Lizard Acres Pub, a casual social gathering place, is now open in the R.H. Johnson Sports Pavilion, 19803 R.H. Johnson Blvd., in Sun City West.
Offering beer and wine, including three beers on draft, the local hangout is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The easiest entrance is through the building’s north doors, near Memo’s Bistro. The public is welcome.
Creating the pub involved converting the previous “Shuffleboard Room” to the new location. Available furnishings were used, although plans call for new pub-appropriate furniture to be added after the Association’s new fiscal year starts July 1. There are also plans to offer food in the near future, through Memo’s.
The room already has a built-in bar, several TVs and music. A variety of sporting events will be shown on the TVs, including NFL football games.
The Lizard Acres motif was chosen to honor the historical name of this area. According to the “Sun City West Silver Celebration” history of the community, two men, R.S. Spurlock and J.C. Wetzler were looking at a proposed 1,900-acre site on which they wanted to build a new ranch. The area was about a mile east of Grand Avenue and Bell Road.
According to the history book, Spurlock looked at the property and declared, “Jumpin’ Jehosophat, this country isn’t fit for raising anything but lizards.” A sign indicating “Lizard Acres” can see be seen in that area near the railroad tracks.
To pay homage to the history and the pub’s new name, a Special Arts Committee has painted lizards on one of the room’s walls. Like many lizards, the newly painted additions blend in nicely with the background. Stop by to check it out and you’ll be sure to spot them.
It has a ways to go before it looks like and actual pub, the tile ceiling and lighting might have to go!
At least there aren’t people walking by pushing grocery carts! Hahaha!
Something is much better than nothing. I’m sure improvements will be on the agenda as time moves on and suggestions are placed.
They’ve only been open 3 weeks. Still a work in progress. My husband and I recently checked it out and thought it has so much potential. Had a great time chatting with bartenders, Mel and Lou.
Lol! I get that…jumping lizards….
My husband and I often remark that the one thing missing in SCW is a pub type bar we can walk to.
Hope this becomes the place to go when we’re in town! BTW, we love Memo’s, so partnering with them for food is a great idea!
Had lunch there today, prepared by Memo’s, and it was great! It is a welcome addition to the community.
Again, I disagree that this facility should be open to the public.
I personally think it’s a good idea to open it to the public. If issues arise as a result of that decision, the decision can be changed.
If the decision were to ever be changed, it does make me wonder, how would bartenders discern between residents/members and non-residents/non-members; a flash back to the old days: start checkin (membership) ID’s??? haha Be sure to also verify they’re old enough. LOL
Dim the lighting for a pub and put some noise barriers in ceiling
This is a pub? That’s pretty funny.
For once Frank I have to agree with you. It has the warmth and coziness of a gymnasium!
Things take time to Jell. A Jumpin Jesophat burger has potential as does a F-16 burger.
Sure once football season starts there will be more seating. Also when you are starting Beer n Wine are usual starts for pubs-bars
Good to see SCW is looking towards the future to keep our community attractive to new members
Why would anyone from the surrounding area( public) want to come here?
There are plenty of bars in surprise and elsewhere to choose from.
Because SCW doesn’t have any MCSO that can stop you, so you can stagger and drive zigzagging down the road to your house and perfect safety just try not to hit anybody on your way home
Great! We have occasionally wished for a place within SCW for a drink and eats with friends. Open to the public does not sound good to us though. Guests of SCW residents, yes. But public – not! A public house increases traffic, decreases parking availability at RH Johnson, and endangers SCW reputation as a venue for drinkers to hang out and drive out of SCW after “having a few”. I suppose the concern is that limiting the pub to SCW residents will not generate sufficient income to warrant its existence …? Is there policing to support the presence of a public tavern in SCW?
We need a location in SCW that serves liquor. I hate beer and cannot drink wine (allergies). What would it take to serve brandy, gin or scotch also?
Mary, our liquor license only allows for beer and wine sales. We are offering a local gathering place, not a full-fledged bar as we are not in that line of business. We are here primary for recreation. If the marketplace demographics appeal to a developer who wants to bring in a bar, that would be up to a private business.