Laughlin
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Laughlin is located 90 miles south of Las Vegas, on the banks of Colorado River at the border with Arizona (504 ft above sea level).
The town is named after Don Laughlin, who in 1964 bought a forgotten and decaying motel and in two years had it in good shape including 12 slot machines and 2 live gaming tables. When postal authorities asked Don to give a name to the new "town," he suggested Riverside or Casino, but a postal inspector decided to call it Laughlin.
The motel, now Riverside Resort, was added more rooms and in 1986 it became a 14-floor highrise. Other hotel-casinos were built, especially during the 1980s.
Laughlin's population is about 9,000 and its annual visitors exceed 5 million. In 1987, Don Laughlin funded the Laughlin Bridge, which links Laughlin and Bullhead City in Arizona, over the Colorado river. Two thousand vehicles cross this bridge daily.
There are nine hotels and one motel in Laughlin today, with more than 10,000 rooms. Attractions include the Colorado river, Davis Dam, and Lake Mohave, four golf courses and the Avi Resort Casino of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
The Preferred Outlet Center has 55 stores and a 9-theater complex.
Riverside is home to Don Laughlin's car collection, more than 70 rare automobiles available for public view, an RV park, and a 34-lane bowling center. USS Riverside is the only luxury cruiser offering trips on the Colorado River to Davis Dam.
River Walk extends from Riverside to River Palms, almost a mile and a half, along the Colorado River, behind the resorts.
The Laughlin Visitors Center is located at 1555 S. Casino Drive; it is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. 1-800-4-LAUGHLIN. See also www.visitlaughlin.com. For Laughlin area maps, click here.
Annual events include the Laughlin Motorsports Rally, the Laughlin Desert Challenge, Harley Days' Laughlin River Run, the Laughlin River Stampede Rodeo, the Laughlin Pro Bullriders Invitational, River Days (boat races), and the Laughlin River Flight (hot air balloons).
"The Watch Man" store, the world's largest watch store, is located in the Riverside Resort.
Among the more than 20,000
watches and clocks--of all types-- that can be purchased under $20, there
may be a genuine $3,000 Rolex, which can be yours for only $19.97 ... if you can spot it. The store
is open every day of the year between 10 am and 10 pm.
