Phoenix, Ariz. (February, 2011) – Arizona’s legendary historic resort, The Wigwam, has completed  $7 million in renovations and upgrades to deliver a new resort experience, including a new main pool, outdoor plaza, farm-to-table restaurant and arrival experience designed to reflect the resort’s 80 years of history.
 
First opened in 1929 as one of the Phoenix area’s first resorts, The Wigwam’s new offerings center on reviving the property’s historic characteristics, while infusing new elements that reflect Arizona’s beginnings. Returning to its namesake identity The Wigwam, as part of the re-launch the resort will also feature a new logo, web site and branding.
 
Upon arrival, guests will experience vintage features including the restoration of The Wigwam’s signature wood-beamed archway that first graced the entrance of the resort more than 80 years ago, surrounded by new outdoor courtyards, grass lawns and fire pits designed to provide a welcome arrival and cozy atmosphere to gather throughout the day. Inside, a new lobby pays homage to The Wigwam’s history with an intimate check-in room featuring historic resort photography throughout. The original fireplace crafted from horsehair and mud back in 1918, remains a focal point of the Fireplace Lounge and serves as a place to people watch and relax.
 
Featuring 331 guestrooms, including 72 suites, three golf courses, a tennis center and a Red Door Spa, at the center of the resort The Lodge Pool serves as the new relocated and redesigned main pool featuring fun for all ages. A separate kids zone offers two waterslides and a water play feature with a twisting channel that leads to the adult zone where luxury cabanas and the poolside Tower Grill deliver a fresh menu of healthier lunch entrees, small bites and cocktails. Two additional pools including the recently redesigned Oasis pool and private spa pool are also available.
 
A new locally-sourced approach to dining at The Wigwam brings menus across the resort that focus on fresh Arizona ingredients. The new signature restaurant Litchfield’s features farm-to-table dinner fare with menus developed by James Beard award-winning chef Chris Bianco behind the famed Pizzeria Bianco. Anchored by an exhibition-style kitchen that offers a chef’s-eye view of the culinary experience, signature dishes include comfort favorites like Double Check Ranch Chopped Steak with sweet potato spaetzle and trumpet mushroom gravy and Arizona Grilled Trout served with spinach and pecan sage butter. An expansive outdoor patio offers al fresco dining under the stars.
 
Now under ownership of JDM Partners led by sports legend Jerry Colangelo, Colangelo and his partners spent several weeks at the resort talking to guests and locals about what they most enjoy at The Wigwam and things they’d like changed.
 
“The Wigwam is really a special place for a lot of people locally and that visit from across the country,” said Colangelo. “What we’ve done is brought back the history and meaning to the resort and created some of the best amenities the Valley has to offer.”
 
Enhancing opportunities to enjoy Arizona’s celebrated warm weather and clear skies, the new Palm Courtyard outdoor plaza will host live entertainment and offer outdoor lounge seating for the new indoor/outdoor signature bar, The Wigwam Bar. The Wigwam Bar will feature classic cocktails and traditional menu favorites from small bites like house made organic potato chips and entrees like Cheddar Cheese Panini with Duncan Family Farm’s Tomato Soup and Arizona Buffalo Chili.
 
Offering more than 400 acres of fun for all ages, The Wigwam delivers an unparalleled line-up of fun for guests of all ages. Scheduled activities each day range from morning walks and destination experiences with the resort’s Native American cultural interpreter to kids camps and nightly marshmallow roasting, as well as daily tennis programs at the resort’s nine-court tennis facility and golf offerings. Featuring two Robert Trent Jones, Sr. golf courses, golf at the Wigwam is an experience all its own with parkland-style courses that each deliver a unique experience for players of all skill levels. Exciting new golf programming is also now available under direction of The Wigwam’s new Golf Instructor Courtney Mahon. To relax and unwind, the 26,000-square foot Red Door Spa offers a variety of indigenous spa treatments, a fitness center and private spa pool.
 
For more information, visit www.wigwamarizona.com or call (623) 935-3811.
 
About The Wigwam
The Wigwam is one of Arizona’s most iconic resorts, offering an intimate retreat that blends casual elegance with the charm of historic Arizona. A one-of-a-kind resort destination with a spirit all its own, The Wigwam sits on more than 400 acres and features 331 guest casitas including 72 suites surrounded by lush landscaped walkways, fragrant citrus tree-lined enclaves and floral and rose gardens. Offering an unforgettable experience to reconnect and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, the Wigwam is home to the only 54 holes of golf in the Southwest, a signature Red Door Spa and six restaurants offering locally-sourced dining and farm-to-table fare. The Wigwam is located in Litchfield Park, Ariz. in the West Valley of greater Phoenix. For more information, visit www.wigwamarizona.com or call (623) 935-3811.
 
About Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is one of the largest independent hospitality management companies in the country with more than 30 luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers.  DH&R has over 30 years in the Valley of the Sun operating two successful hospitality establishments which include Royal Palms Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in downtown Tempe, and most recently Wigwam Golf Resort & Spa. Destination operates properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe. To protect and preserve the unique communities in which the company operates, Destination launched Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program in 2008.  For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.