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Not really true, GJ gets quite cold in the winter and 25-30 inches of snow a year. Very different vibe than Bullhead area.
I think the negativity is a bit overdone as long as you stay out of Bullhead City itself. Everything south of it is newer and has plenty of amenities around so you don't even have to go into Bullhead much. Lots of retirees and work from home people in modern subdivisions that look a lot like being in Vegas, but you can have a pool and much bigger lots for less. Of course the weather is a potential issue, but if you don't like heat you probably won't find Vegas or anywhere in the southwestern deserts acceptable.
One of the hottest places in the country, and you're recommending him the area. Give me a break man, there's plenty of better locations that have 4 seasons with mild winters. Going from one extreme to another is not a good idea. I suggest visiting all areas before deciding.
When I lived in New York one of my co-workers was from Tucson and was born and raised there. I've always been fascinated with the Great American Southwest and we used to talk about what it was like in Arizona. This was well before we even considered moving here. He never had anything good to say about anyplace that was close to or on the border especially Nogales and Douglas. He called them "seedy little border towns". So we pretty much crossed all of those places off of our list, with the exception of Sierra Vista.
As I've stated in one of my previous posts:
One of my friends here is from Yuma, he was born, raised and grew up there. He once told me that whatever you do stay out of Yuma. I asked him: "why is it that bad?" He replied: "Indeed it is that bad". My next door neighbor was from there too. Her mother still lives there and she dreads every time she goes back there.
When moving to a different state everything has to be taken into consideration. Arizona is the sixth largest state in area and there's a lot of places to choose from the cost of living and weather is just one aspect. Now that we've lived here and know people that were both born and raised here and lived here for a long time. There's not too many of them that speak positively about those area's. I can only go by their opinions.
Nogales US isn't much to look at, I do love the area though. It's only about 6-8 miles from Rio Rico and does have some big box stores which make it convenient. Mom has a snobird place in Yuma she's selling, I was never a fan of the area and would never consider living there.
Hwy 19 runs from the border North and traffic moves at 70+ most the way to Tucson, it's pretty quick to get around.
One of the hottest places in the country, and you're recommending him the area. Give me a break man, there's plenty of better locations that have 4 seasons with mild winters. Going from one extreme to another is not a good idea. I suggest visiting all areas before deciding.
It's still 1-2 degrees cooler in the summertime than Needles, CA.
What`s the scoop on Bullhead City area? Recently retired. Looking to escape the snow/ dreary weather of SW Pennsylvania. I like exploring the outdoors. Proximity to Vegas good for any possible future major medical issues. Was in AZ for a week a few years ago, but didn`t visit anywhere along the Colorado River. Any opinions appreciated. Tnx.
If you think you're going to have to go to Las Vegas for medical care, then you should consider someplace like Mesquite that's actually in the State of Nevada. Mesquite is small, but clean, and has very easy access to Las Vegas compared to Bullhead City. That is, if you don't actually want to live in Las Vegas itself. You might as well find a nicer community in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and just enjoy that.
If I was forced to pick a community to live in, in that entire area, it would be Parker, AZ. It's more low-key, less meth heads, less in-your-face right-wing politics, more ethnically diverse.
In the 1990s and very-early 2000s, the Colorado River Valley (Laughlin, Bullhead, Needles, Fort Mohave) was an up-and-coming area that many people thought would eventually rival Palm Springs and Las Vegas in terms of entertainment venues, housing, lifestyle. That really fizzled out in the mid-to-late 2000s and hasn't made a comeback since. A big reason for this is that in the 1990s, people in California were using their existing homes as ATMs, pulling money out, buying second homes "on the river" and fueling the nearby casinos with an influx of play money. That era is over and is likely never coming back, hence, the economic downturn that has persisted in the Colorado River Valley. Most Baby Boomers are either on fixed incomes now or their spending levels have started winding down. Their Gen X and Millenial kids don't gamble as much and, quite frankly, don't have the levels of expendable income they did. This is, in essence, why the Colorado River corridor is sort of dying on the vine, so to speak.
My problems with those towns:
Laughlin -- the casinos will always attract a certain element. You have to cross the river into Bullhead City for almost everything, as the town of Laughlin has very limited services and resources. Last time I checked, they didn't even have an actual grocery store? This may have changed? One positive aspect of Laughlin is that the Golden Nugget and Aquarius hotel-casinos still feel relatively nice and have some of the nicer chain restaurants (Landry's, Outback Steakhous, the Salt Grille) and you'll always have a cheap buffet nearby if you decided to gorge yourself.
Bullhead City -- as the other posters have mentioned, it's a rough crowd. Lots of biker types, methy-looking people and burn outs, basically "the Pawn Shop element" as I like to call them. They built the gated retirement community of "Laughlin Ranch" in the hills above Bullhead City, which is nice, but then I wonder how often the people of that community are targeted for robbery by the locals in the rest of town?
Fort Mohave -- this is just a southern extension of Bullhead City with some newer stores like Target and Kohl's. Same overall element of people, though. The town of Golden Shores is just another extension of Bullhead City and Fort Mohave.
Lake Havasu City -- I don't really know how to say this nicely....ugh....this place feels like a bunch of 60+ year olds who are trying to re-live their early 20s: smoking, alcohol, play on the lake all day, show off my boat and jet skis, pretend I still live in Orange County, with the willful regression to their bygone youth also comes this very bizarre "$crew you" mindset.....yeah, but no!
Needles -- this place is literally one step away from being a big ghost town. Lots of homeless and panhandlers everywhere. It's very sad.
Golden Valley -- feels like a bedroom community to Kingman and Laughlin hotel workers. It's a semi-rural area with gun shops, pawn shops, gas stations, churches, porn stores and Dollar General stores. It's the kind of place where, as you're driving through, you think to yourself, "...man! you've gotta be a tough SOB to live in a place like this!"
Kingman -- this area probably feels the like the most "normal" of this entire region. It's got a mix of families and retirees. There's not much to the town, although, it is very historic.
Parker -- I've always had a soft spot for this town. It truly feels like "Old Arizona" without the fake pretentiousness and childishness of Lake Havasu, or the scummy feel of Bullhead City. The problem with Parker is that it's just very isolated, which I suppose may be why it has kept its charms.
Last edited by apple92680; 02-05-2021 at 03:05 PM..
If you think you're going to have to go to Las Vegas for medical care, then you should consider someplace like Mesquite that's actually in the State of Nevada. Mesquite is small, but clean, and has very easy access to Las Vegas compared to Bullhead City. That is, if you don't actually want to live in Las Vegas itself. You might as well find a nicer community in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and just enjoy that.
If I was forced to pick a community to live in, in that entire area, it would be Parker, AZ. It's more low-key, less meth heads, less in-your-face right-wing politics, more ethnically diverse.
In the 1990s and very-early 2000s, the Colorado River Valley (Laughlin, Bullhead, Needles, Fort Mohave) was an up-and-coming area that many people thought would eventually rival Palm Springs and Las Vegas in terms of entertainment venues, housing, lifestyle. That really fizzled out in the mid-to-late 2000s and hasn't made a comeback since. A big reason for this is that in the 1990s, people in California were using their existing homes as ATMs, pulling money out, buying second homes "on the river" and fueling the nearby casinos with an influx of play money. That era is over and is likely never coming back, hence, the economic downturn that has persisted in the Colorado River Valley. Most Baby Boomers are either on fixed incomes now or their spending levels have started winding down. Their Gen X and Millenial kids don't gamble as much and, quite frankly, don't have the levels of expendable income they did. This is, in essence, why the Colorado River corridor is sort of dying on the vine, so to speak.
My problems with those towns:
Laughlin -- the casinos will always attract a certain element. You have to cross the river into Bullhead City for almost everything, as the town of Laughlin has very limited services and resources. Last time I checked, they didn't even have an actual grocery store? This may have changed? One positive aspect of Laughlin is that the Golden Nugget and Aquarius hotel-casinos still feel relatively nice and have some of the nicer chain restaurants (Landry's, Outback Steakhous, the Salt Grille) and you'll always have a cheap buffet nearby if you decided to gorge yourself.
Bullhead City -- as the other posters have mentioned, it's a rough crowd. Lots of biker types, methy-looking people and burn outs, basically "the Pawn Shop element" as I like to call them. They built the gated retirement community of "Laughlin Ranch" in the hills above Bullhead City, which is nice, but then I wonder how often the people of that community are targeted for robbery by the locals in the rest of town?
Fort Mohave -- this is just a southern extension of Bullhead City with some newer stores like Target and Kohl's. Same overall element of people, though. The town of Golden Shores is just another extension of Bullhead City and Fort Mohave.
Lake Havasu City -- I don't really know how to say this nicely....ugh....this place feels like a bunch of 60+ year olds who are trying to re-live their early 20s: smoking, alcohol, play on the lake all day, show off my boat and jet skis, pretend I still live in Orange County, with the willful regression to their bygone youth also comes this very bizarre "$crew you" mindset.....yeah, but no!
Needles -- this place is literally one step away from being a big ghost town. Lots of homeless and panhandlers everywhere. It's very sad.
Golden Valley -- feels like a bedroom community to Kingman and Laughlin hotel workers. It's a semi-rural area with gun shops, pawn shops, gas stations, churches, porn stores and Dollar General stores. It's the kind of place where, as you're driving through, you think to yourself, "...man! you've gotta be a tough SOB to live in a place like this!"
Kingman -- this area probably feels the like the most "normal" of this entire region. It's got a mix of families and retirees. There's not much to the town, although, it is very historic.
Parker -- I've always had a soft spot for this town. It truly feels like "Old Arizona" without the fake pretentiousness and childishness of Lake Havasu, or the scummy feel of Bullhead City. The problem with Parker is that it's just very isolated, which I suppose may be why it has kept its charms.
Basically, in layman's term, Mad Max. Outside that, the positives of Bullhead City are the winter climate, close access to cheap hotels, casinos and restaurants on the Nevada side.
Laughlin -- the casinos will always attract a certain element. You have to cross the river into Bullhead City for almost everything, as the town of Laughlin has very limited services and resources. Last time I checked, they didn't even have an actual grocery store? This may have changed? One positive aspect of Laughlin is that the Golden Nugget and Aquarius hotel-casinos still feel relatively nice and have some of the nicer chain restaurants (Landry's, Outback Steakhouse, the Salt Grille) and you'll always have a cheap buffet nearby if you decided to gorge yourself.
The only semi-grocery store is the two Family Dollar stores (one on Casino Rd. and one up the west hills. Buffets are no longer cheap anymore, all start at $15.99 for dinner now. Tropicana Laughlin, that was previously the cheapest at only $11.99, already closed down in 2019. Only the Chinese buffet in Bullhead City is the cheapest now.
If you think you're going to have to go to Las Vegas for medical care, then you should consider someplace like Mesquite that's actually in the State of Nevada. Mesquite is small, but clean, and has very easy access to Las Vegas compared to Bullhead City. That is, if you don't actually want to live in Las Vegas itself. You might as well find a nicer community in Henderson, near Las Vegas, and just enjoy that.
If I was forced to pick a community to live in, in that entire area, it would be Parker, AZ. It's more low-key, less meth heads, less in-your-face right-wing politics, more ethnically diverse.
In the 1990s and very-early 2000s, the Colorado River Valley (Laughlin, Bullhead, Needles, Fort Mohave) was an up-and-coming area that many people thought would eventually rival Palm Springs and Las Vegas in terms of entertainment venues, housing, lifestyle. That really fizzled out in the mid-to-late 2000s and hasn't made a comeback since. A big reason for this is that in the 1990s, people in California were using their existing homes as ATMs, pulling money out, buying second homes "on the river" and fueling the nearby casinos with an influx of play money. That era is over and is likely never coming back, hence, the economic downturn that has persisted in the Colorado River Valley. Most Baby Boomers are either on fixed incomes now or their spending levels have started winding down. Their Gen X and Millenial kids don't gamble as much and, quite frankly, don't have the levels of expendable income they did. This is, in essence, why the Colorado River corridor is sort of dying on the vine, so to speak.
My problems with those towns:
Laughlin -- the casinos will always attract a certain element. You have to cross the river into Bullhead City for almost everything, as the town of Laughlin has very limited services and resources. Last time I checked, they didn't even have an actual grocery store? This may have changed? One positive aspect of Laughlin is that the Golden Nugget and Aquarius hotel-casinos still feel relatively nice and have some of the nicer chain restaurants (Landry's, Outback Steakhous, the Salt Grille) and you'll always have a cheap buffet nearby if you decided to gorge yourself.
Bullhead City -- as the other posters have mentioned, it's a rough crowd. Lots of biker types, methy-looking people and burn outs, basically "the Pawn Shop element" as I like to call them. They built the gated retirement community of "Laughlin Ranch" in the hills above Bullhead City, which is nice, but then I wonder how often the people of that community are targeted for robbery by the locals in the rest of town?
Fort Mohave -- this is just a southern extension of Bullhead City with some newer stores like Target and Kohl's. Same overall element of people, though. The town of Golden Shores is just another extension of Bullhead City and Fort Mohave.
Lake Havasu City -- I don't really know how to say this nicely....ugh....this place feels like a bunch of 60+ year olds who are trying to re-live their early 20s: smoking, alcohol, play on the lake all day, show off my boat and jet skis, pretend I still live in Orange County, with the willful regression to their bygone youth also comes this very bizarre "$crew you" mindset.....yeah, but no!
Needles -- this place is literally one step away from being a big ghost town. Lots of homeless and panhandlers everywhere. It's very sad.
Golden Valley -- feels like a bedroom community to Kingman and Laughlin hotel workers. It's a semi-rural area with gun shops, pawn shops, gas stations, churches, porn stores and Dollar General stores. It's the kind of place where, as you're driving through, you think to yourself, "...man! you've gotta be a tough SOB to live in a place like this!"
Kingman -- this area probably feels the like the most "normal" of this entire region. It's got a mix of families and retirees. There's not much to the town, although, it is very historic.
Parker -- I've always had a soft spot for this town. It truly feels like "Old Arizona" without the fake pretentiousness and childishness of Lake Havasu, or the scummy feel of Bullhead City. The problem with Parker is that it's just very isolated, which I suppose may be why it has kept its charms.
Agreed about the contraction of the economy. The casinos never fully recovered from the Great Recession. I sold in 2001, and came back to look in 2013..looked like the casino action had been cut in half, along with all the Laughlin tourism related stuff. Vegas got crushed, too, and it's heyday may have also been very early 21st century. Vegas housing market has come back strong, though.
Some of the cheapest, yet still livable hotels I've ever stayed at were in Laughlin. Was passing through that general area for work 10 years ago and decided to spend the night rather than drive all night back home. Started looking online for the deals about 3 PM and ended up staying at one of the nicer casinos for $25.
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