I had never heard of Lake Havasu before my brother took me there while in Arizona. And when he told me that we were going to see the London Bridge, I got confused. Somehow, I could not find the connection between London and Arizona.
I later learned that Lake Havasu is dubbed as “Arizona’s Playground.” It is situated in Mohave County in the western part of the state, and though it is geographically isolated from the other counties, it is a favourite vacation place for many people owing to its more-than-300-days of sunshine per year and its tranquil waters, rugged mountains, dining scene, and sports facilities.
As for the bridge, it is the real deal. The city’s developer, American businessman Robert P. McCulloch, bought this bridge from the City of London (yes, the one in England) for 2.5 million dollars when this bridge was replaced by a new one in 1968. So, not only is it an authentic English bridge, but it is actually the original London Bridge.
Lake Havasu was once an Army Corps rest camp during the Second World War. But Mr. McCulloch saw the potential and began developing the area. He purchased 3,353 acres on the east side of the lake (which is today’s “island”), and after four years of city planning, bought another 13,000 of federal land in the surrounding area. In 1963, Lake Havasu City was established as a legal entity, and in 1978, it was incorporated into Mohave County.
In order to attract prospective buyers of residential lands, and hopefully tourists as well, Mr. McCulloch thought it would be a good idea to install something of historical interest. It is not clear why he had thought of the London Bridge, but maybe it was a matter of timing. Maybe he heard that London was replacing their bridge and he made a deal with them to acquire it (because come to think of it, what would London do with the old one anyway?). Thus, the old bridge was disassembled from the Thames River, marked one by one, shipped to Lake Havasu, and reassembled. It took three years to complete and all the work costed him another seven million dollars.
Now, the old London Bridge proudly stands over the narrow channel that leads from Lake Havasu (which is actually a segment of the Colorado River) to Thompson Bay. And if there are doubts to its authenticity, just look closely and you will see its battle scars from the Second World War on its surface. Since its inauguration in 1971, it has become the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon. Imagine that!
More recently, they have added a piece of one of London's iconic symbols - the red telephone booth - at the foot of the bridge. The British flag also flies proudly atop the British, alongside the American flag.
But Lake Havasu offers more than the presence of the bridge. It has become a prime spot for boating and has hosted boat regattas and jet ski races. It has also expanded its market to professional fishing tournaments, pyrotechnic conventions, beer festivals, triathlon events, and balloon fairs. Lately, it has also become a destination for university students during spring break, and for retirees coming from colder regions in the United States (and even Canada) during the winter months.
We were there only for a pit stop. After taking pictures of the bridge, we walked around the Rotary Community Park, which is the largest public park with a beach in the area. It is where locals and visitors hang out to swim, sunbathe, jet ski, sail, play volleyball, skate, jog, or just have a nice picnic or barbecue. We saw several sailboats moored there and there were fountains and sprinklers for cooling off. Then we followed the Shoreline Trail to see the golf courses and beaches nearby, before stopping for drinks near the Visitors’ Centre. I couldn't help but notice how they have tried to create an English vibe around the area.
My brother said that there’s lot more to do in Lake Havasu. The area has amazing trails, both for hikers and bikers. One can also engage in bird watching as the area has more than 350 indigenous species of birds and the city also hosts the oldest birdwatching event in North America. They have museums and aquatic centres as well.
I was surprised to find out that they have lighthouses galore – in fact, 27 miniature replicas of famous lighthouses in the world. This city in the desert has the greatest number of lighthouses in any city in the entire country (even more than the maritime cities in New England).
Why would a desert city be interested in lighthouses? They seem out-of-place here. But apparently, this lighthouse collection started in 2000 when a group of concerned citizens thought something needed to be done to improve night-time navigation in Lake Havasu. Someone thought of lighthouses, the others agreed, and then they went crazy!
And speaking of lights, when Mr. McCulloch designed the city, he purposely left the streets with no streetlights to let the skies light up the city at night instead. After all, they do get clear night skies more-than-300-days a year. At present, the city still tries to minimize the lights, making it a perfect place to go stargazing, whether one is just stepping out of his front door, or venturing further into the desert. One will become instant friends with the Milky Way or be treated to a regular display of shooting stars in this part of the world.
This is what I like about road trips. You discover new places that you won’t get to know otherwise when you simply fly in. And you learn something new everyday. That day, I learned that there is a piece of London in the middle of the desert in Arizona!
Photo Credits:
lakehavasuboattours.com, lakahavasumagazine.com, Niki D’Andrea (lovinlife.com), golakehavasu.com, destinationsdetoursdreams.com
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