VACATION ATTRACTIONS
The Colorado River Valley is known
across the Southwest as a summer vacation paradise, offering a choice
between the cold, fast flowing Colorado River and warm, smooth waters
of Lake Mohave. Both are perfect for water sports such as boating,
skiing, personal watercraft and sport fishing throughout the year.
Regularly
scheduled special events such as the Bluegrass Festival, the annual
River Run Motorcycle Rally and Chili Cook Off provide family oriented
activities and the climate is perfect for outdoor recreation all year
long. A variety of lodging, dining and shopping experiences are offered
by the areas many businesses and the gaming casinos in nearby Laughlin,
Nevada just across the Colorado River, offer twenty-four hour entertainment.
For a vacation long or short, Bullhead City is
the hub for the Colorado River Region and for enjoying many interesting
activities in the Tri-State area. The areas wide selection of accommodations
from campgrounds and RV parks to full service resort hotels makes
the Colorado River Valley a great vacation value.
AREA ATTRACTIONS
The Bullhead City area is rich in colorful history
and surrounded by nature's beauty. Click the links below for ideas
on how to spend your time while visiting our community.
Leisure Attractions
| Site Seeing | Water Recreation
LEISURE
ATTRACTIONS
Colorado River Museum
The museum includes replicas of area landmarks, Native American artifacts
and displays of historical items from early settlers to the first
slot machines. Located on Highway 95 just north of the Laughlin Bridge
at Davis Camp, the museum is operated by the non-profit Colorado River
Historical Society. It is open from September thorough May. For more
information, please call (928) 754-3399.
Ken Fovargue Park and Community
Swimming Pool
Located on Trane Road north of Marina Boulevard near the Bullhead
City Administration complex, this park features lighted basketball
courts and ball fields, a children's playground and the Bullhead City
Community Swimming Pool, open from April through mid-September. For
more information, call the Bullhead City Parks & Recreation Department
at (928) 763-0158
Rotary Park
Located on 300 acres of Colorado Riverfront land in Bullhead City,
Rotary Park features a sports complex with soccer fields, Pop Warner
football field, new ball fields, plus lighted basketball courts and
a skate park. This huge park offers Colorado River beaches, walking
trails; ramadas with barbecues, a Colorado River launch ramp, fishing
jetty, and fish cleaning station. Admission is free, however, there
is a fee for launch ramp use. The Park is located on Riverview Drive
approximately a mile west of Highway 95. For information, call the
Bullhead City Parks & Recreation Department at (928) 763-0158
Gold Road Mine
In 1900, a Mexican prospector named Jose Jerez, was grubstaked by
friend Henry Lovin of Kingman in the amount of $16, was out searching
for his lost burro when he stumbled over a chunk of quartz that glistened
brightly in the midday sun. He later discovered it assayed out at
40 ounces of gold to the ton. The mine was purchased for $50,000 months
later and then, in turn sold to investors for $275,000. By the end
of 1907, the mine had reportedly milled $2.25 million in gold and
has been in productivity on and off ever since. The mine has been
producing for nearly 100 years and the latest run was for 5 years,
ending, at least temporarily, in 1998, when gold prices fell below
$300 per ounce. This wonderful Arizona landmark is located on Historic
Route 66, just outside of Oatman about 20 miles southwest of Kingman.
From the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, take Highway 95 south
13 miles to Boundary Cone Rd. and east 13 miles through Oatman approximately
2.5 miles.
Laughlin,
Nevada
There's twenty-four hour, seven days a week excitement offered by
the 11 Casino/Hotels in Laughlin. This popular playground is located
across the Colorado River from Bullhead City and is accessible by
the Laughlin Bridge at the Northern edge of the City and at the Southern
edge at Aztec Road. For further information, contact the Laughlin
Chamber of Commerce located at 1725 Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029.
800-227-5245 or 702-298-2214
Scooter's Family Fun Center
2750 Miracle Mile
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
928-758-6212
Scooter's has two 18 hole Miniature Golf Courses with
grass and trees amidst a beautiful waterfall and forest landscape.
8 Station Batting Cage with Slow Pitch Soft Ball; Fast Soft Ball and
Fast to Slow Baseball. Mini Indy Raceway with 12 cars that zip around
a 1000 ft racetrack. Large Arcade with a full Pizza Parlor with Pizzas,
Toasted Subs, Homemade Spaghetti; Salads and more.
SITE
SEEING
Grapevine Canyon
Native American Petroglyphs created by indigenous people an estimated
800 to 1000 years ago adorn the walls of this canyon located near
Christmas Tree Pass northwest of Bullhead City, inside the Lake Mead
National Recreation Area. There is a two-mile gravel road leading
to the trail off highway 163, about 10 miles west of the Laughlin
Bridge. The canyon was named for the grape plants found in the area.
A short and somewhat strenuous walk from the parking lot is required
to reach the Petroglyphs that are fragile and should not be touched.
For additional information, call the Katherine Landing Ranger Station
at (928) 754-3030
Arizona Veterans Memorial
A Colorado Riverfront park in Bullhead City is the setting for the
Arizona Veterans Memorial, which contains a line of gigantic flagpoles
and a curving wall standing 9 feet tall and 40 feet wide. The Wall
displays bronze plaques engraved with the names of more than 3,000
service men and women from the State of Arizona who were killed in
all the armed conflicts in the last 100 years. On each side of the
memorial wall are enormous eagles surrounded by 50 stars representing
the 50 United States. The Arizona Veterans Memorial Park also contains
a pyramid shaped stone memorial honoring the U.S.S. Arizona, which
was destroyed in the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked America's
entry into World War II. The Memorial Park is open year round and
admission is free. To visit, take Highway 95 to Riverview Drive, travel
west approximately two miles until the road ends at Riviera Boulevard.
Turn left and continue for half a mile till the road ends into a large
parking lot. Follow the signs for entrance to the Memorial Park. For
additional information, call 928-704-0334
Oatman
Located in the Black Mountains southeast of Bullhead City on Historic
Route 66, Oatman is a Western history buff's dream. See a re-creation
of an old Western gunfight and pet a friendly "wild" Burro.
The Burros that roam the streets and sidewalks of Oatman are descendants
of the Burros that miners turned loose when the mine closed and they
left town. No doubt these animals are one of the biggest attractions
of the town. Each morning they come into town looking for breakfast
from visitors as Burro pellets are for sale at the many shops in Oatman.
Before dusk, the Burros start to wander out of town and back to the
hills. Main street is one the last remnants of historical US Highway
66, the first major highway to cross the United States. This road
continues over the Black Mountain for a spectacular scenic drive to
Kingman.
Browse in the many curio shops, art galleries and stores
or have a bite to eat at one of several eateries or wet your whistle
at a saloon. Oatman's roots go back to the late 1800s when gold was
discovered in the region; many buildings still exist from that period,
including the Oatman Hotel, built in 1902 and the Glory Hole antique
shop built in 1914 as the Oatman Drug Company and Health Club. The
town hosts several events each year including the Annual Bed Races,
Gold Camp Days and July 04th Sidewalk Egg Frying Contest. To visit
Oatman from Bullhead City, take Highway 95 south to Boundary Cone
Road, turn east and continue to Oatman. For more information, call
(928) 768-6222.
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1941, the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge protects
more than 37,000 acres and 30 river miles (300 miles of shoreline)
along the Colorado River starting 15 miles south of Bullhead City
at the Topock Marsh and running south to the mouth of Lake Havasu.
Topock Marsh is a huge wetlands area that is home to many species
and waterfowl. Inside the refuge is beautiful Topock Gorge, accessible
by boat only, where the Colorado River winds for several miles through
canyons of towering, ancient volcanic rocks. Boating and fishing are
allowed in many areas. To drive by Topcok Marsh, turn east on Courtwright
Road from Highway 95 south. For additional information, call (760)
326-3853.
Colorado River Tours
Get a front row seat as you explore the Colorado River from Bullhead
City all the way to Lake Havasu and back by boat! Enjoy this 120 mile
round trip adventure on board an enclosed 40 MPH jet boat through
miles of scenic, rugged, breath taking beauty with ancient rock formations
and Indian Petroglyphs, then on to the London Bridge which was reconstructed
in Lake Havasu in 1971. Individual and group rates available year
round, 7 days a week. For reservations and information, call 1-800-327-2386
or 702-298-8363.
Hardyville Cemetery
When William Harrison Hardy founded Hardyville in 1864, life in Mohave
Valley was difficult and often times dangerous. The need for a cemetery
undoubtedly arose soon after founding the town. The Hardyville Cemetery
is located one block east of Highway 95 in the 1700 block of Dorado
Drive on a bluff above the Hardyville Mural, which is across from
the Safeway Shopping Center. Today, Hardyville Cemetery is registered
as a National Historical Landmark and fifteen graves are still distinguishable
in the Cemetery. Although burial records are difficult to locate,
two wooden grave markers with name information dated 1867 and 1897
have been protected and preserved and are on display in the Colorado
River Museum at Davis Camp in Bullhead City.
WATER
RECREATION
Davis Dam
Located in Pyramid Canyon at the Northern end of Bullhead City, Davis
Dam created the 68-mile long Lake Mohave. Named for then-Director
of Reclamation, Arthur Powell Davis, the 67 million earth and rock
embankment spanning the Colorado River has a concrete spillway, intake
structure and power plant. The dam is 200 feet high and was completed
in 1953 to control floods and to generate hydroelectric energy. Best
viewing of the dam is from Davis Camp in Bullhead City or from River
Road in Laughlin. The dam itself is closed to the public.
Davis Camp
Davis Camp was the former federal housing area for government workers
who built and maintained Davis Dam. It literally was Bullhead City
back in the 1940's. In its heyday, over 100 homes were located at
Davis Camp along with a grocery store, gas station, post office, recreation
center, swimming pool, two churches, and various service buildings.
Today Davis Camp boasts of RV park and camp sites, showers, laundry,
resort home rentals, RV and boat storage, beachfront camping, boat
launch ramp, RV sanitary disposal station and much more. Davis Camp
is located directly north of the Laughlin Bridge in Arizona. For additional
information, call Mohave Parks Department at 1-877-757-0915 or 928-754-7250.
Lake Mohave - Katherine Landing
Nearly 68 miles from end to end, Lake Mohave offers thousands of miles
of shoreline and some of the best fishing in the Southwest, along
with sandy beaches and secluded coves perfect for overnight camping.
Located just north of Bullhead City and kept in check by Davis Dam,
Lake Mohave is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation area. Visitors
will find several launch ramps, hundreds of boat slips, a motel, RV
park, campgrounds, store, restaurant, boat rentals - including everything
from personal watercraft to fishing boats and houseboats - plus a
boat repair shop and dry storage area. Like much of the region, Katherine
Landing was first settled by gold miners and is named for Katherine
Mine, now just ruins north of the improved marina area. For information,
call Katherine Landing Resort at (928) 754-3245 or Ranger Station
(928) 754-3272.
Bullhead Community Park
Located along the Colorado River on the west side on Highway 95 toward
Bullhead City's northern end, Bullhead Community Park features a large
grassy area with a children's playground, horseshoe pits, ball fields,
volleyball courts, beachfront ramadas, barbecues and a Colorado River
launch ramp. A large covered ramada area and bandstand are available
for special events by reservations. Admission is free but there is
a fee for launch ramp use. For information, call the Bullhead City
Parks & Recreation Department at (928) 763-0158.
