ZzyZx road

The name Zzyzx was give to this area in 1944 by radio peacher, Curtis Howe Spinger, claiming it to be the last word in the English language. He established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa about 5 miles or so off what is now Interstate 15 near Baker California. He used Zzyzx until 1974, when he was arrested by the US Marshals for misuse of the land as well as alleged violations of food and drug laws, and the land was relaimed by the government. Since 1976, the Bureau of Land Management has allowed California State University to manage the land in and around Zzyzx. A consortium of CSU campuses use it as their Desert Studies Center. Curtis Springer broadcasted daily a folksy, fundamentalist religious program from the radio station he built that asking listeners to send donations for miraculous cures, which were a mix of vegetable juices, shipped throughout the United States and abroad.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• ZZYZX
• zzyzx
• road
• baker
• mojave
• desert

[1highplains]

if you get off at zzyzx road go back over the interstate maybe a 1/4 mile or so park and get out and hike in maybe 500 feet give or take and scout out that area you will find a spring that someone has tried to camoflage. it looks old and it is very clear water, i found this when i had to stop on my way to vegas so my son could go take a crap!!

[JaniceLee2009]

Thanks. I was wondering about the pronounciation of that word. Having no vowels threw me off!! Haha.

[barry2446]

Like if Stone Sour sent you here :D

[sagehopper2006]

Used to listen to Curtis Springer on the radio..sounded like Andy Devine..i liked the way he would act like the singer on the next record would come in.."We have a song by Tony Fontaine, now...Come on in, Tony".. Then hawk his vitamins and l\natural laxitives..Stopped one nite at the ZZyzx road and slept a coupel hours beside the gate..Spookey place back in the early 70's..

[painebobby]

I used to listen to Springer in the 60s Do you have any recordings of his show???

[eskes762]

@jojojr2 like where and what?

[slippingaway9]

sometimes "y"  is a vowel Janice...

[slippingaway9]

sometimes "y"  is a vowel Janice...

[slippingaway9]

sometimes "y" is a vowel Janice...

[frnkieb]

@jojojr2 like hat? lol. its a dessert.

[larapin999]

I had never heard of Zzyzx, but my grandmother in Oklahoma used to listen to Curtis Springer on the radio broadcasting from somewhere in the desert via the incredibly powerful Mexican border stations. I was a teen. I well remember his voice, and I remember his preaching and advertising his "Banana Whey," which was good for what ailed you. You mention Curtis Springer had to be a charlatan. I doubt he was much more of a charlatan than many Catholics, Baptists, other religious people.

[DoddzyKingofSynth]

I want to go there, but I live in the UK =P