Westward Look Resort has been a Southwestern destination that reflects all the best assets of the desert, coupled with outstanding service and unique opportunities to discover an iconic property that dates to the infancy of Arizona.
Westward Look Resort musts:
- The Palm Restaurant’s tender fish taco and elote
- Fountain of Youth facial at Sonoran Spa
- Desert walking tour (see citrus, kumquat and palm trees, lavender and more!)
When WIlliam and Maria Watson purchased the 172-acre plot of land in Northwestern Tucson in 1912, they were building their dream home. Little did they know they were establishing the foundation for one of the most celebrated resorts in Arizona. The Watsons built 15 guest cottages on the property in 1920 and it became a first-of-its-kind dude ranch.
After the Watsons, new owner Robert H. Nason bought the property and in 1948, his wife Beverly Nason named the property Westward Look Resort. RKO film studio owned the property in the 1980s and 1990s, and in 2012, Westward Look became a Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa property.
Today, generations of previous visitors return to Westward Look with their families, and new guests discover the property that has so much Southwestern history and charm, coupled with all the comforts and amenities of a world-class resort.
The Room
In one of the most adorable approaches to Southwestern hospitality, visitors may find a cleverly created desert tortoise made of twisted towels, perched on the bed as a welcome mascot of sorts.
The beautifully appointed junior suite room we stayed in, included tasteful artwork that perfectly complemented the surrounding Sonoran Desert, on-site walking trails, a spacious private balcony overlooking a grassy terrace and nearby pool, a large bathroom and an impossibly comfortable bed and down pillows.
The way that the property is laid out gives a unique “terraced” structure to the rooms that span the resort. Guests will enjoy walking the entire property and admiring the thoughtful construction of the rooms and buildings, built so that they complimented the original homestead and structures.
A special tour at Westward Look
One on-site experience is truly unique, and not to be missed! Raymundo Ocampo, landscape manager at Westward Look gives an incredible tour of the plants, trees, bushes and cacti that wind from one side of Westward Look to the other. The hour-long tour is unlike any other, as Ocampo enthusiastically and proudly displays the wide variety of plant life that grows there under his watchful eye.
During the tour, guests can experience first-hand – citrus, kumquat and palm trees, lavender, a variety of desert trees, aloe, herbs, stately saguaros, barrel cactus, pomegranate trees, sage, rosemary and most interestingly, a plant called the paz de Cristo. When a branch is cut, the plant instantaneously “bleeds” red sap. Ocampo also teaches at the nearby University of Arizona, and his passion for plants and greenery is infectious.
Ocampo also pointed out several water features during the tour that he had built over the last several years. Desert wildlife can often be glimpsed drinking and relaxing around Ocampo’s water creations.
The Sonoran Spa
Building on the unique tour provided by Ocampo, it was exciting to experience some of the botanicals and herbs from the spa’s Wellness Garden that are used in various facial and body treatments. One of the signature treatments at Sonoran Spa is the Monthly Wellness Garden Scrub that changes seasonally to reflect the plants and herbs that are currently growing. The treatment lasts a blissful 80-minutes and is a perfect way to refresh your skin, no matter the season.
I was able to enjoy a Fountain of Youth facial featuring natural antioxidants, minerals and phyto-hormones, coupled with soothing steam and soft music. A lip and eye treatment topped off the relaxing facial and I was completely rejuvenated at the end of the 80-minute facial.
Other spa services include an Herbal Detoxification Wrap, nail care and enhancements, waxing services, reflexology, a variety of massages and facials and more.
Dining
The Palm Restaurant is a reimagining of The Gold Room, the iconic elegant restaurant that has long been a part of Westward Look’s history. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there is plenty of light and bright space to dine inside but we opted to eat on the outside covered patio, which gives lots of opportunity to enjoy the weather, beautiful landscaping and singing birds.
Sous Chef Jay Spearing is evolving the menu to include some new taste surprises while keeping some of the classics on the menu, too. “Sometimes, I just want to have a burger!” explains Spearing with a laugh. “I try to balance out everything.”
Spearing trained at the New England Culinary Institute in Burlington, Vermont where he primarily trained in French cooking, although Southwestern inspired cooking now has his full attention. At The Palm Restaurant, he has created offerings such as a deliciously tender fish taco and an elote. Another outstanding dish is the citrus crusted salmon complimented with roasted heirloom potatoes, charred Brussels sprouts and bacon.
Catalina Riding Club
In what will inevitably be the highlight of anyone’s visit to Westward Look, horseback riding opportunities are plentiful, and Catlina Riding Club is a mere three-minute walk from the property. We recommend a fun one-hour trail ride that meanders past the resort and through the adjacent desert.
The staff is wonderful with all ability levels of riders and there are 60 or 90-minute rides available. Those riders with more experience can choose a two, three or four-hour horseback ride to additional sites at Sabino Canyon, Catalina State Park Rillito River or Saguaro National Park.
For additional information, room rates and special events, visit the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa website.