Riverfront

The Colorado River is the reason Laughlin, Nevada exists. In the 1940s, it was a small settlement known as South Pointe that catered to the needs of local gold and silver miners and the many workers who were building Davis Dam. In 1964, Don Laughlin opened what would become the Riverside Resort, and today no fewer than seven additional hotels line the riverfront in the town that bears his name.

To connect the eight resorts and provide a scenic promenade for visitors, the Laughlin Riverwalk was constructed. It is somewhat similar to the River Walk in New Orleans. Although the Colorado River is just a bit narrower here than the Mississippi River is there, it winds past restaurants, shops and casinos much like its Louisiana counterpart.

Also along the waterfront, watercraft rentals can be found, from kayaks to paddle boats. There are water taxis to ferry visitors between the resorts, and there are riverboat cruises that offer narrations on the history of the area as passengers tour the riverfront on open-air decks or in air-conditioned comfort.

The riverfront at Laughlin is the scene of numerous celebrations throughout the year, too, the most famous of which is the annual River Run, the largest motorcycle event on the West Coast. Held each spring since 1982, it draws as many as 70,000 bikers for a five-day rally of food and festivities