Lake Havasu City was incorporated in 1978. Hoping to attract more tourists and prospective buyers of residential lots in Lake Havasu City, American businessman Robert P. McCulloch bought London Bridge 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, Tucson, Arizona, and the marked stones were shipped to Lake Havasu City and reassembled by Sundt for another US$7 million. The construction took three years to complete.
Since its inauguration on October 5, 1971, London Bridge has become the second-largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon.
Lake Havasu City is an active event destination. The community is a popular destination for university students from California and across the U.S. and Mexico for spring break.
For boaters, March to September are the prime months on Lake Havasu. The city is also home to the International World 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, and the Havasu Balloon Festival & Fair.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona is in a fast growing area for business creation. In the spirit of enterprising early settlers, Lake Havasu City is in an ideal two-state location where local individual creativity and skills can thrive and where self-starter entrepreneurs can create their owner-inspired dream business online or offline right here in Lake Havasu City.