Arizona : Lake Havasu City
Arizona : Lake Havasu City
It’s on the popular shores of Lake Havasu City, a desert town located in northwest Arizona where summertime temperatures routinely soar above 110°F. Although the lake was created in 1938 by the construction of Parker Dam, the town was not established until 1963. Then, in the late 60s, business magnate Robert P. McCulloch dreamed up the extraordinary idea of bringing the London Bridge to Arizona.
At the time, the famous British landmark was deteriorating and slowly sinking into the Thames River from heavy vehicular use. In a bold attempt to save this bit of history, the bridge was put on the market for sale to the highest bidder. McCulloch saw his chance and snapped it up for $2.4 million dollars.
In the early 1970s, the bridge was taken apart, transported to America and reassembled on Lake Havasu – literally brick by brick. Four-digit numbers are still visible on many of the blocks. By the mid-1980s, tourists began flocking to Lake Havasu City to see the bridge and enjoy the now flourishing recreational areas. Today, the town is a desert oasis populated with resorts, eclectic restaurants, golf courses and botanical gardens. From Phoenix, take I-10 west to Arizona 95, then drive north to Lake Havasu City. From Las Vegas, drive US 93 south to Kingman, then I-40 to Arizona 95 south to the city.
