Tucson Staycation
My husband, Ron, and I stayed at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona for a much-needed staycation. The sprawling 241-guest room property is situated at the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Sonoran Desert and a short drive from Sabino Canyon and Saguaro National Park both offering world-class hiking and gorgeous vistas.
Tucson is an unlikely summer vacation destination because of the heat, so the resort was quiet, which allowed us the freedom to explore the property and surrounding desert landscape using the winding gravel trails and washes as our guides. The resort grounds are lush with desert fauna, attracting birds, lizards, rabbits, coyotes, and other wildlife. In the early mornings, camera ready, I scanned the trees and brush for critters. At night, with a book in hand, Ron and I found intimate outdoor spaces where we watched far-off storms build, painting the sky indigo.
The resort was the first of its kind in Tucson. The property was purchased by William and Maria Watson in 1912 just months after Arizona became a state. Architect, Merritt Starkweather, a native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, built the main house, and in 1920, fifteen cottages were added to the property for family and travelers. By the 1940’s, the Westward Look had new owners, Robert and Beverly Nason, who ran it as a dude ranch with horseback riding and steaks cooked over a mesquite fire. In the early 1970’s, the ranch was sold again, and the new proprietor, Jack Hoag, had a different vision for the resort that included an upscale, Southwest experience. In 1972 he opened the Gold Room, a fine dining restaurant that still exists today and is simply called GOLD. It is run by Chef Todd Sicolo, and the food is incredible. Much of it is sourced from the on-site garden, cacti, and pomegranate trees that shade many of the outdoor patios.
On one evening, a bottle of champagne and a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries were delivered to our room. They were from manager Dave Fischer who hoped to see us for dinner at GOLD. We called our friends George and Georgina who live in Tucson to join us. We ate on the patio with a view of the city lights below. A monsoon storm loomed in the distance, while a slight breeze cooled the lingering heat of the day. Georgina ordered a filet and said it was the best she had ever eaten. On our last night, Ron and I spilt a spicy green chile cheeseburger at the resort’s Lookout Bar and Grille while listening to a live band.
My favorite spot to sit and read was the Watsons’ living room, now called the Vigas Room. The giant ceiling beams (vigas) were cut and brought down from Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains 110 years ago and still support the ceiling of the old house. The saffron-painted adobe walls keep the space cool even on hot days, and the original fireplace and wood floor create a warm, homey feel. A large painting of a young, shy Mexican woman adorns one wall while across the room, black and white photos of a bygone era, reminded me places, like people, have stories to share.
I studied the photos closely trying to decipher meaning like an archeologist might examine a shard of pottery on a dig. The sepia tones lulled me into believing life was somehow less complicated back then. Several of the photos are of the property while others are of guests who stayed at the resort in the 40’s and 50’s when the Westward Look was still a dude ranch. Decked out in cowboy hats and bolo ties, men and women stared back at me. I imagined a tether between then and now; something that connected us. I longed to sit among those city cowpokes, sharing cocktails and laughter.
Cristy and Julie
During a morning stroll, I ran into two sisters, Cristy Wolsfeld and Julie Wahl. They were there for the weekend to celebrate family birthdays. They mentioned their mother used to bring them swimming at the resort back in the early 70’s after the family moved from Colorado to Tucson.
“Back then, you could buy a summer swim pass and use the resort’s pool,” Julie said.
Julie had her two dogs with her. I missed ours and reached down to pet them.
“There’s a photo of my mom in the Vigas Room,” Cristy said. “She’s sitting poolside,”
I had wondered about the long-legged beauty. “I know the photo,” I said.
Cristy and Julie’s mother, Nancy Wahl, loved the outdoors and was concerned about the housing developments that were springing up in the area. The sisters recalled their mother going door to door for signatures to create a state park. Her efforts along with others, paid off, and on May 1, 1974, House Bill 2280 was passed designating 13,000 acres in Pima and Pinal counties as Catalina State Park.
Meeting Cristy and Julie was kismet; a reminder that the extraordinary is often found in the ordinary. They are the link to the past; their mother’s story living on through them.
An occasional coat of paint and new carpet help keep up appearances at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, but it is the dedicated staff who are the mortar securing its legacy. It is people like Nancy Wahl who sat poolside, soaking in the desert’s secrets, committing to preserve them. And it is those of us who choose to spend staycations and celebrate birthdays at the resort that breathes new life into William and Maria Watsons’ century-old dream.
