Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
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2 Reviews for Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa
77
38
'11, '12
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"The destination is a cultural journey"
It might be easy to overlook the cultural significance of this resort property.
I almost did.
In my eagerness to book a hotel with tourist opportunities for my family, like an Old West Town with gunfights and a water slide at the pool, I almost skipped right over the incredible history and significance of the Hohokam Peoples and their special relationship to the surrounding land. They they were silenced for over a hundred years until their water rights battle could be won in 2004. Now we are privileged to hear their stories while watching water babble over rocks in the canals again.
I’m so glad I looked deeper to discover that The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is actually owned by the Gila River Indian Community who chose Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to manage the property in keeping with the sincere desire to educate the public on the culture and heritage of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. The resort is a hub for celebrating and sharing their culture with visitors to the beautiful area marked by open lands with wild horses, canals, vibrant desert flora and fauna and views of the Estrella Vista Mountains. You will feel welcomed by the location and the excellent service.
A story to tell
Historically, the Pima and Maricopa tribes were hospitable and friendly farmers, welcoming settlers and transforming a hostile territory into a temporary sanctuary. I felt a sense of peacefulness from the moment we drove through the front entrance off Wild Horse Pass Boulevard and wound our way along the canal to meet the dusty rose resort rising from the desert. The bustling freeway in Phoenix lay behind us. Resort life lay ahead of us. It was like we crossed an invisible threshold. The resort seems to breathe. It draws you indoors for the cool and tranquil sounds of the waterfall splashing beyond a rock wall down to the lower lobby. However, any time you are inside, you feel pulled outward to hear the birds chirping and be near the water.
The grandparents joined us at the hotel and were already in their room when we arrived. We heard they got a very thorough introduction to the culture and land from the bellman. I felt a little sad that we’d chosen self-parking instead of having our bags walked up to the room.
I quickly discovered the Pima are famous for their basketry and the Maricopa are noted for their pottery. The two wings of the hotel pay tribute to each tribe’s artistry. We stayed in the Pima wing. It looked like a normal hotel room, but on closer inspection I noticed a Pima basket pattern in the shape of a whirlwind imprinted on the sliding glass door to our patio. The cornices above the slider displayed the splendor of saguaro ribs lined up vertically in a row to complement the room’s natural desert ambiance. Throughout our stay, I was drawn to the photograph hanging in our room of a Pima mother standing by a massive chest high basket with a child and kitten looking up at her as she worked.
The room
The room was spacious with a separate tub and also a stand up shower. We had two double beds. The closet was a little on the small side, but we weren’t staying long. It was great to have adjoining rooms with my parents. My parent’s had one king bed and that room had a little more room for a crib or Pack-and-Play, but we could have just moved some furniture to fit it in our room. The patio had amazing sunrise and sunset views of the mountains. It had enough room for a small bistro table and a bench.
If you have little ones, you could request a room on the small lawn off the bottom floor Pima wing rooms. I’d definitely hold out for mountain view rooms. As you walk the hallways and wander the lobby, you’ll find all sorts of interpretive signs labeling the artwork and explaining the Pima language signs which line the hallways near the meeting rooms.
The pool
The resort features four sparkling swimming pools with cascading waterfalls and a water slide designed after the ancient Casa Grande Ruins. The kids loved the simple water slide. It was manageable enough for my 5 year old to ride it by herself and swim to the side in the landing pool. Our pool outings did require us to pool hop with the kids. They would take a dip in the 3 foot pool, then jump into the 5 foot pool with fountains, then take a couple trips down the slide. Then we’d start our rotation all over again. There was a large beach entry pool, but we were told that was the adult pool. The pool at the Aji Spa is exclusively for adults.
Interpretive Trail
The Interpretive Trail shows the juxtaposition of the desert with the water. The Gila River replica trickles by the dry dirt trail. Tons of signs revealing the cultural history and flora of the Gila River Indian Community can be found along the trail. Building the trail was a three year project. My husband and dad took a walk on the trail in the morning, before the day heated up. I loved the photos they brought back with cactus reflecting in the water.
Rawhide Western Town (and Steakhouse)
This place was incredible! But so was the mode of transportation to get there. We just hopped aboard a little Duffy electric boat and were transported via the waterway leading to Rawhide. This is a HUGE deal for little kids. Heck! It was a huge deal for me. How fun to ride a boat to a Western Town. We enjoyed an evening of entertainment and good food accompanied by good music.
The food
Checking out Sheraton’s website to see menus from all the eating options is probably your best bet. We liked the Hanyo Poolside Bar & Grill or the lower Lobby Bar because they were easiest with kids in tow. Vasip is the place for morning coffee and muffins. Make reservations at Ko’Sin for the Sunday buffet brunch since there isn’t a lot of seating space. The fanciest restaurant there is the highly-rated Kai Restaurant. I wish we would have figured out that the Whirlwind Golf Club’s Sivlik Restaurant serves breakfast. The menu looks delicious and the prices reasonable.
So much more
With all my go-to babysitters on the trip, I got to take advantage of a spa treatment at Aji Spa. The Blue Coyote Body Wrap was a heavenly! The whole spa treatment was the best one I’ve ever experienced. It was super relaxing and you get access to the rest of the spa facilities for the whole day of your treatment! There’s a golf course and horseback riding available, too.
For kids ages 5-12, there’s a Sheraton Adventure Club where they do some really fun activities all over the property. Just look on the "Special Packages" section of their website to see what's available when you book your room. I know they are doing a LEGO Experience package and Cultural Scene Investigators (CSI) - for Summer 2011.
Absolutely everything from the décor to the activities to the food has a cultural component and story relating back to the Pima and Maricopa heritage. I felt honored to get to know this unknown (to me) part of American history. I felt peaceful and relaxed for the whole trip and it carried over when we got home as I remembered the beautiful views and birdsong. Those desert birds can be noisy! My little 5 year old cried when we left. She had such a good time! My 9 year old wants to return to Rawhide for his birthday. It’s a bit of a drive, but we just might do a repeat if he doesn’t change his mind by then.
This review is based on a complimentary stay at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. I received no other compensation besides: the hotel stay, breakfast and dinner at Ko'Sin Restaurant, a visit to Rawhide Western Town, and a spa treatment at Aji Spa. The hotel did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
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"No wow factor for kids"
This was a great hotel for adults. It is nice and quiet...not very crowded. Especially with the spa, golf course and the casino on grounds. The room was nice. The pool is good for the kids, but no big wow factor. The price is a little high for what you get. It doesn't give a very family friendly vibe. There are better options for a family fun spacation.
Location.
This Chandler spa resort is located in the mountains, near Rawhide
Western Town. Additional local attractions include Grady Gammage
Memorial Auditorium.
Features.
Dining options at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa include
a restaurant and a bar/lounge. Room service is available 24 hours a
day. Recreational amenities include a golf course. Also located on
site are an outdoor pool, a spa tub, a sauna, and a fitness
facility. The property's full service health spa has
massage/treatment rooms and beauty services. This 4.0 star property
has a business center and offers meeting rooms for small groups,
audio visual equipment, and business services. High speed Internet
access is available in public areas. This Chandler property has
event space consisting of banquet facilities, conference rooms, a
ballroom, and exhibit space. Wedding services and tour assistance
are available. Additional property amenities include a poolside
bar, valet parking, and a concierge desk.
Guestrooms.
There are 500 guestrooms at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort &
Spa. Guestrooms have balconies. Beds come with premium bedding.
Coffee/tea makers and minibars are offered. Bathrooms feature
separate bathtubs and showers, makeup/shaving mirrors, bathrobes,
and complimentary toiletries. In addition to complimentary
newspapers, guestrooms offer multi line phones with voice mail.
Televisions have pay movies. Air conditioned rooms also include
desks, blackout drapes/curtains, electronic check out, and
electronic/magnetic keys. Guests may request a turndown service,
refrigerators, and hypo allergenic bedding. Housekeeping is
available. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds are available on
request.
Check-In: 4 PM
Check-Out: Noon
Number of Rooms: 500
Number of Suites: 0
Pets: yes
Recreational Facilities:
Fitness Facility
Services:
In house Restaurant
In house Bar
Room Service
High Speed Internet
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