The Wigwam traces it roots to 1929, when Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company opened it as a guest ranch on acreage it owned west of downtown Phoenix.
Not surprisingly for someone in the entertainment business, he has set about reenergizing the public spaces, beginning with a more dramatic entryway lined with palms and citrus and continuing to redesigned adult and family pools—the latter with twisting water slides and plashing fountains—new outdoor gardens, a lush social community courtyard, and various al fresco entertainment and dining areas complete with fire pits and fountains. Food and beverage, too, is getting an upgrade under celebrity chef Chris Bianco, the James Beard award-winning chef behind the nationally acclaimed Pizzeria Bianco. Much of this work was still underway when I visited in November but should be complete early in 2011.
The location in Litchfield Park, 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix, is out of the usual Phoenix (which tends to extend north into Scottsdale), though it is on the way to the award-winning tennis and recreation complex at Surprise. Colangelo's belief is that there is an abundance of attractions to lure people to what is known as the West Valley. Those range form mountain parks and hiking trainls to sports venues like Phoenix International Raceway, the University of Phoenix Stadium, Jobing.com Arena as well as spring training for Major League Baseball and entertainment venues like the $1 billion Westgate City Center. The resort, he believes, makes an ideal base.
Pro Shop: 623-535-4926
In an effort to revitalize tennis, the resort brought in Carlos Hassey as director. He has not only exceptional credentials—including helping to coach Tracy Austin and a stint at Vic Braden's Coto de Caza—
but also an outgoing personality and infectious enthusiasm for tennis. Within months of his arrival, members who'd drifted away began returning and he has set about enhancing the experience for guests, with a diverse roster that include family tennis, kids clinics, leagues, ball machine workout, and game matching. "We try to accommodate everyone from 4 years to 84," he told me.
Courts & Fees. There are nine courts altogether, beginning with a sunken stadium court just below the pro shop. The rest of the campus consists of six hard courts and two artificial clay courts in French Open red. The pro shop has a sitting area with sofas at one end and limited retail at the other. Next door is an activities area with Fusbol, air hockey, a television, and board games. and with sofas the color of red clay. Outside, stands a ping pong table and numerous tables and chairs arrayed on the patio above the sunker court, making it an inviting place to congregate. Court fees: $16/courthour.
Golf Courses. There are 54 holes of golf, including two courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., as well as a Golf Digest Golf School.
Spa & Fitness Center. The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas ordinarily adhere to their own rigid formula; however the one at the Wigwam is unusual for incorporating the Wigwam's Southwestern culture into its design. The 26,000-square-foot space was designed to comoplement the resort's adobe architecture while nonetheless adhering to Miss Arden's emphasis on the health benefits of her beauty products and treatments. The spa shares an abobe building with the fitness center and Zumba studio, all of them just steps from the sunken stadium court.
The 331 rooms have been scattered across the property in adobe structures whose patios and terraces variously face gardens, pools, and the tennis complex. Recently refurbished, they retain their historic Western traditions with wood furnishings and hand-crafted pottery but have been modernized to include Italian linens, oversize baths, and high-speed internet access access. Some also have gaslog fireplaces.
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Rates on request.
Seasons. Year-round, though most comfortable fgrom October to May.
Travel Instructions. The Wigwam is roughly a 30-minute drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
General Tourist Information. Visit the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau website or contact them toll-free at 877-CALLPHX or email visitors@visitphoenix.com.