The Wigwam offers guests everything they could want in a holiday spot

PHOENIX, Arizona (Gord Montgomery/iG) — If you’re looking for a relaxing warm weather spot to settle down for a bit this winter that offers great recreational amenities, food, and entertainment options as well as some amazing history, than look no further then the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park.

The sprawling 440 acre site, located just west of Phoenix, is one great spot to settle in and enjoy the fine things in life including three great golf courses, nine excellent tennis courts, three swimming pools, fine and casual dining, a superb spa and of all things, a beer donkey!

The Original Building Constructed By The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Is Still Standing, And Still In Use Today At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

Now in its 85th year, the Wigwam is designated as a Historic Hotel of America and rightfully so. Saved from bankruptcy by its present ownership group, this famed resort complex was originally founded by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, who made use of the cotton in the area to extend the life of their tires. The original building from way back when is still standing, and is used today as the main office building of the resort.

The Wigwam Kept A Lot Of Its History Over The Years, Including A Large Number Of Wonderful Photos, Such As This One Showing Workers Picking Cotton Which Was At One Time Grown On The Land Where The Resort Now Sits. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

In all there are 331 rooms  here, spread out over the landscape in one- and two-storey buildings. All the rooms are spacious and offer patios and decks to enjoy the fine outdoor weather. There are also 70 luxurious suites and two presidential suites, the Oraibi and the Bacabi. The Oraibi Suite offers 5,000 square feet, including a parlour-style sitting room and patio lounge and a private bedroom that can accommodate up to 40 people for a party and sleeps eight. The Bacabi Suite spans 3,500 square feet with separate bedroom suite with private entrance, sitting area and patio and sleeps up to six, making both of these great spots to set up camp for a family gathering or a buddy sports junket.
The other, smaller scale rooms run from 480-square feet up to 1,000-square feet in the one- and two-bedroom suites. All are decorated in a southwestern motif and are spotlessly clean.

With Three 18-Hole Golf Courses On The Property, Everyone Should Certainly Get Their Fair Share Of Playing While Staying At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

As for the golf here, well, it is truly like nowhere else in the valley. The Gold Course, designed originally by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., is the granddaddy of them all and is a 7,400 yard parkland style layout, something not seen on a regular basis in the desert. There are two other courses on site and guests at the Wigwam have the ability to play two other local tracks, including the Arizona Biltmore Country Club.

A Locally Grown Orange Is Always High On The List Of Fresh Farm To Table Cuisine That Is Highlighted In The Restaurants At The Wigwam. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

When hunger strikes and you go looking for a great venue, you know you’re in the right spot when you come upon local residents showing up at the resort for a meal. That’s the case virtually every night at Litchfield’s, a top-end fine dining establishment where the menu features farm-to-table cuisine emphasizing fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables as well as locally produced meats, cheeses, wines and other delicacies. For more casual fare, there are two other great spots on the grounds, Red’s, which is a sports oriented establishment and the Wigwam Bar, a spot not only to savour great food but a place to meet old, or new, friends in a casual indoor/outdoor setting.
And if you’re a sports fan, be it football, hockey or baseball, the Wigwam is the place you want to settle down, be it for a weekend or a week or two. The resort is only minutes away from the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and several Major League Baseball teams who show up for Spring Training. Teams that work out, and play here during the Cactus League season include the Cleveland Indians, the LA Dodgers, the Chicago Whitesox, the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals (whose upper management at one time stayed at the Wigwam), the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and if you want to venture a bit further east, the always popular Chicago Cubs, among others.

One Of The Three Swimming Pools On The Grounds At The Wigwam Where There Is Plenty Of Room To Lay Back And Enjoy The Warm Arizona Sun. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)

So whether you’re looking to get away for a while to simply relax by the pool in the sun to escape the northern cold, or you want to golf or play tennis until your arms ache, eat exquisite meals, enjoy professional sports or just explore the area, then you want to explore the possibility of staying at one great, and historic, area resort, the Wigwam.
For more on the Wigwam Resort, go to their website at wigwamarizona.com.