Always Take a Side Trip to Laughlin

"Always Take a Side Trip to Laughlin" my father had said in the past without further explanation...

So I did, unexpectedly, and lived on the river for a year or so.

Being from PA, I wasn't used to some of the idiosyncracies of it - Card of the Day, 5-cent keno, water taxis in the desert, etc.

What permeates my brain still is why is it so damn cheap??? It's got great scenery and exceptionally relevant to spend a day or two on the way to Vegas or Grand Canyon.
Resort fees in Vegas turn free into $100 if not Diamond on TR, and AC is about half that; here, resort fees are about a $20 bill...]


Nevertheless, take the I-515 to Hoover Dam and take US-95 down and see for yourselves...

I enjoy Laughlin and thought about living there, but ultimately didn't.
Arizona is a very affordable place to live, except for most of the Phoenix metro area.

I was there recently, just looking for opportunities. And there are very few. Reminds me of Boulder Highway now, with half the places shut down, knocked down, or converted to slot parlors.

When I was first going to Laughlin, much of the route was a single lane in each direction, with passing lanes every few miles. If you got stuck behind a camper or a tour bus, you'd lose valuable gambling time.

I had a great ol' time in Laughlin, and I've always wondered if I'll ever be back.

The bingo card of poker hands to win a bonus was quite the novelty. And it's the only place I recall that had $1–$6 spread-limit poker—both Hold'em and Omaha!

I'm in Laughlin for three days. It's not very busy. The Nevada side of the river is in hard times. The Outlet Mall is almost empty, with most of it closed off; the Edgewater and River Palms are now slot parlors. The Belle is vacant. Residential areas have seen very little growth, but I did see a few new bar/slot parlors, including a Jackpot Joanie.
The owner of my favorite bar in town was about to shut down because he was heavily in debt and business was slow, but two bartenders agreed to take on the debt, and he walked away.
On the other hand, Bullhead City is almost booming. New shopping malls, a new Olive Garden, many new food places, and they are building a White Castle. Lots of homes are being built, some of which look quite pricey. My favorite bar, Jesters, was sold, and the new owners converted half the parking lot into a patio/ music shell. Taking advantage of the proximity to an outdoor music venue, someone opened another bar next door.
It was a nice surprise to see the Bullhead/Ft. Mojave area growing. Now, if only they'd get some fast chargers for non-Tesla EVs.