality. Instead of fairy-tale castles, Legend City drew inspiration from Arizona history, the Old West and local legends.

Visitors could ride through the Lost Dutchman Mine, take a trip aboard the Legend City Railroad, float along a Western-themed river ride, play miniature golf or catch staged gunfights and live entertainment. The park also became closely associated with Arizona television legends Wallace and Ladmo, who performed there regularly and handed out their famous Ladmo Bags to lucky kids.

Legend City had plenty of fans, but running a major outdoor amusement park in Phoenix proved difficult. The relatively small Valley population of the 1960s, summer heat and persistent financial problems contributed to a rocky history filled with bankruptcies, closures and ownership changes. Over the years, the original Western theming gradually gave way to more traditional amusement rides.

Still, the park managed to become a Valley institution. Generations of local kids grew up visiting Legend City until it closed for good on September 4, 1983. Salt River Project purchased the property, and today SRP offices occupy the land where roller coasters, cowboys and the Lost Dutchman once entertained Valley families.

For longtime residents, however, Legend City remains one of those pieces of old Phoenix that refuses to disappear completely. More than four decades after the gates closed, people still swap stories, photographs and memories of the Valley's very own amusement park.

[Sun City West] Looking for a fun way to stay active and beat the summer heat? Indoor cornhole is back at Palm Ridge Recreation Center every Monday and Wednesday in August and September, with games from 9 to 11 a.m. in Summit Hall B for RCSCW members of all skill levels. (link)

[Sun City] This week’s movie is ‘ENOLA HOLMES 3’. Showtimes are Wednesday 8/26 at 2pm & 7pm at the Marinette Rec Center & Saturday 8/29 at 2pm & 7pm at the MOUNTAIN MUSIC ROOM (New location). See the SEPTEMBER movie lineup here.

[Sun City West] Movie Night at the Stardust Theatre Join them for a matinee showing of MICHAEL, on Thursday, August 27th, at 6pm (link)

[Sun City West] The Sun City West Friday Farmers Market has moved indoors for the summer, at the Sun City West Foundation. The market is open from 9am-1pm each Friday. (link & map)

[Sun City] The Sun City Farmers Market is sticking around for the summer, with new hours designed for early birds. Stop by Bell Recreation Center on Thursday mornings from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. to browse fresh produce, baked goods, and offerings from local vendors. (link)

[Sun City] Sun City Recreation Centers are hosting a beer tasting event on Saturday, July 18th, at the Sun City South Golf Course Grill. Come out and try the Alaskan Amber & White beers!!! 🍺

Have an event you want listed here? Please reach out!

[Sun City West] An Evening with The Phantom & The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Sept. 10 show sold out; limited tickets available for Sept. 9!

The originally scheduled “An Evening with The Phantom & The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” sold out so quickly, the Rec Centers have added another show! Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 9, for this 2 p.m. performance at Stardust Theatre (link)

[Sun City] Dust off your dancing shoes for Sun City’s Royal Autumn Ball, a festive evening that brings back the fun of senior prom! Enjoy music, dancing and a little friendly royalty as the evening includes the crowning of the Senior Prom King and Queen. Wednesday, September 16th. (link)

[Sun City West] The Bash is back on Wednesday, September 23rd, with live music from The Audrey Hicks Band! Head on down for an evening of music, dancing, cornhole, cards and games, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the fun starting at 6. (link)

[Sun City] 🎶 Sun City’s Fall Concert Series is almost here! The 2026 Sundial Fall Ticketed Concert Mini-Series kicks off November 4th, and individual tickets will be available for sale beginning on August 28th. (link)

🏡 Home of the Week: Check out this beautifully remodeled 2-bedroom, 2-bath home on Hidden Valley Circle, complete with a flexible bonus room, brand-new roof, energy-efficient windows and a stylishly updated interior. Best of all, it’s just a 3-minute walk to the golf course and completely move-in ready!

See all the pics & details here.

Property listed by Michael Bekheet with My Home Group Real Estate

J.D. Manning, the publisher of the Sun City Scoop, is also a local Realtor. If you have questions about the market or your specific real estate situation, you can reach J.D. at (480) 797-8975

Sun City Players Community Theater - invites you to the next Readers Theater Ensemble (RTE) sessions to be held on Saturday, September 5th and Saturday, September 19th, from 10:00 a.m. to noon at Fairway Center AZ Rooms number 1 and 2. Fairway Center is located at 10600 W. Peoria Ave. For more information, Schielt Ray Schiel at 323-336-5437 or via email at [email protected].

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Some of the images you see in the newsletter are created using modern AI image tools. Whenever possible, I use my own photos from around Sun City and the West Valley, but sometimes it is helpful to generate an image that better illustrates a story or historical topic. These images are used simply to supplement the articles and help tell the story visually, not to mislead or deceive readers.