History of Lake Havasu City
Arizona's West Coast.
Located in Arizona, Lake Havasu, "America's Home for the London Bridge", has earned the reputation as the outdoor recreation Mecca of the Southwest. Blessed by an ideal climate, captivating scenery, beautiful yet rugged mountains, tranquil desert and the azure waters of the Colorado River, Lake Havasu's 45-mile long lake is a nautical oasis of natural beauty in an Old West atmosphere.
However you like your excitement on the water, you will be sure to find it in Lake Havasu City: from soaring 300 ft. above the lake on a parasail to skimming across the water on a jet ski; from crashing across the waves in a speed boat to riding the wake on water skis.
If relaxation is the priority there are sailboats, pontoon boats and canoes for rent. And for the ultimate in luxury and convenience on the water, cruise the lake aboard a houseboat. Tour boat options offer visitors narrated trips around the island or a jet boat cruise through scenic Topock Gorge with its dramatic red rock formations.
Lake Havasu's deep water fringed with coves and inlets, provides ideal fishing conditions for Striped Bass, Blue Gill, Crappie, Catfish and Black Bass. Fishing is good all year long offering something for everyone, from fly fishing to trolling and everything in between.
While the lure of Lake Havasu's 45-miles of cool, blue water draws countless visitors to Arizona's west coast, the desert surrounding the City offers its own fascination. There are several options for exploring the area: free desert walks, hikes to Crossman Peak, 4-wheels off-road tours into the desert to visit abandoned gold mines and ghost towns, and tour options to Planet Ranch and to the nearby western town of Oatman. If Vegas action appeals, free bus tours depart daily from Lake Havasu to nearby Laughlin, Nevada.
There is a bit of merry olde England spanning the channel in Lake Havasu. The London Bridge was purchased by industrialist Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. who founded Lake Havasu City in 1964, at a cost of $2,460,000.
The Bridge was painstakingly dismantled in London, each stone coded, shipped to Arizona and reconstructed according to the original blueprints. Nestled beneath the bridge a quaint English Village lines the tree covered promenades, with shops and restaurants.
Explore the city and enjoy all the amenities Lake Havasu City has to offer vacationers. Over twenty resort and hotel/motels, and condo style properties, with over 1500 rooms offer vacationers a choice of accommodations. Campers and RVers, too, may choose from a variety of water front options. Browse through the shops, boutiques and factory outlets; golf at one of four inviting and challenging public golf courses; play tennis or take a scenic walk. At days end there are a wide variety of restaurants to delight any palate. Dine and dance; take in a show or play; square dance or enjoy a concert. Lake Havasu boasts an interesting varied calendar of events to spice up the year. Lake Havasu is proud of the endless variety of people pleasing activity both recreational and cultural that permeates the city.
The same quality of life that attracts millions of visitors to Lake Havasu each year and has enticed approximately 39,000 people from all walks of life, all parts of the country and from around the world to make Lake Havasu City their home.
Fast becoming a hub for industrial development and economic opportunity, it is exciting to be part of a growing, vital, planned community with excellent medical facilities, schools, and churches. Lake Havasu is a city with a unique rhythm in a state that brims with diversity ... small town charm with big city opportunities!