Places of Interest

Located just north of the Mohave Valley, the Fort Mojave area is continuously growing.  The city offers an international airport, shopping centers with national and chain stores such as J.C. Penny, Wal-Mart, Kmart and Home Depot.  Bullhead City was incorporated in 1984 and covers an area of about 43 square miles.

 Bullhead City and the surrounding area's history has many facets: steam-boats on the Colorado river, gold and silver mines, wagon and camel trains, Native American Indian history plus much more.  Photographs, models and documentation are on display in the Colorado River Museum.  Phil Starks, director, is there daily to answer your questions.  The opening of the museum in 2000 was due to the efforts of the Colorado River Historical Society.

The museum is located on Hwy. 95 jus 1/2 mile north of the Laughlin Bridge.  Call 928-754-3399 for more information.

(Native American Petroglyphs) Thousands of ancient Indian figures and symbols are etched in stone at the entrance to Grapevine Canyon.  The area is off-limits to automobiles which keeps the area nearly pristine.

The walk to the canyon follows an easy quarter-mile trail from a parking area.  To find the site, follow highway 163 west out of Laughlin, as you enter the mountains (about five miles) turn right at Christmas Tree Pass, and travel 1-1/2 miles to a parking area to the left of the dirt road.  There is a sign indicating the parking area and a restroom is available.  The road is a bit sandy, but the family car is adequate, if driven slowly.  Guided tours to the canyon are available through the National Park Service at Katherine Landing.

Davis Dam, creating the beautiful and recreational Lake Mohave, is located approximately two miles upstream from Bullhead City, and is under the administration of the Bureau of Reclamation.  Completed in 1953, Davis Dam is an earth and rock-filled embankment with a concrete spillway, gravity structure, intake structure and power-plant.  The power-plant adds substantially to the Colorado River Hydroelectric energy pool by generating one to two million kilowatt hours annually.  The Davis Dam and power-plant facility was constructed at a cost of $67 million. 

You can reach Davis Dam on Hwy.68 (Arizona side) and Hwy. 163 (Nevada side).  For more information call: 928-754-3628.

LAKE MOHAVE / KATHERINE LANDING

Lake Mohave, located behind Davis Dam, is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.  It is 67 miles long and has a surface area of 44 square miles.  The lake offers a multitude of recreational opportunities like fishing, boating, hiking and just plain relaxing.   Facilities for public use are located at Katherine Landing which is near Davis Dam.  In the park you will find Water-craft launch ramps, a restaurant, trailer park, campsites, hotel, and houseboat rentals as well as hundreds of moorings.  When planning a day of fishing, make sure you have either an Arizona or Nevada license.  Be aware that a special "use stamp" from the opposite state must be attached.  Rainbow trout can be found at the upper end of the lake with largemouth or striped bass on the lower lake.

In the cooler months of the year in Bullhead City the ranger's station at Katherine Landing offers a variety of programs which present facts, folklore and fascinating aspects of the Lake Mohave area.

Katherine Landing Campground

Katherine Landing Campground is a National Park Service campground on Lake Mohave. Even though this campground is open year round, its low elevation make for very warm summer months. Situated just steps from the water, it is a good idea to either bring or rent a boat for your stay. Rentals are available.

All Lake Mead National Park Service campgrounds offer restrooms, running water, dump stations, grills, picnic tables and shade. RV's, trailers and tents welcome. Concessionaire campgrounds, including recreational vehicle hook-ups are also available within the park.

To get there take Hwy. 68 west toward Davis Dam.  Follow the signs for Katherine Landing.  A listing of upcoming hikes, slide shows or "talks around the campfire" can be obtained by visiting or calling the ranger's station at 928-754-3272.  They are open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

John S. Boggs discovered the Katherine Gold Mine in 1900.  In 1904 he sold it to the Arizona Pyramid Mining Company.  The ore that came out of the mine was respectable in quality but the process of refining it was laborious and costly.  The mine was capable of processing 300 tons of ore into 300 ounces of gold in a 24 hour period.  During it's lifetime, the mine produced $1 million worth of gold.  When World War II was declared, Congress forced the mine to close.  Katherine's decaying passages which once took miners 900 feet below the ground, are now filled with water.

To reach the mine, hike or drive to the first left past the Ranger's Station.  If you are driving, park across from the Telephone Cove marker.  As you walk up the wash, the path will narrow as you approach the old mine site.  Watch your step,  Always stay away from mine shafts and never crawl into tunnels.

This real western ghost town kindles the imagination of many a cowboy of all ages.  The once thriving gold mining town is located about 10 miles from the Valley.  In its hay-day, the area's mines produced about $36 million in gold.

Wild burros, the ancestors of pack animals abandoned by the miners, now roam the streets freely, begging food from the tourists.  Gunfighters roam the town daily putting on several shows per day.  The town also has many gift shops and several restaurants.

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their honeymoon at the Oatman Hotel after being married in Kingman.  Their room is still available for viewing.  The town hosts several unusual events each year: the Great Oatman Bed Races are held in January; Clark Gable and Carole Lombard Days, with a look-a-like contest, are held in March; July 4 the town hosts a sidewalk egg frying contest; Gold Camp Days and the International Burrow Biscuit Tossing contest are held over Labor Day weekend and a Christmas tree decorating contest invites visitors to decorate the bushes along Route 66 in December.

LAUGHLIN, NV.

There's 24-hour excitement offered by the many casino/hotels in Laughlin.  This popular playground has enjoyed rapid growth and development.  Laughlin is located across the Colorado River from Bullhead City and is accessible by the Laughlin Bridge located at the northern edge of the city and also by a bridge located off Boundary Cone Rd. (found just past mile marker 235 on Hwy. 95). 

For further information contact the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce at 1725 Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV. 89029 or call 1-800-227-5245 or 702-298-2214.