HIDDEN GEM: THE WIGWAM

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Last week’s walk down memory lane got me thinking about our first introduction to the West Valley.

I knew next to nothing about this area before choosing it as our new home and scheduled our scouting trip on very short notice. A mere four weeks before we fled Orange County, we had one chance to visit and figure out where we were going to live.

Luckily, my then-only-virtual friend, Morayma, was in the same boat as us (we were both fleeing California for the sake of our kids) and she had already compiled a great list of resources. It was she who suggested we stay at The Wigwam, so without hesitation or investigation I booked our room.

Up until that point, I had never heard of The Wigwam, and even after being here 4 years, I rarely see or hear it talked about around town. What a shame.

I’ve had people tell me they didn’t even know The Vic existed until they read about it in The Buzz, so I’m guessing people are really going to be blown away to discover this beautiful resort is just a hop, skip & a few stoplights down Indian School.

THE RESORT

The grounds of the Wigwam covers 450 acres, which include the hotel - comprised of casitas, suites, and courtyard villas - 3 restaurants, 26,000 sq. feet of outdoor patios and event lawns, a 10,800 sq. foot ballroom, Lemonds Aveda Salon-Spa (with it’s own outdoor area & pool), 3 golf courses, 2 pools (one with a waterslide), and tennis and pickleball courts.

The entire area is beautiful, breathtaking, inspiring and relaxing all at the same time.

It seems like a lifetime ago that I was standing here, under the vast Arizona sky, staring across the golf course in a puddle of tears, wondering how in the world we were ever going to navigate the daunting task of moving our entire life here.

When I took this picture, on May 22, 2021, at 7:35 am, I was so overwhelmed and everything seemed impossible—Arizona was so much bigger in person than it looked on the map! At this very moment, I still didn’t know what city we’d be moving to, I only knew which ones we wouldn’t. I truly can’t believe how far we’ve come and that we actually live in here! #luckyus

Because The Wigwam was such a big part of our first experience in Arizona, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

THE HISTORY

1916–1918: Cotton Roots & Executive Retreat

Paul W. Litchfield, was an executive with Goodyear Tire. He arrived here in 1916 intent on finding a place to cultivate cotton for use in the production of tires. When local farmers were hesitant to get involved, he himself purchased 12,000 acres of land and began clearing the desert to make way for 3,500 acres of cotton. Along with that came the need for housing for laborers, who started off in tents until several small adobe houses were constructed.

Back then, there were no paved roads between Phoenix and Litchfield Park, and travel by horse and buggy was arduous (and probably very hot!). So, in 1918, Mr. Litchfield erected The Organization House—now the original lodge—to serve as accommodations for Goodyear Tire executives traveling here to inspect operations.

At this point, the city we now know as Goodyear, was named “Egypt.” (See Fun Fact 2 below)

1920s–1929: Growth & Grand Opening

As demand grew, the lodge expanded. By Thanksgiving Day 1929, it opened as The Wigwam Guest Ranch, welcoming 24 guests to the desert oasis. The name was inspired by rustic “wickiups” (or wigwams) added to the property. A nine‑hole golf course soon followed as the centerpiece of the resort experience.

Back then, guests were also allowed access to the Goodyear Blimp!

1940s: Wartime Shift & Bubble Houses

When World War II began, Goodyear Tire closed The Wigwam to the public and shifted to exclusively housing pilots from nearby Luke Air Field. The resort also briefly housed four experimental “Bubble Houses” - futuristic monolithic domes used as wartime housing, though they were later demolished in the 1980s.

➡️ I’m curious how many Buzz readers remember seeing these in person? Message me if you do!

In 1946, the town of Goodyear was founded and home to 1,500 residents.

Post‑War to Modern Era

After WWII, The Wigwam reclaimed its status as a premier West Valley retreat, welcoming celebrities like Bing Crosby and Gene Autry. When you visit, you can still feel the old world elegance carried over from this era.

In the mid-1980’s, Goodyear Tire Corporation sold the property, and during the 2008 financial crisis it changed hands again when Jerry Colangelo acquired and restored it with historically thoughtful renovations.

Since 2010, it has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a member of Historic Hotels of America. In 2022 was named the country’s best historic resort.

Today: Desert Elegance with Legacy

Spanning 440 acres, The Wigwam now features 331 rooms, 3 restaurants and bars, a spa (with it’s own private pool), 2 resort swimming pools, and 54 holes of championship golf.

FUN FACT 1: Cotton used to be a key component in the manufacturing of tires; it was used as a reinforcement material. Now, synthetic materials, like steel, have taken it’s place.

FUN FACT 2: Prior to it’s cultivation in Goodyear, long-staple cotton was previously only available from Egypt and from the Sea Islands off the Georgia coast. During WWI, the demand for tires increased the demand for cotton, which is what brought those early settlers to our area here in Arizona.

STEP INSIDE

One of my very favorite things about The Wigwam is the front door. It has a small window in the center, but that’s hard to see in the picture. Once you open that door, you’re transported to…

OLD WORLD LUXURY

No matter how many times I visit, I still gasp when I enter. Absolutely breathtaking!

There’s something about the grandeur of the buildings, the rich architectural details, custom fixtures, warm lighting, and overall timeless interior design that makes it feel like you stepped onto a movie set.

LIGHT MY FIRE

I can’t even count how many days I’ve slipped away from my house to sit on the couch here and stare into the fireplace (sans fire, I have never seen it lit) seeking solace and wisdom.

Perhaps it’s the presence of all the Native American artifacts, I always feel comforted and grounded here.

THE ACCOMMODATIONS

The weekend we visited, we stayed in casita that was right next to the pool. It was an excellent location that allowed for us to easily go back and forth from our room. I mention this because the resort is huge and it was pure luck that we ended up in such a perfect location. If you have kids and being next to the pool is important, be sure you ask for a room near it.

Since we first stayed there, the hotel has underwent a massive remodel, including the pool area, so the rooms and the grounds are all fresh and renovated.

DIVE IN

It was at the crowded family pool that one weekend though that I met two locals who gave us the lowdown on the schools and what areas to avoid. I’m still friends with them today: Kat Faber & Dana Kennedy VanDeman, thank you for your kindness & guidance.

However, another one of my favorite things about The Wigwam is they have an adults only pool! I find it funny how much I notice how loud kids are, now that ours are grown. When you have littles, it’s easy to tune out the noise and impossible to do once you don’t. Imagine lounging by the pool without hearing “Marco”…. “Polo”… I’d even pay extra for that!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO…

• Date Night: If you don’t want to stay the night, there are several options for dining and drinks. Check it out!

• Off Season: Now (the summer) is a great time to visit, it’s the off-season and it’s not crowded at all! This makes it feel like you have the whole place to yourself and is a much different, and much more enjoyable, experience than if you visit during the high-season.

• Specials: The resort is currently offering up to 30% off for Arizona locals! Proof of residency is required.

• Become A Member: The resort offers several different membership options (Golf, Fitness, Tennis, Pool, etc.).

• The Spa: Pamper yourself for the day or for an entire year with their awesome annual membership.

• Summer Happenings: There’s always something fun going on! I list some of the events in the Fun Finder but this page covers all the summer happenings.

• Famous: The 2017 movie “Love’s Last Resort” was filmed here.

• How Clever: They utilize ShipSticks for shipping/receiving your golf clubs. If you’re a golfer, you’ve probably heard of this service but I’m not and I thought it was a clever idea!

• The Service: As I was leaving the resort the other night, after traipsing around in 108 degree temps to get pictures, I happened upon the bar and some nice ready-made glasses of ice water. Which, is how I got to talking to the bartender, Juliana Guimaraes, who visited Arizona for vacation last June, went home (back east), quit her job, and drove back her with her mom & her dog to live here! Sound familiar? I love stories like this!

  

  When you go, be sure to say hello to her!