Zzyzx

For motorists traveling back from Las Vegas along Route 15, you pass the town of Baker (Home of the world's tallest Thermometer!) and then a sign to Zzyzx Road - a curious name and one many people must wonder about.  It's my job to find out about these types of places and so I made the turn awhile back.

Currently it is the home of the Desert Studies Center and run by the State Education Department, but its history is quite interesting. 



The man made lake at Zzyzx

It was originally called Soda Springs, and was bought by a Dr. Curtis H. Springer in the mid 40's.  He was one of those larger than life evangelist/entrepreneur types.  He didn't like the given name, and as he was know to have the last word in any argument he invented the last word in the dictionary - Zzyzx!

For thirty years, Springer manufactured ointments and other odd health products, and also produced religious broadcasts.  However he had bought the place from the Federal government as a mining operation, but because he never mined there, the Feds confiscated it from him.  He was in some trouble with his taxes anyway.

Today, the center is used to study wildlife and the over 200 species of birds that come here to the underground source of the Mojave River.  It is also home to the Mojave Green Rattlesnake - not a nice chap to run into.  The pronunciation of the name is Zy as in Sigh; Zix as in Six - the accent on the first syllable.