HAVASTICKER

I’ve never been to either place, but Darwin, Minnesota, and Cawker City, Kansas, have the world’s largest balls of twine. The ball in Darwin was rolled by one person, Francis A. Johnson, while the Cawker City ball is a community effort and still growing.

Lake Havasu City has no similar tourist attractions that I’m aware of, although the London Bridge and London Bridge Shopping Center aren’t far behind. For those laughing at my London Bridge Shopping Center remark, I did too when I first saw it.

Years ago, there was a classy sign visible from Highway 95 dictating that the place actually existed, but wisely, someone has now removed it. At that point, there was maybe ten retail businesses at the most, with Yellow Front being the largest general merchandise store, and Hussong’s one of the busiest eateries in town. A paint store was located in the center as well, until it went up in plumes of black smoke, slightly before the infamous Mexican restaurant did the same.

London Bridge Shopping Center, much like The Factory Outlet Mall on Lake Havasu City Avenue, sadly rode off into the sunset and never returned. On a brighter side, where the London Bridge Shopping Center name is concerned, London Bridge Plaza took its place; a more appropriate namesake by far with a large sign to signify where it’s located.

There’s an eclectic mix of unique shops and eateries in the plaza, with a few survivors from the shopping center days still there. Bump City Music, Lange Veterinary, and Novak Animal Care are three of the old-timers that come to mind. When the second bridge to the island finally becomes reality, London Bridge Plaza will really be ihopping.

Lake Havasu City does have one unique attraction besides the London Bridge that very few out-of-town visitors even know about, unless they’re jet ski or PWC fans. I’m not sure this enigma even has a name, thus, I simply call the spectacle, “HAVASTICKER,” to go along with my other Hava words, Havaniceday being a favorite.

At the entrance to Body Beach is where Havasticker’s located, and has been for some time. I recall when only a few colorful stickers were on it, but now there’s at least 100.

For the sake of future tourism, and on the same level of honesty as some politician’s use in claiming how many people were in attendance at their last rally, let’s just say for sensationalistic purposes, there are over 1,000 stickers plastered on that billboard.

The Havasticker billboard was originally a wood, handmade sign designating Body Beach, but over time it became a metal bulletin board for PWC manufacturer’s and race teams. There appear to be sticker names on this sign from all over the world, although some might be from Southern California and just look foreign to me; Azhiaziam being one.

Burlington, Vermont, is known for having the largest ball of stickers, and is listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for such. I couldn’t find any record for largest collection of stickers on a board—believing we may have the title here in Havasu and don’t even know it.

There’s a need to go even bigger, because that old Body Beach sign is now totally filled. Surely, there’s a construction company in town that could use the significant name recognition on creating a larger one. I’ve thought of doing this myself, but that thought quickly passed after looking at the thermometer, and the price of steel.

What better way for Lake Havasu City to be world renown than having the largest sticker bulletin board located at the gateway to famous Body Beach.

With our attraction being a community project, The World’s Largest Balls of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas, and Darwin, Minnesota, would pale in comparison to Havasticker, and quickly start to unravel where garnering future tourism visitors is concerned.