Trifter

If someone were to ask you the whereabouts of the London Bridge, you would, naturally, answer London.  Right?  Well, back before the late 1960’s you would have been correct, but today, you’ll find the 140-year-old historic span in Arizona.  Specifically, it straddles Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, which was previously barren desert.  Today, the community is a project planned and designed by C.V. Wood, Jr., planner of Disneyland. 

Now a popular tourist attraction, the London Bridge competes with the Grand Canyon as one of the most photographed southwest attractions. 

In 1968, the bridge was put on the bidding block in London, as it was no longer able to withstand the increased traffic of the city, and the weight was causing it to slowly sink into the mud of the Thames.

Purchased by the McCullough Oil Corporation for $2,460,000, the bridge was then disassembled stone by stone and numbered to speed reconstruction – like piecing together a jigsaws puzzle.  The stones were then shipped to Long Beach, California, and from there trucked to Arizona.  The 10,000 tons of stone took more than three years to disassemble and more than three years and $7 million to reassemble here in the United States.  The bridge was actually reconstructed on dry land over a sandpile, which was later scooped out to become a channel.

The following is inscribed on the first stone: “This bridge serves as a noble and enduring monument to the strong bonds of friendship that exist between America and England.  This foundation stone symbolizing nearly 2,000 years of history and tradition was laid by the right honorable the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Gilbert Inglefield, G.B.E., T.D., M.A., in the presence of the honorable Jack Williams, Governor of Arizona.

The bridge really does look at home in Arizona, where it now stands over the blue waters of Lake Havasu, although it has lost some of its antique appearance in the Arizona sun.

Recreational activities at Lake Havasu include historical tours of the lake aboard Miss Havasu II, as well as paddle boating, water cycling and pleasure cruises.  Lake Havasu City, the largest community on the Colorado River, offers plenty of beaches and camping areas.

At the base of the bridge can be found an authentic English Village with an English Pub and London Cabs.  You can purchase left-over pieces of the bridge in some of the surrounding shops.  In the lobby of the Ramada Inn London Bridge Resort, a replica of Britain’s Gold Coronation Coach stands alongside the London Gift Shop, which offers English imports.

Lake Havasu City celebrates London Days the second week of October, which promises good times and entertainment for all.  Other annual events include the Dixieland Jazz Festival, the third week of January; the Blue Water Invitational Regatta, the second week of March; and the Lake Havasu Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the third week of April.  For more information on these events, recreation, dining, lodging or camping, call the Lake Havasu City Chamber of Commerce at (602) 855-5655.