Southwest retirement: sunshine lures retirees to Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas

Travel America, Sept-Oct, 2002 by Pat Woods

Attracted by mild winters, majestic mountains, and spectacular sunsets, retirees continue flocking to the sunny Southwest.

Former city dwellers enjoy watching the sun turn the azure sky shades of pink, red, and purple. They prefer hearing coyote howls and yips rather than freeway traffic and urban noise.

While temperatures vary with elevations, Southwestern states share the common traits of arid climate and low humidity. Dust particles in the air contribute pink and red shades to the most stunning sunsets imaginable.

Those planning Southwest retirement have a plethora of choices, from laid-back mountain towns to tony resort enclaves with country club amenities.

NEVADA. Abundant sunshine and lack of state income tax are drawing cards fueling the rapid growth of Las Vegas and nearby Henderson.

Scheduled to have 7,000 homes when completed, Sun City Anthem in Henderson exudes a country club ambiance with a distinct Las Vegas flair. The clubhouse holds a ballroom/theater and an upscale restaurant with entertainment, plus indoor/outdoor pools, a wellness center, computer lab, and massage/spa area. The second-floor walking track and exercise areas provide panoramic views of the pristine golf course, mountains, and the Las Vegas Strip.

Cathy Love, a Redwood City, California, transplant, finds it easy to make friends. "Everyone is new here, so fitting in with the group is not a problem," Love says as she plays sheepshead (a popular card game in Wisconsin) every Friday with Wisconsin friends. "Everyone is from Wisconsin on Fridays!"

Love was drawn by the climate, desert, nearby international airport, low taxes, and housing prices. "I sold my Northern California home for double what I paid for it three years earlier, then bought a larger home at Anthem for less than I paid for my old one."

One might think Las Vegas residents would be overran by tourists. Not so, says Love. "Visitors are contained in a two-mile area--we're not bothered unless we work at or visit the Strip."

As darkness falls, Anthem residents watch from the outdoor pool and fitness center as the Strip's lights twinkle like thousands of bright jewels in the desert.

UTAH. The Beehive State, spotlighted in the recent Winter Olympics, offers more than stunning scenery at 12 national parks and monuments. Seniors from California, the Northwest, and Midwest appreciate the low-crime Mormon towns with quiet leafy streets, preserved historic buildings, and polite college students. One also finds churches of other denominations.

Famous for its mild winters and gorgeous red rock scenery, St. George is a snowbird mecca at 2,880 feet. Nine golf courses, a 30-mile walking/biking trail, and municipal swimming complex offer year-round recreation. Dixie State College provides cultural and continuing education offerings.

It costs less to put down roots here: Average cost of a 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom/two-bath home is $134,000. "One-third of St. George's 49,000 population is retirement age," says Lorri Kocinski, Chamber of Commerce executive director. "You can find nighttime action in nearby Mesquite, Arizona, and the bright lights of Las Vegas are 120 miles south on Interstate 15."

In contrast, Cedar City, just an hour north at 5,800 feet, offers a four-season climate. The surrounding mountains are a snow lover's paradise with downhill and cross-country skiing.

SUVs and pick-up trucks transverse the neat streets, many en route to mountain trout streams or national parks. Tennis courts, a city pool, and walking trail encourage outdoor recreation.

Home of Southern Utah University and the renowned Utah Shakespearean Festival, Cedar City is a culturally rich town of 22,000 with a carefully preserved downtown. Average cost of a three-bedroom/two-bath home is just $113,000. Utility and crime rates also are below average.

ARIZONA. Beguiled by multi-hued mountains and bicultural charm, retirees swarm to new adult communities north and south of Tucson. Thanks to its elevation of 2,650 to 2,900 feet, Tucson is a few degrees cooler than Phoenix and enjoys 12 inches of annual rainfall.

Set in cactus-studded natural desert 17 miles northeast of downtown Tucson, Heritage Highlands in Marana attracts retirees. Residents enjoy socializing in the heated outdoor pool and spa, where they watch cactus wrens nesting in a nearby saguaro. The Arthur Hill-designed golf course at the foot of the Tortolita Mountain provides magnificent views. A fitness center and lighted tennis courts add to the amenities mix.

On the opposite side of Interstate 10, Sunflower, a Del Webb community sans golf course, attracts snowbirds seeking affordable winter homes. The heated outdoor pool, spa, and fitness center with distant mountain views are popular gathering spots.

Jack and Joan Noble from Chicago looked at communities throughout the U.S., including South Carolina and Tennessee. "We're not golfers and didn't want to support golf," says Jack. "My sinus condition is better here, and we like the fitness director."