Lake of Blue-Green Water

The Natives who lived in the Western region of Arizona referred to the water that flowed down the Colorado River through their lands as Blue-Green.  Blue-Green in their language is Havasu and they were referred to as Havasupai.  So, when the Parker Dam was built in the 1930’s the reservoir of water being held back was called Lake Havasu. 

Bill and Pat wanted to share the experience of Lake Havasu City with us, so we took the ninety minute drive up through Parker to there.  From Parker to Lake Havasu City you are roughly travelling along the Colorado River valley with some sections near the Parker Dam with tall cliffs encroaching on either side of the highway.  This would be why they chose that section of the river to build the dam.  It is quite scenic and I was more interested in looking at the cliffs and crags than taking pictures apparently as I do not have any good ones of the rocks.  I will get some next time as we are taking that route when we start our trip home in a few months.  I did get some pictures of the river and blue-green water, but again, the pictures do not always transfer what your eye sees.

As good as it gets for Blue-Green

Lake Havasu City was developed by Robert McCullogh in 1963 initially as a place to test outboard motors on Lake Havasu.  He clearly had other plans right from the start because his family was known for chainsaws and not outboard motors.  To spur development of the area he built a number of manufacturing plants for chainsaws, and the Wikipedia link above is quite detailed in his backstory and the link to the area.  

Perhaps his biggest and most well known project was the purchase, removal, transport and eventual rebuilding of the London Bridge.  This link describes a lot more than I am going to write about it, but when you see what the results of that purchase and his vision were, of building a city in the desert you can’t help but be impressed.

The walkway that has been created along the waterfront where the bridge is located is lined with trees, is well manicured and a very popular place for locals and tourists alike as it was busy for a cool morning.  There is certainly a different feel when you are in a desert location with water, grass, trees, and a mountain backdrop.  The population is around 56,000 year round but the city has a much larger feel to it and is clearly still growing.  We took a drive north of the city before we returned home and both Bill and Pat commented on the amount of new building that was going and had taken place since their last visit.  You can see why retirees from all over the US would want to come to a place like this.

One other interesting thing about Lake Havasu and not necessarily the city proper, is the presence of 28 replica scaled down lighthouses.  These are lighthouses from the US East Coast, West Coast and Great Lakes.  The one that marks one end of the entrance to the canal that goes under the bridge is the same one we have at home hanging on the wall as a tapestry.

Replica of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, North Carolina

For those readers who have travelled and may be interested in this sort of thing, this particular lighthouse is reminiscent of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, in Jupiter, Florida.  When we boated out of Stuart we would very often pass by that lighthouse on our way up or down the Intra-Coastal Waterway.

While we were in town, for lunch we took the ferry across to the California side of the lake to the Native run casino.  Not nearly as big as the one we saw in St. Louis, but big enough, and I imagine quite busy during the height of tourist season.  You would think that would be just about now, but the casino was nearly empty, so not sure what that means.  But we managed to find a few machines to drop our cash into, and despite the winnings Pat had in St. Louis she could not repeat here.  I was consistent in my losing so we did not come out ahead at all.  It was a fun stop and the lunch was great.

Zeus got his revenge this time

Casino with empty marina.  I am sure it is packed in the summer.

Entrance to London Bridge canal approaching from the lake.