GWRRA's Arizona District existed for as long as the organization itself. Here's the documented timeline, from founding to closure.
The Gold Wing Road Riders Association was founded in 1977 and headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona — putting the organization's home base in the same state as this district from day one. It adopted the motto "Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge."
Local chapters began forming soon after. Chapter D, based in Mesa, organized in October 1978 as the fourth chapter chartered in the state and went on to become one of the district's largest — a pattern repeated as more Arizona communities formed their own chapters over the following decades.
GWRRA grew into what it called the world's largest single-marque social organization for Honda Gold Wing and Valkyrie owners, reporting more than 70,000 members across 53 countries and over 800 active chapters at its peak, run by roughly 4,000 volunteer leaders. Arizona's chapters were part of that network, holding monthly gatherings, rider-education courses, and an annual district rally.
GWRRA's 43rd and final Wing Ding convention was held June 28 – July 2, 2022, in Shreveport, Louisiana. During the opening ceremonies, founders Paul Hildebrand and Shirley Stevens-Garcia announced that the organization would close.
The association officially closed on July 31, 2022, ending Wing World magazine and prorating refunds on prepaid memberships. American Honda, which had supported the club since its founding, issued a statement thanking GWRRA for 45 years tied to the Gold Wing.
Some chapters kept meeting informally; others folded into new riding organizations that formed in GWRRA's wake. See Where the Riders Went for the groups that carried the community forward.