Why do they do it? Where do they come from? How do they know where to go? We posed that question to a number of winter visitors– because we wanted to know. Just like the swallows that return to Capistrano, California each and every year, snow birds flock to Havasu for the winter, and then pack up and migrate back home for the summer.
Unlike the swallows of Capistrano, they don’t all originate from a single location, but they sure do migrate and come to roost in Havasu, spending money and helping our economy. For those of us that live here year round, well, we look forward to the return of many of our friends that we miss during the summer. Here’s what a few of them had to say.
Hailing from our neighboring country to the north, Canada–Alberta to be exact–Bob Burns enjoys visiting Havasu in the winter. If you’ve ever been to Alberta in the winter time, you don’t have to ask why. “I’ve been coming to Havasu off and on in the winter for five years now. A lot of my friends come to Havasu and they were always telling me to try it. I’m glad I did. I enjoy golfing and walking, things that are tough to do in Alberta in the winter. I also enjoy all the activities that take place around town this time of year.”
One of our many couples from the state of Wisconsin, Judy and Benj Mahle have been visiting Havasu for ten years now. Like most visitors from the north, they travel to Havasu to avoid the harsh winters. “Definitely the weather,” both Judy and Benj agree. Like many of the visitors, they have developed ties to Havasu and have developed many close relationships. They both enjoy outdoor sports, including bocci ball, softball, and getting out and hiking on the many trails around Havasu.
Ray and Sharon from Washington State enjoy the beautiful winter weather. “We’ve been coming here for 8 years now and we both just love the lake, blue skies, and daily sunshine. When we’re not busy relaxing, we like to work on home improvement projects or volunteer around town.”
For Bob and Donna DeGrado, Lake Havasu is like a trip to the big city. As the owners of the Pioneer Motel and RV Park in Challis, Idaho, they understand how important tourism is to a community. Full time residents in Challis number in the hundreds. “We’ve been spending winters in Havasu since 2007. Along with the beautiful weather, Donna enjoys the amenities in town, “I enjoy the convenience of the variety in grocery stores as well as the numerous businesses in town.” Donna also notes that a night out attending Grace Arts is a real pleasure. Bob also likes the number of doctors and medical facilities available in town.