Story Ideas

Attention Assignment editors, producers, editors, reporters and freelance writers:

Lake Havasu City / London Bridge offers a boatload of story ideas!

For a city of 52,527, we have a lot going on. Interesting people, beautiful scenery, and special events that are truly, well, special. Here are just a few stories we can help you develop.

Year-Round Story Ideas

Is the London Bridge Haunted?

If Lake Havasu City’s signature attraction isn’t haunted, then nothing is. How do we know the bridge is haunted? Apparently, EVP’s (electronic voice phenomena) and abnormalities in photos have been captured. There is evidence of so-called residual haunting in slate and iron nails. Come meet local experts and explore this fascinating possibility.

How Hot is Havasu? How Does a Desert Playground Cope with the Heat?

Oh yeah, it’s hot in Havasu in the summer. So hot, the London Bridge Resort’s doors have insulating cozies on the handles. One local entrepreneur even sells a baking kit that lets you bake cookies on your dashboard. But locals and visitors alike believe the heat is what makes boating in Lake Havasu so refreshing, especially in Bridgewater Channel or the Sandbar where dozens of powerboats (and hundreds of people) raft up and cool off.

Lighthouses in the Desert?

You’re in the middle of the desert, about two hours south of Las Vegas, and you’re surrounded by 20 lighthouses. A mirage? No. But creating small-scale lighthouses is the dream of western Arizona lighthouse fans who have built 20 replica lighthouses to help boaters navigate on Lake Havasu. Meet Bob Keller, the driving force behind the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club (http://www.lh-lighthouseclub.org).

Experience Lake Havasu’s Wild Side

We’re not talking spring break wild, we’re talking wild west wild. ATV, dirt bike, Jeep and other off-road vehicle enthusiasts can enjoy the open spaces of the desert and mountains surrounding Lake Havasu City. There’s also:

Topock Gorge – Breathtaking scenery; Havasu wilderness extends down to the bank line on both the Arizona and California sides. Take a five-hour tour with Sunset Boat Tours (www.sunsethavasuboattours.com). Indian petroglyphs trace the stories of early peoples who lived along the lower Colorado River.

Parker Dam – Steepest dam in the world – 320 feet high with only 85 feet visible above the waterline. The reservoir formed by the dam, Lake Havasu, stores water for southern California. (Coming to Lake Havasu City means you’re playing in L.A. tap water).

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge – A new Visitor Center has a walkway where you can spot turkey vultures, mourning doves, coots, killdeer, herons and egrets. Encompasses 6,105 acres of majestic rock cliffs, cool water running through a classic Sonoran Desert. It’s the largest riparian forest remaining on the lower Colorado River; over 350 species of birds have been documented. (http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/billwill.html)

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge –Adjacent to the Colorado river; features 37,515 acres of cattail-bulrush back waters and shrubby riparian lowlands to steep cactus-strewn cliffs and mountains. (http://southwest.fws.gov)

Scuba Dive Beneath the Lake –While Lake Havasu is known for its topside water activities, there is also much to do underwater while scuba diving. Lake Havasu can be visited by divers either from beach access or by boat. Visibility ranges throughout the year from 10-50 feet with water temperatures from the mid 50 degrees F. to as high as 85 degrees F. in the peak of summer.

Events Unique to Lake Havasu City

(Check www.golakehavasu.com/events/ for specific dates)

FEBRUARY

Boom, Boom Boom: Winterblast Pyrotechnics Convention
If you ooh and ahh over things that go boom, you’ll be amazed at the free nightly firework displays and choreographed pyrotechnic shows scheduled during this trade show that attracts fireworks professionals from throughout the west. If you’re a fan of Katy Perry and her “Firework” song, here’s your chance to go, “boom, boom, boom, even brighter than the moon, moon, moon.” (www.westernpyro.org).

Greasers: Lake Havasu Rock-a-billy Reunion
Before there were hippies, there were greasers and the girls who loved them. Rockabilly, one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, emerged in the early 1950s and is undergoing a revival of sorts. Join other fans for live entertainment, a pre-‘68 vintage car and motorcycle show, pin-up girl contest, swap meet, beer garden and carnival.

APRIL

Desert Storm Poker Run & Shootout
Desert Storm brings to Lake Havasu the best and biggest performance boats in the U.S. as they roar across the lake. Rides on the boats are given for a charitable donation, and spectators can get up close and personal with the boats at the boat show and street party. On Friday and Saturday, the annual poker run and the Lake Racer LLC shootout race take place. (www.lakeracerllc.com)

OCTOBER

"JetSki" Capitol of the World
For hundreds of thousands of avid owners of personal watercraft (PWC), Lake Havasu City is the “JetSki” Capitol of the World. This is especially true in early October when the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals come to town for the Super Bowl of the sport. Approximately 400 competitors from 30 states across the U.S. and over 40 nations annually converge on Lake Havasu City and the clear waters of the Colorado River, along with thousands of fans and news media from a dozen countries, to participate in this world-renowned event. These are not your father’s personal watercraft. Today’s high-powered four-stroke machines are more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly than antiquated two-stroke machines of just a few years ago. Their carefully soundproofed engines are quieter than most inboards and significantly.

London Bridge: One Man’s Dream Anchors a City for 40 Years
A dream first thought preposterous – Lake Havasu City founder Robert P. McCulloch, Sr.’s plan to relocate the centuries-old London Bridge (circa 1824) to a remote second home and resort community in the Arizona desert – celebrates its 40th anniversary in Lake Havasu City in October 2011. Tour the local museum to learn how this dream became a reality, see the bullet holes where the bridge was strafed in London during WWII, and attend the 40th anniversary rededication ceremonies. Learn why it is called the "world's largest antique."


June 16, 2011