All Lively on the Western Front

There’s a reason Lake Havasu City is seen as an oasis, or a “little paradise” as we heard a few people refer to it during our visit.

This photo is a good representation of our view during the 3 hour drive from the Phoenix airport to Lake Havasu City as we embarked on our tourism branding journey. . . But imagine it as flat as your desktop, with very little brush.

Compared to the lush green grasses and rolling hills of our North Star Destination Strategies home in middle Tennessee, Arizona felt like another world entirely.  It was fascinating.  But as the hours rolled by along with a few tumble weeds, we began to worry.  Where was this beautiful Lake Havasu we’d heard so much about?

Then, we crested a hill:

                    

Then we understood what all of the hubbub was about.  There hidden among miles of stagnant desert were the lively, sparkling waters of the Colorado River; and as impressive as the river was it was nothing compared to the paradise we stepped into when we finally parked in Lake Havasu City.

      “It’s lovely – an oasis.  The water is like the Caribbean.” [Intercept Interview]

However as we dug deeper into the heart of Lake Havasu City it became more and more apparent to us that “oasis” wasn’t just referring to the water.  The people of Lake Havasu City form an oasis all their own – built by an incomparable community spirit – that is reinforced by a youthful and contagious sense of adventure.

                

“A lot of people think you have to slow down as you age.  You can do whatever you want.  We don’t think any differently younger folks, but we have more life experience.” [Intercept Interview]        

The residents, the Snowbirds who came to escape northern winters, the boaters who come to fish, show off, and speed freely, the spring breakers who come to be in the scene, and the families who come to get away . . . are all surprisingly -yet somehow effortlessly- one.

          

“One of the reasons we moved here is because we wanted to give back to the community.  I enjoy the people here.  I really like the community involvement.  People are always volunteering.” [Intercept Interview]

For a community whose strategic branding goal is to come up with a unique identity that has a strong base of local support, that’s not a bad deal at all.

Stay tuned to follow us through our Lake Havasu City community branding journey to see how North Star Destination Strategies helps engage community support.

How does your community encourage involvement?

-Erin Sephel 

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