Designed as an event to showcase the builder's 500 new homes, SuperBuy Saturday also produced some compelling human-interest drama.

Chicago fan Chris Pierce drove from Pahrump to get "The Fridge's" autograph on the cover of a 1986 Time magazine. That was the year the Bears won the Super Bowl. In 1994 she met star running back Walter Payton, who appeared on the Time cover along with Perry. Payton was about to sign the upper lefthand corner next to "The Fridge's" picture when he changed his mind and said: "No, I will sign down here because one day you will meet 'The Fridge,' and his signature can go there."

Regarded as one of the most tragic losses in Chicago sports history, Payton, nicknamed "Sweetness," died in 1999 of a rare liver disease at the age of 45.

During the event, fans were constantly commenting on Perry's size.

"Did you shake his hand?" one visitor asked. "It's gigantic."

Another was heard saying: "Look at my picture. I look like a kid next to him."

Perry said that he has grown used to his fans' responses, as he has always been the biggest man in the room. In fact, bulk runs in the family. His 16-year-old son, who lives in his native South Carolina, stands 6 feet, 3 inches and weighs 290 pounds and is on his way to a football career.

The community event is one way the home builder, which has been creating Las Vegas neighborhoods for more than 10 years, is able to showcase its designs to the community.

Twenty-two of the builder's projects exclusively showcase single-story homes, which range from 1,000 to more than 5,000 square feet. The ranch-style floor plans feature dual master bedrooms.

"More and more families find themselves housing multiple family generations," Ward said. "Our 2350 and 2550 dual master floor plans have been a huge hit with families of grown children or those who have invited their parents to move in."

He said the builder has lowered the sales price of the 2350 floor plan to below $140 per square foot in some valley locations.

Over the past seven years, D.R. Horton has offered a line of townhomes, called triplexes. They were initially offered in the builder's San Diego communities. Triplexes feature attached garages and amenity-rich complexes that include swimming pools. These floor plans are typically offered in D.R. Horton's Ranch communities. These projects offer multiple model complexes at prices beginning in the mid-$100,000s.

For more information, call 877-374-4668 or visit drhorton.com.