The Closer You Look
Location/Maps
Points of Interest
Community Leaders
Photo Tours
- Around Town
Video
- To SoCal
Videos
- From Las Vegas
Lifestyle Overview
Parker Dam
Lake Havasu
London Bridge
RobertMcCulloch
Growing Community
Our Laid Back Life!
Resources
Cha Bones, The Refuge Clubhouse, Spa St. Geo, and the 2008 Shops at Lake Havasu Town Centre
Emerging as one of the most desirable communities to live in America, what awaits you in Lake Havasu City is far more than you expected, and our exciting future. We’re still a relatively new city compared to most, with a pioneer spirit that accepts new neighbors from all over the world who are attracted to our warm winters, low humidity desert living, our outdoor recreation and Lake Havasu – because of this, we have an unusually broad and diverse population for our size.
Known mostly for our amazing Lake Havasu, many who relocate to our area purchase a boat before deciding on their new home! We’re also a “vacation spot” that welcomes Southern Californians throughout the year who need a break from the “concrete jungle;” “snowbirds” and retirees descend upon our community in winter to enjoy our perfect warm, sunkissed days and cool desert nights.
A small yacht docked at Lake Havasu Marina and the view of Lake Havasu City from the west
photo thanks: L.J. Frink
Kirsten Walker at Mohave Cheer Academy, anchoring
the boat for lunch, and “Teen Break” –
sponsored by our Parks & Recreation, has received national accolades for its “Kid Fun”
National retailers are omnipresent, mixed in
with our Uptown Market with fresh organic produce
shipped in from California
– no worries about shopping here!
And “smaller town” doesn’t necessarily mean “lack of amenities;” unlike a decade ago, our shopping includes boutiques, specialty shops and spas, the large-box retail chains, foreign car dealers, and the 2008 Shops at Lake Havasu town centre has a mega-plex state-of-the art cinema. And for world-class shopping and entertainment, Las Vegas is only about 2 hours away – we make it a day trip!
- Perhaps the most unique thing you will sense about our community is that because this is a relatively new city, we are all “newcomers,” so there is a sense of inclusion and welcome extended to vacationers and new neighbors. Founded in the early 1970s, there isn’t a deep-seeded inner circle of business people or nepotism in families with concentrated businesses. There is true opportunity here for everyone. And Lake Havasu City is trending to continue to welcome new residents from all across North America.
- Don’t underestimate have a beautiful blue sky and sunshine for more than 300 days a year!
- And did we mention no earthquakes, no tornadoes, no mudslides, and no hurricanes!
The closer you look at Lake Havasu City, the more impressive it will be to you. We have a large variety and number of restaurants that cater to our tourism industry, unbelieveable wide-open spaces to play, high-end recreation from The Refuge Golf Club to the elaborate air centers for private pilots. Families have innumerable play choices, and our fantastic Real Estate market can provide your family a country club home or river mansion of your dreams.
Our Location/Maps with Points of Interest:
Western Arizona is growing in popularity for many reasons, from the aging of America (“Baby Boomers”) looking for permanent places to retire to overcrowding and high costs of California are driving their residents here. Our weather is a compelling draw – we offer year-round sun with no snowy winters, and our region is void of “disaster storms.” Our “newness” means there are no “bad parts of town” which are run down and decrepid, and there is a “get in early” vibe as growth initiatives are kicking in our economy and landscape.
Mohave County has a total area of 13,470 square miles and is the 5th largest mainland US county by area/size. From our upper elevations in Kingman – the County Seat, which reach 8,000 feet in elevation and provide us cool relief in the summer (and snow in winter) to our desert mesas, it is a vast, unique geography. The Colorado River forms our western boundary, and California, Nevada and Utah border us. The river also runs east to west through Mohave County, dividing it between two of Arizona's geographic regions, the “Arizona Strip” and the Mojave Desert in the south.
More Detailed Maps with our notes!
In Lake Havasu City, we are far enough away from the problems of major urban centers and their suburbs, but centrally located between Southern California – whose outer reaches include Big Bear and majestic Joshua Tree National Park, both which are within 2.5 hours, and to our east are Phoenix, Prescott, Sedona, the Grand Canyon (and more ski slopes) in about 3 hours. Many of our neighbors own planes which can access all these places in about an hour!
- We are a 2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas – perhaps the world’s entertainment Mecca.
- We are 3 hours from Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the US.
- We are 4 hours from Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US.
You will find all the world-class services you need among these cities, from pro sports, international airports, major theme parks and literally everything in between; we are in the center of it all but don’t live there!
Community Leaders:
"Although Lake Havasu City is known by many
as a ‘retirement’ community, this is an old reference. We have
nearly 7,000 children in our public school system now and the amenities
and new things coming in are not retirement-related at all – from a new
business park, a new university, a 2008 Town Centre mall,
etc."
"There are no real clickish circles. People accept you very easily, and it is extremely easy to get involved. Also, I never have to deal with traffic, very low crime, no smog, and tons of fun events." - Ralph Tapscot
"It’s affordable here, visually stunning, wide open, the people are glad to be here, the quality of life here is far better than any part of California. Folks here actually are friendly. Most of the services one needs are here and those that aren’t are nearby." - Steve Johnston
"All great communities need the Arts. Art, theatre, dance, and music is the icing on the cake of life. In good times and in bad, the arts help us focus our thoughts, escape pressures of reality, and soothe the senses. A town is as good as its Arts – and this is a fabulous community on the rise and growing ours." - Grace Ann Etcheberria-Jacobs
"My commute to work is ten minutes compared to as much as an hour in Minnesota. I also can get off work and head out to the lake within minutes – no long lines at a launch ramp most days. One can also plan on going on an outing and not have to worry about the weather squelching your plans." - Jeff Carlson
"Lake Havasu City is a very giving community. You’ll feel at home instantly." - Steve Greeley
Mark Nexsen
Mayor
Lake Havasu City
Mayor's Welcome
Mike McAndrew
President
Investment Firm
Mike & Wife Kim
Lisa Krueger
Executive Director
Chamber of Commerce
A Busy Chamber
Charles Wood
Tribal Chairman
Chemehuevi Tribe
A Unique Welcome
Ralph Tapscott
Business Leader
Banking/Finance
Steve Johnston
Manager
Lake Havasu Airport
Grace Ann Jacobs
Theatre Owner/Director
Grace Arts Live
Ruth Brydon
Curator/Educator
Museum of History
Jeff Carlson
Flight Instructor
Southwest Flight Services
Dennis Mueller
Fire Chief
Havasu Fire Dept
Steve Greeley
Broadcaster
KJJJ/KNTR
Heather Joyce
Director
United Way
Photo Tours:
Photos from Around Town Our Havasu Vibe – Music Video
The "Way Cool" Drive to SoCal
Parker Dam & Desert
sights
on the way
Getting Here from 'Vegas
World's best entertainment spot
We hope you enjoy selected photos from our community we took while driving around. Palm Springs and Las Vegas are communities we can reach in about 2.5 hours – there’s a lot of desert in between us.
Lifestyle Overview:
At first glance, the desert may look like big, lifeless sandhills, but nothing could be further from the truth! From unusual wildlife, such as Big Horn Sheep to Bobcats, birds to wild burros, and flowers that literally change color at night to attract different insects than during the day, our landscapes are an unusual treat.
Tom Felke at Shugrue’s has prepared another Black Tie event at his location next to the London Bridge
There is a growing “chic” vibe emerging in Lake Havasu City. Yoga and pilates studios are popping up next to boutiques in our Uptown area, which supplement our robust and long-running Performing Arts and Arts organizations.
The amazing Joshua Tree National Park in California or dirt biking unlimited trails – a great day either way!
We are a “get out and play!” community. Joshua Tree National Park will touch your soul when you visit or choose to camp there – it is an ecosystem of thousands of Joshua Trees that grow at an altitude above 2,500 feet on the way to Palm Springs, CA. And sometimes there is nothing better than exploring unlimited trails on dirtbikes with Dad. Summers are hot so you’ll be on the Lake then, but the rest of the year the sunny days and lack of humidity make for very comfortable exploring and outdoor fun. Learn more in Living in Our Area!
The Parker Dam, Lake Havasu, and the London Bridge:
Parker Dam is the deepest in the world and its construction created Lake Havasu
See those water pipes in the photo on right? They are the reason Lake Havasu doesn’t experience drops in its water table like the lakes to our north along the Colorado River. Lake Havasu is virtually always full with desilted water!
At 45 miles long, 648,000 acres and containing nearly 211 billion gallons of water, Lake Havasu is a reservoir resulting from the construction of the Parker Dam between 1934 and 1938 by the US Bureau of Reclamation.
Parker Dam is operated with Hoover (Las Vegas region) and Davis Dam (Laughlin Nevada/Bullhead City, AZ) to bring water and power benefits to residents of the lower Colorado River Basin. Parker Dam is the deepest dam in the world; 73 percent of its structural height of 320 feet is below the water line. 235 feet of the Colorado riverbed was excavated before concrete was placed for the dam's foundation. Only about 85 feet of the dam is visible.
Since 1941, the Colorado River Aqueduct has delivered water from Lake Havasu behind Parker Dam to the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Colorado River Aqueduct is also tapped by the San Diego Aqueduct, which takes water to that city's water system as well.
- Unlike many lakes around the country – it’s a “sure thing” that we will have our amazing, crystal clear Lake Havasu and the Colorado River to enjoy through the year with virtually no drop in water levels! This is due to the signature focus on providing water to Southern California, so Lake Havasu is regulated by the dam system to remain full even during low rain years (see photo and caption above).
The Beginnings of Lake Havasu City
The first landmark of our city, the London Bridge, was brought here and this “English Channel” was dredged
The London Bridge was originally constructed in London in 1831. By 1962, the bridge was not structurally sound enough to support the increased load created by the level of modern traffic crossing it, and it was sold by the city to Robert McCulloch, who was chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation among many of his business interests, which also included chain saws as well as boat motors. While it is rumored McCulloch was attracted to Lake Havasu as it was large enough to provide consistent flat water to test his company’s motors, most believe McCulloch was interested in developing a major retirement Mecca. He was purported to have purchased the bridge to serve as a tourist attraction. The idea was successful, bringing interested tourists and retirement home buyers to the area. A “channel” was dredged into what was once a peninsula to form an island. The McCulloch family is still in our area and a main thoroughfare is named in Mr. McCulloch’s honor. Learn more in History and More Facts.
Considering a Career? Then you had better consider the Economy!
Gary Kellogg, President and CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development (top with friends on Lake Havasu, and below with Airport Manager Steve Johnston), and on right are Jo Navaretta with Bill Ullery – the man whose dream to bring a four year university to Lake Havasu City, which is now a reality, of the Havasu Foundation for Higher Education
In Schools and Colleges, you will find either NAU or Arizona State University is moving to Lake Havasu City, and in Economy/Growth Study our Economic Development Board is wooing a number of distribution companies and other industry with support from our capable airport and many partners, to pad ready locations in a new business park.
Lake Havasu City is built into a sloping hillside so we have this view of Lake Havasu from virtually all streets – Lake Havasu is always on our mind and promotes a “laid back vacationland vibe” that we cherish!
Resources/Websites:
www.lhcaz.gov
www.springbergmcandrew.com
www.golakehavasu.com
www.havasuchamber.com
www.chemehuevi.net
www.lhcaz.gov/csd/airport/airport.html
www.graceartslive.com
www.havasumuseum.com
Learn to Fly/Flight Tours – Jeff Carlson: azairborn@gmail.com
www.lhcaz.gov/fire/fireAdministration.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KJJJ [Country]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KNTR [News/Talk]
www.rivercitiesunitedway.org
www.havasumagazine.com/history_of_lake_havasu_city.htm
www.lakehavasu.org
www.myspace.com/visitlakehavasu
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