Near the eastern edge of the Mojave Desert, nestled against the Colorado River under the Spirit Mountains, where California, Nevada, and Arizona meet, is an airport named Laughlin/Bullhead International. While sometimes thought of as purely a gambling and gaming center, there is a lot to do and see in the area, and accommodations are one of the best bargains in the United States for flying travelers.
Among the local attractions are Native American artifacts, including intaglios and petroglyphs; the nearby Colorado River Museum; the gold mining town of Oatman; and Route 66, the highway to California that has been immortalized in a popular song and a 1950s-era TV series.
Before airplanes flew over this area, the Colorado River was the cheapest supply route for this part of the country. Paddle-wheeled steamboats carried supplies up the river from Port Isabel in the Gulf of California in 1859. In 1863, gold was discovered near the present-day town of Oatman—about 30 miles from present-day Laughlin. In 1877, the railroad crossed over the Colorado River in Needles, and the riverboat era ended. Gold mining again flourished at the Katherine Mine and in the Oatman area right after the turn of the century.
The Davis Dam, located a couple of miles above Laughlin, was completed in 1953. Damming the Colorado controlled the seasonal floods and allowed development. Lake Mohave was formed by the damming of the river and has more than 550 miles of shoreline. A state-record 49-pound bass was pulled from these waters in 1974.
South Pointe, so named because of its proximity to the southern tip of Nevada, was the name of the town when Don Laughlin flew over the site in 1964. Laughlin was piloting a rented single-engine Cessna while looking for new business opportunities. Inspired by the area, Laughlin sold a club near Las Vegas and bought a bankrupt casino named the Edgewater in 1966 and changed its name to The Riverside.
Since access was by dirt road, Laughlin flew two and three trips a day from Las Vegas to a 650-foot gravel airstrip behind his casino in a Robertson (now Sierra Industries) STOL-equipped Cessna 210 to bring in the necessities for business. His hard work paid off to the extent that there are now 10 casinos clustered around Laughlin.
Laughlin, who today has more than 11,000 flight hours logged, foresaw that aviation and fly-in travelers would be essential to the growth of this isolated resort town. Thanks in part to its namesake’s contributions of time and money, today the town of Laughlin boasts an international airport, Laughlin/Bullhead International (IFP), with a 7,500-foot runway and a VOR approach. The airport is actually in Bullhead City, Arizona, but the trip across the river to the resorts in Nevada is fun. Frequent water taxis move people across the river without any waiting, courtesy of the casinos. Lightplane owners taxi down a winding downhill taxiway to tiedowns at the old airport. Ground control (118.25 MHz) provides guidance because the taxiway only has room for one airplane at a time—there are numerous turnouts up the hill. Once across the river, it’s a short walk along the shore to any of the nearby resorts. Fliers with a load of baggage can get door-to-door service to any of the resorts by simply picking up the courtesy phone in the comfortable general aviation terminal.
One of the big benefits of a flying trip to Laughlin is that comfortable, clean rooms are dirt-cheap—less than $30 per night is the rule.
Laughlin is built on gambling and gaming, so make no mistake that there’s always a game going on somewhere for anyone who wants to try their luck. There is a table limit to suit every budget. The $2 blackjack table is a good place for the beginner to learn the game. Since Laughlin got his start with a couple of mail-order slot machines that he installed in neighborhood Minnesota bars as a teenager, there are plenty of slot machines.
Laughlin is a low-key place. Good food is everywhere, and there’s plenty of entertainment. During hot summer days, a quick walk to the river will give you a chance to feed the ducks or the fish, or you may decide to spend a couple of hours zooming up and down the river on personal watercraft or relax on a leisurely river cruise. Longer water trips are available on Lake Mohave via one of the boat rental sites. Pilots who are checked out on boats may rent houseboats, ski boats, and sailboats. Call 520/754-3245 for more information.
Rental cars are available at the airport (check AOPA’s Airport Directory for reservation phone numbers). Sixteen miles south of the bridge between Arizona and Nevada on Highway 95 is Boundary Cone Road, which heads east to Oatman, a once-thriving gold mining town. Burros that were used during the gold mining days were turned loose by the miners when the gold ran out, and now their descendents roam through Oatman in search of handouts. Stores sell burro food, but travelers are warned that these guests are wild and that care should be taken when approaching or feeding the animals. Oatman is 2,500 feet msl and is situated in a narrow valley with towering rock spires on every side. The trip to Oatman is a spectacular drive that features landscapes reminiscent of John Wayne westerns.
From the same bridge crossing the river, head west on Highway 163 for seven miles and look for the sign marking a right turn to Christmas Tree Pass. A dirt road winds along for two miles, to a left turn to Grapevine Canyon. From the parking lot, a 15-minute walk on sandy ground will lead you to rocks covered with petroglyphs (drawings or carvings on rocks made by a member of a prehistoric people).
As you return to Laughlin, cross the bridge once again and turn left. One mile up the road on your left is the Colorado River Museum, a cozy volunteer-manned and -supported treasure trove full of local facts, pictures, artifacts, and books. For instance, a reprint of the Route 66 guidebook that was used by western travelers just after World War II is on the shelves, as well as an authoritative study of what all those petroglyphs are thought to mean. Call 520/754-4121 for more information.
There’s plenty to do in Laughlin and the surrounding area. A great airport, accommodations to suit every traveler, and lots of local history make this a fine weekend or overnight destination.
Have you enjoyed an interesting flying experience in California? Send story ideas or written manuscripts to: California Flying, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701.
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