Sports Valley Resort, On The Colorado River

[Willie B]

...I remember sports valley from the 60s...but never stayed there... stayed up at the Polynesian...but sometimes various people from our bunch would want a motel room and that’s where they would go...sports Valley...

 

[Willie B]

 

[76 Hondo]

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One of my first River trips on my own Easter 1968, seniors in high school, met two buddies in Needles coming in from Colorado where they could buy beer! Ford pickup the whole bed loaded with Coors packed in snow. Got run out of Needles that night, ended up at Polynesian, wild weekend guys going to jail, guys getting the shit beat out of them by Yuma Co. Sheriff, Dave that wasn’t a good idea to hit that 300 lb Indian cop.

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[TCHB]

This WAS the hotspot on the Parker Strip................................................in my day

This is when people camped with no air conditioner.

 

[cofooter]

One of my first River trips on my own Easter 1968, seniors in high school, met two buddies in Needles coming in from Colorado where they could buy beer! Ford pickup the whole bed loaded with Coors packed in snow. Got run out of Needles that night, ended up at Polynesian, wild weekend guys going to jail, guys getting the shit beat out of them by Yuma Co. Sher

That was the olden days, right on!!!

 

[cofooter]

This is when people camped with no air conditioner.

You woke up sweating in your tent at 7am, fun times

 

[Willie B]

One of my first River trips on my own Easter 1968, seniors in high school, met two buddies in Needles coming in from Colorado where they could buy beer! Ford pickup the whole bed loaded with Coors packed in snow. Got run out of Needles that night, ended up at Polynesian, wild weekend guys going to jail, guys getting the shit beat out of them by Yuma Co. Sher

...Are you sure you are not from La Tuna Cyn???... The story sounds familiar or at least pretty close...
...

 

[76 Hondo]

N

...Are you sure you are not from La Tuna Cyn???... The story sounds familiar or at least pretty close...
...

Nah, white bread, flour tortilla guy from Orange!

 

[LOBOATOMY]

I grew up at the top of Lowell St. Graduated from CVHS class of '69. started going to (camping at Big Bend, Wild Horse and Imperial) the river in '72.
Those were absolutely great times, our group, from San Diego would hit the river almost every other weekend. I had a 1964 Miller v-drive with a nail head 402 Buick

 

[Wheeler]

What a cool pic!!!

I'll ask him if he has any more.

 

[old rigger]

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I was at Mikes today and noticed this photo on the table.
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I really like this shot with the Keys in the background. Our place was at Bullhead for all of the 60s up to '72 when we moved to the strip but we had friends up on Bean Pot Hill in the 60s and their kids who were my age all had Taco 22 and 44 mini bikes. We use to ride them in the canals of the Keys before they removed the dikes holding back the water. Looooong time ago but it seems like yesterday.

I never did get a Taco 22.

 

[RodnJen]

This is when people camped with no air conditioner.

We camped in a ‘65 Dodge van with a 12 inch fan blowing on us. The cabanas had electricity and water. We made due.

 

[TCHB]

You woke up sweating in your tent at 7am, fun times

A banana chair half in the water. Water skiing by 0600.

 

[flyingcolors]

i remember when you cooked your own steak there,provided by them

 

[TCHB]

I grew up at the top of Lowell St. Graduated from CVHS class of '69. started going to (camping at Big Bend, Wild Horse and Imperial) the river in '72.
Those were absolutely great times, our group, from San Diego would hit the river almost every other weekend. I had a 1964 Miller v-drive with a nail head 402 Buick

I was in going into 11th grade in 1971. I few buddies and I rode our motorcycles(Honda 350/Yamaha DT1 to Parker/Havasu. We stayed for two weeks at three dunes with some friends parents. No air just ice for the food. Pretty crazy when I think back about it.

 

[The River]

I grew up in suburban Los Angeles but spent a lot of my time in Parker and Havasu, AZ, in the early 70s through late 80s. Circa 1963, my parents co-owned a bar on the Colorado River called "Sports Valley" for a few years. By 1967, I was born and we were living in Southern California but constantly going to "The River" with my family and, later, friends.

My father helped dig the Moovalya Keys and we always stayed at the river-front home of a family friend there through the 80s.

 

[sgtskidmark]

I grew up in suburban Los Angeles but spent a lot of my time in Parker and Havasu, AZ, in the early 70s through late 80s. Circa 1963, my parents co-owned a bar on the Colorado River called "Sports Valley" for a few years. By 1967, I was born and we were living in Southern California but constantly going to "The River" with my family and, later, friends.

My father helped dig the Moovalya Keys and we always stayed at the river-front home of a family friend there through the 80s.

That is Awesome,…We would love to hear any stories you have to Tell

 

[Riverbound]

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My grandparents stayed at Polynesian back in the 60s. Hard to fathom my family has been Parker regulars for 60 years

 

[guest hs]

Been to that bar many times in the early 90’s great place!

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

Does anyone remember the waterslides in Parker? I remember them when I was a kid in about 1976 or 1977 and my my dad dropping us off the boat on the rocks in front to go up and ride the slides. They were concrete waterslides and they gave you a foam mat to sit on to ride down. Not sure where it was? I'm thinking it was where Buckskin is now on the south side riverfront?

 

[C-Ya]

Does anyone remember the waterslides in Parker? I remember them when I was a kid in about 1976 or 1977 and my my dad dropping us off the boat on the rocks in front to go up and ride the slides. They were concrete waterslides and they gave you a foam mat to sit on to ride down. Not sure where it was? I'm thinking it was where Buckskin is now on the south side riverfront?

The water slides were behind Rock Palace. Approx 3 to 4 miles North of Buckskin on Az side.

A little trivia……. In the late 60’s. Big Ben had huge water slides in front, where dock is currently. At least they seemed huge when I was 6. Lol

 

[TPC]

It was always part of our river trips.
On quiet days before the family arrived I'd set up camp, head over, watch baseball, bet the horses, enjoy the atmosphere and meet interesting people.
Didn't have "River Food."

It was a town meeting place for several service clubs too.
Had a unique character all it's own.
Anyone remember the house raffle - home drawing they used to do?
The big tittied girl in the Pink Boat that used to hang out there? What ever became of her?

Nothing took Sports Valleys Place.

 

[NicPaus]

The waterslides ended up in the Echo storage for years. Have to ask Phil what He did with them.

 

[Outdrive1]

You can see those concrete slides off the highway just past Gene Price.

 

[EarpRider]

You can see those concrete slides off the highway just past Gene Price.

This?

 

[rivergames]

I grew up as a kid in sports valley in the 80's. My dad and uncle would be there every river trip drinkin and playin the horsies. They'd give me some quarters to play in the little arcade room. I'd fish for the big carp off the docks. When I'd get tired, I'd sleep under the pool table. The french onion soup was killer. Great memories

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

This?

Yep. I think that's it.

 

[HB2Havasu]

This is when people camped with no air conditioner.

Yep that was us, lol. We would camp at Ah Villa (now Pirates Den) back in the late 70's when we were like 16 years old in a tent with a wet towel over you so you wouldn't die, lol. Then waking up in the morning to the sound of V-Drives and Jet Boats at Daybreak. Good Freaking Times for sure. I remember one of my first trips to the river my friend Joey (RIP) his big brother who was probably in his early 20's at the time took us to Sports Valley Bar one weekend. What an awakening that was for a 15 year old kid. Drinking in a Bar and seeing my first topless water ski babe that weekend. I've been hooked on the river ever since.

I still can't believe our parents would let me and all my buddy's go camping by ourselves in another state with zero supervision. Whole Different World than today!!!

 

[coz]

Crashed my motorcycle on old 95 back in the 80's after 99 cent margarita and taco night there. I just left the bike by the side of the road and the guy behind me gave me a lift to to the house. About an hour later DPS shows up at my house and asked if I crashed my bike? I couldn't lie because I was all scraped up and torn clothes. They didn't catch me riding buzzed so they gave me a ticket for taking out 2 reflector signs and leaving the scene. I do have good memories of that place besides that.

 

[RiverDave]

The water slides were behind Rock Palace. Approx 3 to 4 miles North of Buckskin on Az side.

A little trivia……. In the late 60’s. Big Ben had huge water slides in front, where dock is currently. At least they seemed huge when I was 6. Lol

Badenochs used to have gas pumps and a slide out front of it as well!

 

[boatnam2]

The water slides were behind Rock Palace. Approx 3 to 4 miles North of Buckskin on Az side.

A little trivia……. In the late 60’s. Big Ben had huge water slides in front, where dock is currently. At least they seemed huge when I was 6. Lol

Its a whole new big bend now, stacking new trailers there like cords of wood.