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Angel McNall Photography Shutterstock
See Havasu light up during the Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair on January 18-21, 2024, or take a flight yourself on a personal tour.
Words by Dennis Begin
My love of Lake Havasu City started with an invitation to visit my uncle. He moved here from Los Angeles, CA, so he could work for Robert P. McCulloch, who bought the London Bridge and then delivered it from the U.K. and erected it in the area.
We spent considerable time with our family exploring this part of the Sonoran Desert. Our sightseeing ranged from Laughlin’s casinos in the north to Parker, AZ, in the south. We quickly realized there was much more to experience in the region than just a bridge.
Lake Havasu City is located on the Colorado River, which borders Nevada, Arizona and California. The city, or ‘Havasu’ as it’s called locally, has a population of 57,000. During your visit, you’ll first appreciate the common warm, dry weather. Although temperatures can be as low as 7℃ (44℉) in the winter, it gets as hot as 43℃ (109℉) during the summer. It rains occasionally with storms coming off the Pacific Ocean.
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Photo Courtesy of the Arizona Office of Tourism
The London Bridge was purchased by Robert P. McCulloch and was dedicated at its current location in 1971. It’s the second most popular tourist attraction in Arizona
Havasu is Ready to Host
The city has an abundance of restaurants, shops, service stations and RV dealers. A large mall is located off US 95 N with the usual big box stores. Seven major food chains serve the city, but there is a wide variety of ethnic restaurants, such as Casa Serrano (Mexican) and Angelina’s Kitchen (Italian).
Lake Havasu has eight RV parks, ranging from BLM campsites to full-service resort-style facilities. My favourite is Havasu Falls RV Resort along US 95 N. Immaculate and modern, there are 129 sites - many big-rig friendly - and a variety of amenities.
Other options include Islander Resort Lake Havasu, Campbell Cove RV Resort, and Cattail Cove State Park. There are also 22 hotels and resorts as well as vacation rentals. Regardless of where you stay, it’s recommended to reserve well before your arrival.
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Tim Roberts Photography Shutterstock
Once settled at an RV park, the options to enjoy the outdoors and water-based activities include:
- Boat-Only Beauty
Topock Gorge. This natural attraction is known as a ‘miniature Grand Canyon’ consisting of colourful steep rocks, canyon walls and even sand beaches. It is part of the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and has an abundance of wildlife.
- Visit S.A.R.A Park
This Special Activities Recreation Area (S.A.R.A) is a 445 ha (1,100 ac) hiking and mountain biking park. If you’re up to the challenge, Crack in the Mountain Trail to Balance Rock Cove is a 5.5 km (3.5 mi) moderate hike through a slot canyon. It’s an active recreational hub with a dog park, disc golf course, remote-controlled field, BMX and dirt bike track, a Speedway, an outdoor gun range and ballfields.
Establishing and Building a City
What most people don’t know is that Lake Havasu City was also founded by McCulloch. Before his arrival, Havasu was only a footnote to the rest and relaxation that soldiers enjoyed along the shorelines during World War II.
In 1963, McCulloch purchased 67 sq km (26 sq mi) of desert and set out to build a city. The city planner, C.V. Wood was recruited from Disneyland. With deep pockets, McCulloch built what was needed and services ranged from a medical clinic to a golf course. Further promotion of the area was accomplished by flying in potential buyers for lots and residences.
Dennis Begin
Havasu Springs on Lake Havasu.
Constructing the London Bridge
When McCulloch decided to buy the London Bridge, it was sinking into the River Thames and available for purchase. Between dismantling the bridge, transporting it to California, trucking it to Havasu and then re-assembling the bridge, it was an engineering miracle.
The dredging of the Bridgewater Channel was the final step to allow water to flow below the arches. An English Village was developed (that still exists) with a variety of shops and restaurants. The bridge was dedicated on October 10, 1971, and remains the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona next to the Grand Canyon.
Rounding out the attractions are several annual events including the Winterfest Street Festival (February 3-4, 2024); Bluegrass on the Beach Music Festival (annually on the first weekend of March); Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair (January 18-21, 2024), Lake Havasu City Boat Parade of Lights (December 9, 2023) and of course, the 52nd Annual London Bridge Days Parade (October 28, 2023).
Dennis Begin
Lake Havasu is a large reservoir that was created by the Parker Dam on the Colorado River.
Havasu Community Events and Places to See
- London Bridge Swap Meet
Held every Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm from September to May.
- Rotary Community Park at the beachfront
www.golakehavasu.com/rotary-community-park
- Lake Havasu Museum of History
- Dylan's Dog Park (at SARA Park)
Parker Attractions
- The BlueWater Resort and Casino
Enjoy the beaches, gaming, dining, and renovated accommodations. This is Arizona’s only gaming resort on the river. There are 200 recently renovated rooms - all with great views of the water - and many gaming and reasonably-priced dining options. The Blue Water RV Park, a separate enterprise of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, is adjacent to the resort.
- The Desert Bar (Nellie E. Saloon) in the Buckskin Mountains
Open from the first weekend in October thru the last weekend in April.
- Emerald Canyon Golf Course
An 18-hole par 72 Championship Course with full amenities.
More RVing Options in Parker
While visiting Lake Havasu City, it is easy to enjoy Parker, AZ, 61 km (38 mi) to the south. Both border the Colorado River and are connected by US 95. A mecca for RVers, the community has 17 RV Parks and the Parker Strip (along the lower Colorado River) is popular for rafting, tubing, water skiing and kayaking.