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It was the lake that brought Robert P. McCulloch,
Sr. to western Arizona in 1958. He was flying over the Southwest looking
for a outboard motor testing site when he spotted Lake Havasu, which was
formed when Parker Dam was completed 1938. McCulloch landed his plane at
the abandoned Army Air Corps landing strip and rest camp which had been
constructed on the eastern shores of Lake Havasu during World War II. He
determined this was the ideal spot to set up his testing station for his
outboard motors, so he purchased this 3500 acres of land at Pittsburg
Point which is still known as Site Six.
In 1964, McCulloch purchased 26 square miles of property in western
Arizona (at a cost of $73.47 per acre) which was to become Lake Havasu
City. It was the largest single tract of land ever sold in the state.
At the time, there were no buildings or paved roads in the area. Mr.
McCulloch built a 100-unit mobile home park at Site Six to house his
workers. The Best Western and the Nautical Inn were the first motels.
There was no post office, no radio or even TV. Gradually, businesses
came and homes were built.
When the London Bridge was put up for auction by the City of London, Mr.
McCulloch needed a bridge
to link the mainland of Lake Havasu City with an island that would be
formed by dredging a channel to Thompson Bay to help with the bay's
water quality.
McCulloch placed the winning bid for the London Bridge in 1968, which
was $2,460,000. How did he arrive at this
figure? The first question was how much it would cost London to cut the
granite so it could be used again. The figure McCulloch and C.V. Wood,
Jr. came up with was $1,200,000, so they doubled that amount for their
bid. Since McCulloch and Wood thought someone else might figure this
same amount, they added another $60,000 which was $1,000 for each year
of McCulloch's age - 60. The foundation stone of the London Bridge was
laid in Lake Havasu City in 1968, and it was completed and dedicated on
October 10, 1971.
Lake Havasu City was incorporated in 1978, less
than a year after the death of its founding father Robert McCulloch. The
city is a planned community, originally designed to be self-supporting,
with a balanced economy based on 40% light industry, 40% resort and
recreation, and 20% commercial services.
Lake Havasu City's population has grown to more than 45,000 people. It
has over 1000 business establishments including super markets, drug
stores, men's, women's, and children's clothing shops, gift shops,
hardware, antique shops, travel services, 1630 hotel room accommodations
and many excellent restaurants. Lake Havasu City offers the best
shopping and recreation within a 75-mile radius.
The local hospital is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar
expansion, adding 100 beds and new services. A freestanding surgical
center is also under construction. A beautiful new City Hall opened in
September 2000 and the city also has five elementary schools, two middle
schools, one high school, and a community college.
Recreation is abundant in the Lake Havasu area, including tennis and
racquetball courts, 3 beautiful 18-hole golf courses and a 9-hole
course, a full-service marina, good fishing, water skiing, hiking, lake
and desert tours and well-cared for campgrounds. Numerous City Parks and
SARA Park offer various activities such as sand volleyball, softball,
playgrounds skeet shooting, and BMX and auto racing. There are 47 miles
of shoreline providing 5 lovely beaches for your family enjoyment
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