By Nicole Matheson
A little recognition goes a long way, those at Lake Havasu City Visitor’s Center have discovered. A newly unveiled program to recognize and award individuals who have crossed the London Bridge in London and in Lake Havasu has been delighting patrons for about six months. The award comes in a certificate earned and signed for those who qualify to take with them as a memento of their visit to Lake Havasu City.
Little Stories About Walking The Bridge
“Very often people come in here and say, ‘Oh! I walked the bridge in London.'” The director of the Visitor’s Center, Jan Kassies, said. Visitors will share their little stories about walking the bridge before it famously moved to Lake Havasu, purchased by Robert P. McCulloch, Sr., in 1968, and Kassies thought how an award of sorts would be a neat way to acknowledge such an interesting tidbit about these people’s lives.
A certificate that visitors receive that have traveled over the London Bridge. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene
“Some people have walked across the same bridge,” Kassies shares, “Others just over the new London Bridge, but I’m flexible.” After receiving the signed certificate, they will take a photo by the bridge to commemorate the experience. Unfortunately, this past year saw fewer visitors because of COVID-19, only around 60,000 instead of the usual 100,000, but the program is ready and waiting for things to pick up again.
“There are not many people from Europe this year,” Kassies said. “So what we get is some Americans and even Canadians who have done that.” He said that 25 people have claimed certificates thus far, but there are hopes for many, many more in the future. “It’s all free, it’s just a fun thing.”
*Special Note: The Visitor’s Center is currently closed 1/6/2021-1/31/2021 due to Covid-19 concerns.
George French crossed the London Bridge in London and Lake Havasu City. Photo courtesy Lake Havasu Visitor’s Center.
Linda Van Marter crossed the London Bridge in London and Lake Havasu City. Photo courtesy Lake Havasu Visitor’s Center.
I was born and raised in England and crossed the London Bridge in London many times.
I have lived in the USA for 40 years and have been back and forth to Havasu since 1987. Now a permanent resident of Lake Havasu I have crossed the London Bridge here in Lake Havasu on numerous occassions.
I was born in Liverpool. I live in Havasu now. I was just there last year in London (again) to prove it! I would love my certificate
16th December 2024 .. I got my certificate today!
Born in North London I crossed the bridge many, many times in the early 1960’s
On foot .. and in my 1953 side valve Ford popular E93.
About ‘66 I went to art school in Canterbury Kent .. about 50 miles down the road. Drove across the bridge many times at term start.
when we heard it was to be dismantled and sold to America .. seemed like fake news!
60 years later .. on a desert road trip .. walked it again .. looked exactly the same
Even the lamp posts were exactly as remembered .. except the bridge was black with soot and post war London grime .. now it looks beautifully clean.
Even the pavement slabs seem exactly as I used to walk them in the swinging sixties in my flared trousers and denim shirt. in those days I had long long hair.
60 years later I have none!
I have changed .. the bridge has not.
met many wonderful and friendly people at Lake Havasu .. a truly beautiful place.
Thank you to all of you for making visitors feel so welcome .. and for my certificate ..I will treasure it!