Editing Lake Havasu City, Arizona (section)

==History==
The community first started during [[World War II]] as Site Six, an [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] [[rest camp]] on the shores of [[Lake Havasu]]. In 1958, American businessman [[Robert P. McCulloch]] purchased {{convert|3,353|acre|km2}} of property on the east side of the lake along Pittsburgh Point, a peninsula that would eventually be transformed into an island.

After four years of planning, McCulloch Properties acquired another {{convert|13,000|acre|km2|sigfig=2}} of federal land in the surrounding area. Lake Havasu City was established on September 30, 1963, by a resolution of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, as the Lake Havasu Irrigation and Drainage District, making it a legal entity (the act is referenced in resolution #63-12-1).

McCulloch Properties flew in prospective residents from around the United States for free in what became a substantial air operation. To qualify, prospective customers were required to put down a fully refundable deposit. McCulloch Properties acquired over a half-dozen commercial aircraft and in 1970, bought a small charter carrier, converting the operation into its own certificated airline, McCulloch International Airlines.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Civil Aeronautics Board Reports|volume=55|pages=108–125|date=September–December 1970|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|location=Washington, DC|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3534412?urlappend=%3Bseq=128%3Bownerid=9007199258460522-132|hdl=2027/uc1.b3534412|hdl-access=free|title=Acquisition of Vance International Airways, Inc.}}</ref> From 1964 through 1978, 2,702 flights were made to Lake Havasu City bringing in prospective buyers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wildfang|first=Frederic B.|title=Lake Havasu City|publisher=Arcadia|location=Charleston, South Carolina|year=2005|pages=99–100|isbn=978-0-7385-3012-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_5bdQIrEzQC&pg=PA99}}</ref> 
{{main|McCulloch International Airlines}}
Lake Havasu City was incorporated in 1978.

===London Bridge===
[[London Bridge (Lake Havasu City)|London Bridge]] crosses the narrow Bridgewater Channel<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.londonbridgeresort.com/activities/bridgewater-channel | title= Bridgewater Channel |website = londonbridgeresort.com| publisher = | accessdate =}}</ref> that leads from Lake Havasu (a segment of the [[Colorado River]]) to Thompson Bay (also on the river).<ref>{{GNIS 2|7287|London Bridge}} – {{Coord|34|28|18|N|114|20|50|W|source:GNIS|display=i}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web| last=Laskow| first=Sarah| date=2016-10-17|title=London Is Still Paying Rent to the Queen on a Property Leased in 1211| url= http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/london-is-still-paying-rent-to-the-queen-on-a-property-leased-in-1211 |access-date=2021-04-17| website= Atlas Obscura| language=en}}</ref> Hoping to attract tourists and prospective buyers of residential lots, McCulloch bought it for US$2.5 million from the [[City of London]], [[England]], when the bridge was replaced in 1968. The bridge was disassembled on contract with Sundt Construction of [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]],<ref name= "sundt.com">{{cite web| url= http://www.sundt.com|title=Construction Company & General Contractor | website= Sundt.com| publisher = Sundt Construction}}</ref> and the marked stones were shipped to Lake Havasu City and reassembled by Sundt<ref name="sundt.com"/> for another US$7 million. The construction took three years to complete.

McCulloch gave an acre of land in Lake Havasu City to London. When Lake Havasu City wanted to use this land for a visitors' center, London leased it back for a [[quit rent]] of a [[Hopi Kachina figure]].<ref name=":0" />

Since its inauguration on October 5, 1971, London Bridge has become the second-largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the [[Grand Canyon]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

===Events===
Lake Havasu City is an active event destination for a wide range of people. During spring months, the community is joined by university students for [[spring break]]. In 1995, Lake Havasu City was featured during [[MTV]]'s Spring Break coverage.<ref name= "imdb.com">{{cite web| url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889616/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3 |title= MTV Spring Break: Lake Havasu |website= IMDb.com | accessdate = September 3, 2023}}</ref> Attendance during Spring Break has taken a downturn in recent years, as the city has declined to issue permits to the large party organizers.

For boaters, March to September are the prime months on Lake Havasu. The city is also home to the International World [[Personal watercraft|Jet Ski]] Final Races, multiple professional fishing tournaments, custom boat regattas, the Western Winter Blast pyrotechnics convention, Havasu 95 Speedway, the Chilln-n-Swilln Beer Festival annual charity event, the Havasu Triathlon,<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.tucsonracing.com/ | title = Tucson Racing| publisher= Tucson Racing Inc.| accessdate = 2018-03-06}}</ref> and the Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.havasuballoonfest.com|title=Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair | date =January 2019| website= havasuballoonfest.com}}</ref>

During the winter months, the community is joined by retirees from colder regions of the country and Canada. During this period, multiple events are held on McCulloch Boulevard. Typically during the second weekend of February, McCulloch Boulevard is home to Winterfest, an annual event which draws thousands of visitors and residents for two days of food, activities, entertainment, and products from over 200 vendors from across the United States.{{citation needed|date = September 2023}}