Photo by Christopher Mann McKay GNU Free Documentation License
You are headed east on I-15, near Baker, CA, when you see a strange signpost. To paraphrase from Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone introduction, “You’re travelling through another dimension…a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s the signpost up ahead–your next stop…” Zzyzx. What?
Zzyzx (pronounced zeye-zix). A word from the imagination of Dr. Curtis Howe Springer, who arrived here, with his wife-to-be, Helen, in 1944. Springer created a totally self-contained and self-sufficient town, in what was called Soda Springs. He named it Zzyzx Mineral Spring and Health Resort. What does that strange word mean? Nothing. Springer made it up, figuring it would be the last word placed in a dictionary and the final word in health care.
Springer could not single-handedly build his resort. Instead, he paid $10 a week and room-and-board to the skid-row down-and-out of Los Angeles to construct his dream resort. There was a 60-room hotel–called The Castle–a dining hall, indoor mineral baths, a large cross-shaped swimming pool and the Zzyzx Community Church. The main building housed the broadcast system for Springer’s weekly syndicated evangelist radio show.
Springer knew the power of words and used them well on his radio broadcasts, in promoting the resort, touting his medicinal products and the healing powers of the hot mineral baths, and more. At its peak , his radio sermons were carried by over 200 radio stations.
Springer’s 1961 brochure said, “Our hot mineral water baths, matchless climate and wonderful foods await you…” Another draw was the resorts fee–there was none!
Springer used the power of words to appeal to the conscience of resort visitors enjoying their free visit, whether it was short or long term. A sign on the coin box, near the exit read, “Freely you have received as God makes possible, freely give.” Perhaps fearing God’s wrath for not paying a fair fee, guests gave freely! Paying so well, that it has been estimated Springer’s annual income was between $250,00 to $750,000. So, what happened to his Garden of Eden?
Several things brought down the Springer empire. The Internal Revenue Service got him for income tax evasion. The Food and Drug Administration had him on false advertising. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seized the land, discovering Springer’s mineral claims were falsified. In 1974, Springer lost a lengthy court battle to keep Zzyzx and was forced to leave.
Today, Soda Springs and the remaining structures serve the Desert Studies Center (DSC), established in 1976, as a field studies station of the California State University (CSU). In cooperation with the BLM, the DSC is operated for the CSU by the California Desert Studies Consortum, comprised of seven CSU campuses.
Visitors to this desert-like oasis may stroll down Springer’s “Boulevard of Dreams” street on self-guided tours of the campus. There are interesting historical exhibits along the quiet trails surrounding Lake Tuendae (a pond). Look in the shallow ponds for the very small Tui chub fish and the Saratoga Springs pupfish. Also, there is a picnic area and parking lot. If classes are in session, please visit quietly.
According to Wikipedia, “Zzyzx was approved as a place name by the United States Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) on June 14, 1984. ZZyzx, CA is the USBGN’s last alphabetically place name.
To visit Zzyzx/Soda Springs, take the Zzyzx exit south from I-15, about 6 miles west of Baker, CA. Then, go 4.5 miles over gravel road to Zzyzx. Drive slowly–keep the dust down and enjoy the view.
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