Nestled in the heart of one of Phoenix’s most prestigious neighbourhoods, the storied Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is more than a destination resort – for singles, couples, families, friends – it’s a cherishable experience not to be missed.
BILTMORE BEAUTIFUL
For my wife and I, a visit to the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa always harkens to a homecoming. Over the years, we’ve created lifetime memories here – celebrating the arrival of Christmas with good friends; hosting my parents for a surprise stay during the beautiful Arizona springtime; numerous weekend getaways of reflection and romance.
Yet while our experiences at the Biltmore are many and we hold them dear, I humbly accept them as infinitesimal in the grand scheme of this majestic, 39-acre property where history has been made time and again.
In 1929, chewing gum baron William Wrigley Jr. created the Biltmore as a desert retreat to host friends and family. In a ballroom that formerly served as the resort’s restaurant, a table was always set and ready, awaiting Wrigley’s arrival should he happen by.
The gold leaf on the original ballroom and lobby ceilings is second only in scope to the ceiling of the Taj Mahal. Perhaps it is, in part, these royal beginnings that have drawn celebrities here for generations.
Every U.S. president since Herbert Hoover has stayed here. Former first couple Ron and Nancy Reagan, as well as iconic film stars including Clark Gable, honeymooned at the Biltmore. And on the deck of the fabled Catalina pool – said to be Marilyn Monroe’s favourite – Irving Berlin penned White Christmas.
Can you imagine? When you’re here, you certainly can. Moreover, you can feel the history and this classic property’s pervasive energy. No wonder these surroundings inspired entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli and, more recently, Billy Joel to delight guests with impromptu performances in the resort’s lounge.
For all its pedigree, however, one of the things that makes this property truly special is its genuine, welcoming nature. Here, you are as apt to see grandparents and their grandchildren playing checkers and chess outdoors with giant game pieces, as you are to witness – or be a part of – an elegant white tie affair. Providing a stunning backdrop to the Biltmore’s Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture is the rugged, Phoenix Mountain Preserve.
All told, the sprawling property boasts 738 guest accommodations, including 78 one- and two-bedroom villas. Be as visible or as discreet as you wish – there’s plenty of room to hideaway and play. The grounds feature eight swimming pools, seven tennis courts, an 18-hole putting course and – naturally – a fullservice spa, a must-do activity to complete any Biltmore stay.
Need to work off last night’s dinner? Visit the fitness centre, or perhaps hit the links. The adjacent Arizona Biltmore Country Club’s 18-hole
courses – The Links and The Adobe – are PGA classics. Love to shop? The luxurious, independently owned and operated Biltmore Fashion Park is a stone’s throw from the resort.
Late at night, give in to temptation and linger over a fine cigar, aperitif and conversation around the large fire pits just outside the bar at the foot of the inner garden courtyard. The cozy lounge chairs and scent of gently burning aromatic pinion and mesquite woods are divine.
Like other aspects of the resort, these clean-burning fire pits are new. Perhaps the Biltmore’s ongoing commitment to renewal is another aspect of its longevity and eternal youthfulness. It seems each time we visit we notice the upgrades. Some, like the elegant redesign of the lobby bar and Wright’s fine dining restaurant, represent multimilliondollar investments.
These days, with Canada’s weather steadily giving way to winter, I shouldn’t be surprised to feel that familiar tug enticing us back. Oh to awake on a sunny weekday morning and, rather rush to start another day, I will pick up the phone and dial room service. Fresh fruit, coffee and a divine selection of breads will be here shortly, delivered in classic Biltmore style – on a bicycle cart. Now that’s rich.
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