The Wigwam salutes Luke Air Force Base on their 75th Anniversary

West Valley neighbors share long and storied past worth celebrating

In honor of their 75th anniversary, The Wigwam owners, management and staff would like to say happy birthday and congratulations to their neighbor, Luke Air Force Base (LAFB) and look back on their many years together, including the forging of a wartime partnership.

“The Wigwam and Luke Air Force Base were established back when both our outposts were surrounded by cotton fields and tumbleweeds,” said Greg Gooding, General Manager and Area Managing Director at The Wigwam. “Today we’re surrounded by freeways and a bustling metropolis, and yet our connection is as strong as ever. We of The Wigwam celebrate Luke’s special day and to 75 more years of friendship and support.”

The Wigwam, in operation for more than 86 years, is steeped in history and award-winning traditions. A big part of that history has been the strong, multifaceted relationship with Luke Air Force Base.

Luke Airfield was established in 1941 as a training site for conventional fighter aircrafts. During World War II, Luke graduated more than 12,000 fighter pilots from advanced and operational courses and surpassed one million hours of flying time making the largest fighter training base in the Army Air Forces. Many residents even called Luke “Home of the Fighter Pilot” and point to it as a matter of civic pride.

Meanwhile, The Wigwam had expanded from its original nine holes of golf and 24 guest rooms in 1929 to 18 holes and 110 guest rooms in 1941. Despite their expansion, The Wigwam saw a greater calling for their growing guest ranch. For the entirety of World War II, The Wigwam leased all of its 110 guest rooms to house military personnel training at Luke, providing the comforts of home for these brave pilots before they set out to defend the United States of America.

“Honoring and supporting our troops has always been a huge part of The Wigwam’s philosophy,” said Tom O’Malley, Chief Operating Officer at JDM Partners. “There is no greater example than what happened here during World War II.”

Today, that devotion to support military lives on as The Wigwam hosts The Patriot All-America – a collegiate golf tournament which honors fallen soldiers with commemorative golf bags. The “trophy bag” for this tournament commemorates Frank Luke, the namesake for LAFB.

For more information on The Wigwam, visit www.wigwamarizona.com or call 623.935.3811 or 800.327.0396. Connect on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.