Sun City history

Foundation and Ambitious Start

Unlike most historical cities, Sun City did not evolve over centuries from a small settlement. It is a unique example of a resort city born from a grand architectural vision. The complex officially opened on December 7, 1979. The project's visionary and creator was hotel magnate Sol Kerzner, who dreamed of building a world-class entertainment centre in the heart of Africa.

Development Factors and Geography

Transforming a desert landscape into a blooming oasis was made possible by several key factors:

• Unique Location: The resort is located in the North West Province, in close proximity to the Pilanesberg National Park. This territory lies within the crater of an ancient extinct volcano, providing picturesque landscapes and abundant wildlife nearby.
• Accessibility: The location was chosen so that residents of major metropolises, such as Johannesburg and Pretoria, could reach it by car in a couple of hours.
• Engineering Marvel: Creating the city required complex irrigation solutions to maintain lush tropical gardens and golf courses in the arid bushveld conditions.

Early Cultural and Economic Development

Since its inception, Sun City's economy has been based exclusively on the hospitality and entertainment industry. The city quickly gained a reputation as the "African Las Vegas", offering guests luxurious hotels and casinos.

The resort's cultural life immediately became vibrant and large-scale. Prestigious international golf tournaments began to be held here on courses designed by the legendary Gary Player. Additionally, the massive Superbowl arena became a venue for performances by global music stars and significant boxing matches, instantly making Sun City a recognizable brand far beyond the continent.

Key Historical Milestones

• 1978: Commencement of large-scale construction works in the ancient volcano crater in the Pilanesberg region initiated by Sol Kerzner.
• December 7, 1979: Official opening of the resort with the launch of the first Sun City Hotel and world-class casino.
• 1980: Opening of the Cabanas hotel, oriented towards family holidays, on the shores of the artificial Waterworld lake.
• 1981: Launch of the famous Superbowl arena, marked by a Frank Sinatra concert.
• December 1981: Hosting the first international Million Dollar Golf Challenge tournament, which became an annual tradition.
• 1984: Commissioning of the elegant The Cascades hotel, surrounded by tropical gardens and waterfalls.
• 1992: Grand opening of the architectural masterpiece The Palace of the Lost City, inspired by African legends.
• 1992: Launch of the unique Valley of Waves water park with an artificial beach and wave generator.
• 1992–1995: Sun City becomes the main global venue for the Miss World beauty pageant finals.
• 1996: Opening of the first phase of the Sun Vacation Club complex, offering apartments for long-term stays.
• 2010: The resort serves as a base for guests and teams during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• 2016: Completion of a major reconstruction of the entertainment centre, relaunched as Sun Central.
• 2019: Celebration of the resort's 40th anniversary, confirming its status as one of Africa's premier tourist destinations.

Stages of Transformation: From Casino to Global Resort

The development of Sun City can be divided into several key stages, each drastically changing the appearance and status of this "City of Entertainment". Here are the main milestones that defined its modern look:

• Creation of a Gaming Oasis (1979)
  Significance: Fundamental economic start. At that time, gambling was prohibited in South Africa but permitted in the Bophuthatswana bantustan. Sun City became a monopoly in the region's gaming industry, ensuring an instant influx of capital and tourists from Johannesburg and Pretoria.
• Cultural Expansion via the Superbowl (1981)
  Significance: Transformation from a local resort to an international stage. The opening of the huge arena allowed for attracting top-tier stars (Frank Sinatra, Queen, Elton John), cementing Sun City's status as the continent's main entertainment hub, despite the country's political isolation in those years.
• Architectural Revolution of the "Lost City" (1992)
  Significance: Urban planning breakthrough. The construction of The Palace of the Lost City and artificial jungles changed the resort's concept from a "gambling venue" to a "world-class theme park". This expanded the audience, attracting families and international tourists seeking unique experiences.
• Change of Economic Model (post-1994)
  Significance: Adaptation to new realities. With the fall of the apartheid regime and the legalization of casinos across South Africa, Sun City lost its gambling monopoly. The city successfully reoriented towards conference tourism (MICE), weddings, and large-scale sporting events to maintain profitability.
• Launch of Sun Vacation Club (1996–2000s)
  Significance: Development of residential infrastructure. The introduction of the timeshare system and self-catering apartments allowed for retaining tourists for longer periods, turning Sun City from a "weekend" spot into a full holiday destination.
• Global Renovation and Sun Central (2016)
  Significance: Modernization of the urban environment. A massive update costing over a billion Rand breathed new life into aging infrastructure. The creation of the Sun Central centre with modern restaurants, shops, and conference halls restored the resort's relevance for the digital generation of travellers.

Urban Planning Concept: Oasis in a Crater

Sun City represents a unique example of resort urbanism, where the city did not grow spontaneously but was fully designed within a single master plan. The resort's urban axis is dictated by nature itself: the complex is embedded in the crater of an extinct volcano. Architects used the natural amphitheatre of the Pilanesberg hills to create a "Garden of Eden" isolated from the outside world.

The territory is zoned according to a cluster principle. The city consists of several autonomous centres (hotels), each with its own style and atmosphere, but united by common infrastructure: roads, the Sky Train monorail, and extensive golf courses serving as the "green lungs" of the complex.

Architectural Styles and Eras

Since Sun City is a young city, you will not find Gothic or classical Baroque here. Its architecture reflects the evolution of luxury concepts in the late 20th century. Development can be divided into two key stages:

• Late Modernism and Brutalism (late 1970s): The resort's first buildings, particularly the Sun City Hotel, are executed in a style characteristic of international hotel architecture of that time. These are massive geometric forms with an abundance of concrete and glass. The buildings are functional, monumental, and designed to dominate the landscape, proclaiming human progress amidst the wilderness.
• Thematic Postmodernism and Fantasy (early 1990s): With the start of construction of The Lost City, the style changed dramatically. Architects turned to creating a pseudo-historical legend. This style can be characterized as "architectural fantasy". It uses elements mimicking ruins of ancient civilizations, rich decor, domes, arches, and mosaics, creating an immersive fairy-tale effect.

Iconic Buildings That Shaped the City's Look

Each major object in Sun City serves as an architectural landmark of its district:

• The Palace of the Lost City: The pinnacle of the resort's architectural thought. This is a grandiose structure with towers adorned with faux ivory carvings and 25-metre painted ceilings. The building mimics the royal residence of a mythical African tribe. The surrounding "ruins", bridges, and animal statues create a cohesive ensemble that blurs the line between reality and set design.
• The Cascades: A striking example of integrating architecture into the landscape. The building is designed in the form of terraces (steps), allowing it to blend harmoniously into the surrounding tropical gardens. The facade is literally immersed in greenery and artificial waterfalls, anticipating trends in modern eco-architecture.
• Sun City Hotel (Soho): The resort's firstborn, setting the tone for entertainment life. Its strict facade conceals luxurious casino interiors, executed using dark wood, gold, and velvet, creating the atmosphere of a classic gaming house.

Creators and Visionaries

• Sol Kerzner
  Role: Founder of Sun International, business magnate.
  Historical Significance: The main ideologue and creator of Sun City. It was his ambitious vision and persistence that allowed for building a luxurious resort from scratch in the African bush, turning it into one of the most successful tourism projects in South African history.
• Gary Player
  Role: Legendary professional golfer, course architect.
  Historical Significance: Designed both of the resort's famous golf courses — Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Course. Thanks to his participation, Sun City became the venue for the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge tournament, attracting the world's best players.

Global Stars and Honorary Guests

• Frank Sinatra
  Role: American singer, actor, and showman.
  Historical Significance: Became the first megastar to perform at the Superbowl arena in 1981. His concerts attracted global press attention to the new resort and cemented Sun City's status as a high-level entertainment capital.
• Freddie Mercury
  Role: Leader of the rock band Queen.
  Historical Significance: Queen gave a series of sold-out concerts in Sun City in October 1984. Despite the complex political context of the time, these performances entered musical history and contributed to the global recognition of the resort brand.
• Jean-Michel Jarre
  Role: French composer, pioneer of electronic music.
  Historical Significance: In 1992, he organized the grandiose "Concert for the Lost City" show in honour of the opening of The Palace hotel. This event, using lasers and fireworks, marked a new era in the resort's history as a place for family holidays and fantastic experiences.
• Nelson Mandela
  Role: First democratically elected President of South Africa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
  Historical Significance: His visits to Sun City after 1994 (including participation in the 2001 Miss World ceremony) symbolized the acceptance of the resort by the new South Africa and its integration into the country's modern economy.