Providing a small-town atmosphere and more casual lifestyle, the original planned residential community of Litchfield Park shares an anniversary with the City of Goodyear. It was 1916 when Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company originally purchased farmland to grow cotton for its tire cords. Paul Litchfield developed the project, and the “company town” he essentially founded still bears his name. Litchfield Park began as the headquarters for Goodyear Farms, an enterprise that cultivated thousands of acres of prime land. Commendably far-sighted, Litchfield Park planners designed a number of self-sufficient residential villages that have formed a strong, positive foundation for today’s record growth.
One of the local highlights is the premier Wigwam Resort Hotel, the four-star jewel that was originally built to accommodate visiting Goodyear executives. The historic Wigwam opened to the public in 1929, quickly establishing itself as a fashionable, exclusive resort. The Tierra Verde business district of Litchfield Park provides a number of services and conveniences that enable residents to enjoy an easily accessible and self-contained community atmosphere. Just west of Litchfield Park, the White Tanks Regional Park is named for the natural rock “water tanks” that were once utilized by Native Americans who lived in this area. Unusual petroglyphs can still be found throughout this 26,000-acre high desert park. Estrella Mountain Regional Park lies to the south of Litchfield, punctuating a serene desert environment with first-rate recreational amenities that include an 18-hole golf course, camp sites, horseback riding trails, hiking opportunities, and picnic areas. Nearby is the Wildlife World Zoo, a veritable “Noah’s Ark” of exotic animals and endangered species. Northeast Phoenix offers big-name entertainment at Cricket Pavilion as well as expanded shopping opportunities at Desert Sky Mall.
