Del Webb will put you up for two nights at 60-acre Eureka Casino Resort for only $130, just for driving out to look at Sun City Mesquite — but Jim Russell of Conifer had no idea of that when he fell in love with the small Nevada town, then moved into a new patio ranch by Del Webb last January.
“I would pass through there on the way out to Las Vegas, and have lunch,” Russell recalls, noting he has a sister in Vegas. “It was a nice, small community, and I thought someday I’d like to live there.” On a lark, he dropped into the model homes at age-50-plus Sun City Mesquite, then moved from his horse property in Conifer and into a new two-bedroom Lilac ranch by Del Webb. The base price, for almost 1,400 square feet plus a two-car garage, is $210,990 — way below average prices for new ranch plans around Denver.
That was low enough that Russell added on $25,000 in upgrades — a full granite-tile floor package, ceiling fans, under-cabinet kitchen lighting, a sink in the garage, brick patio, and pavers on both the front walk and the driveway. He also bought himself an edgy-looking Polaris RZR all-terrain vehicle and joined Sun City’s off-road club, then took off with residents on a 100-mile expedition into the remote north rim of the Grand Canyon.
From his new house, Russell says he looks south into mountains in Nevada, east into mountains in Arizona and northeast into mountains in Utah. “We’re heading into the best weather here now,” he says. “The evenings are cool, the days are into high 70s, and all winter is mild.” He raves about the outdoorsy lifestyle in Mesquite — a rec center with “everything you can think of,” a cycling group, a motorcycle club (he owns a Harley) and a hiking group that goes prospecting for gemstones.
New single-family ranch plans at Sun City Mesquite still start from $199,990 — so low that Sun City sees a continuous flow of buyers heading 660 miles west to check out that possibility. In addition to the off-road attractions that Russell finds so alluring (there are seven national parks/monuments within four hours, including Zion National Park), Mesquite has seven golf courses, including Troon-designed Conestoga Golf Club, where Sun City and its newest homesites and 10 ranch model homes are arrayed. Eureka Casino Resort, where Del Webb will book you the two-night stay for $130, has 1,100 slots, tables and sports betting — but Russell says he’s also joined residents for trips 88 miles south to Vegas, where they saw Cirque du Soleil, and drives 45 minutes up to St. George, Utah, for big-box store shopping.
When you visit, you’ll see the clubhouse with pool, tennis and grill, and tour Del Webb’s three model collections, including a premium Journey ranch, 2,550 square feet from under $340,000. You can also see a new release of homesites — in a popular area where inventory homes are rare.
If you can arrange a date on weekdays rather than over the weekend, Del Webb can arrange your two-night stay for $120. Mesquite is a destination for golf and for senior baseball during fall, and calling ahead to arrange a date is a good idea. Sun City Mesquite is 660 miles west of Denver, on I-15 at Mesquite’s south exit, Falcon Ridge Parkway. Phone 702-345-4187 and ask for the “Explore Del Webb” special, and for a hosted lunch at the club with a Sun City Mesquite resident ambassador. Or, visit SunCityMesquite.com.
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this postap preparation.