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Lake Havasu Information
Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. brought the lake 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 free-standing 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 racquet ball 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 camp grounds. 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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