Havasu Palms Timeline

1800

Some Chemehuevis begin settling along the Colorado River

1848

Mexico loses California to the United States.

1900

Land along the Colorado River is open to homesteading.

1907

Secretary of Interior withdraws land along the California side of the Colorado river from all forms of settlement and entry, pending action by Congress authorizing the addition of the lands described to the various Mission Indians.

Before
1914

Bailey Brothers begin mining the area later known as Road’s End Camp.

1921

Bureau of Indian Affairs processed public domain allotments along the California side of the Colorado River.

1920’s

J. Flemings leases a mine from the Bailey Brothers, becomes the first known owner of Road’s End Camp.

Early
1930’s

Bob Orchard becomes the new owner of Road’s End Camp.

1934

Construction begins on Parker Dam.

1938

Parker Dam is completed.

Abt
1940

Bob Orchard builds the first Road’s End Store.

Abt 1945

Bob Orchard and Glen Sanderson build the airstrip located at Road’s End Camp.

1949

Department of Interior makes determination of payment Metropolitan Water District to pay the Chemehuevi and Mojave Indians.

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1963

Havasu Palms, Inc. is created.  Its first Board of Directors include Noel Keefer Jr., Noel Keefer Sr., Homer Willis, Melvin Wooley, and Everette Sickles.

1964

A 20 year lease is signed by Havasu Palms, Inc. with the Fish and Wildlife Services for land along Lake Havasu’s California shoreline, at what was known as Road’s End Camp.

1964

“Chemehuevi Tribe…accepted payment in full for its aboriginal lands including whatever interest it may have possessed in the alleged Chemehuevi Valley Indian Reservation on the west bank of the Colorado River” – Declaration of Stephen Beckham, professor of history at Lewis and Clark College.

1967

Walt Johnson begins negotiating to purchase Havasu Palms, Inc. which holds the lease on the Road’s End Camp site. Johnson is assured by the Federal Government that the land will never be turned over to the nearby tribe, as the site is on a public water way.

1967

Walt and Caroline Johnson, Luanne King and Bud Moffit purchase Havasu Palms, Inc. and the remaining term of its lease with the Fish and Wildlife Service. At this time, Havasu Palms has about 25 travel trailer sites, a campground with public restrooms, a primitive store, gas pumps and boat slips.

During their 31 ½ year history with the lease property, the owners of Havasu Palms, Inc. (The Johnsons, King and Moffit) never had a lease term longer than 16 years. This situation made it impossible to secure outside funding for major development projects. In spite of these limitations, the owners of Havasu Palms, Inc. made major strides in developing the property, using their personal finances and doing much of the labor themselves.  
Yet in the end, they were forced to walk away from all that they had built.

1968

The Walt Johnson family moves to Havasu Palms, to assume management and development of the resort.  Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Massive cleanup begins.

1968

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >  Development plans are underway for Havasu Palms, including work by an architect for a master plan.  Havasu Palms is assured by the government that a long term lease will be awarded, when they present acceptable development plans. A long term lease is necessary to secure financing.

1969

 Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >  12 new mobile home sites, enlarges campground.

1969

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > The government expresses their approval of the submitted master plan, and assures Havasu Palms that an extension to the lease term will be forthcoming.

1970

Chemehuevi Tribe adopts its first constitution, which enables them to become a legally recognized tribe by the Federal Government.

1971

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Beach areas improved, new boat slips and ramps are added.

1972

BLM informs Havasu Palms that they can no longer negotiate for a longer lease, as the land may be turned over to the Chemeheuvi Indians.

1972

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Roads improved, sewer system developed.

1972

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Walt Johnson presents plans for a Riverboat Restaurant and Store facility to the Department of Interior, and he receives a favorable response.

1973

BLM rejects Havasu Palms’ proposal for a Riverboat Restaurant, one reason sited is the possible land transfer to the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe.

1973

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >
29 new mobile home sites completed.

1974

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >
61 new mobile home and trailer sites completed.

1974

The Secretary of the Interior adds some 30 miles of shoreline along the California side of Lake Havasu to the Chemehuevi Indian reservation.  This includes Havasu Palms’ lease land on the southern tip.  Havasu Palms’ new landlord is the Chemehuevi Tribe.

1975

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >
29 new mobile home sites are completed. 323 Trees planted.

1975

Jerry McQueen, General Manager of Chemehuevi Inc. contacts Havasu Palms, opens door for lease negotiations, and on behalf on Tribe says they are willing to negotiate for 25 year lease with a 25 year option, or a 30 year lease with a 20 year option. 

1975

Pierre Koenig of Chemehuevi Planning Committee, contacts Havasu Palms and informs them that the Tribe is pleased with HP acceptance of lease terms, and the Tribe is willing to offer a 30 year lease with a 20 year option. He promises they will use every means to assist HP in road improvement.

1976

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > New boat launch area is added.

1977

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Construction begins on the new store & marina.

1978

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > The new store and marina is completed.

1979

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Plans begin on the Road’s End Restaurant.

1980

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Construction begins on the Road’s End Restaurant.

1981

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Road’s End Restaurant & Bar opens.

1984

Havasu Palms receives a lease with the Chemehuevi Tribe. It is a 10 year lease, with a 5 year option.

1885

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > Construction begins on the new rental boat slips.

1986

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > 100 new Rental boat slips are completed.

1987

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  >
9 new mobile home sites completed.

1989

Walt Johnson’s Havasu Palms Improvements  > The FIRST real telephone system is competed, when CONTEL brings in a microwave dish, and Walt Johnson prepares all the trenches.

1989

1989

1990

1992

1992

1993

1994

1994

1998

1999

2002