What is the history of Zzyzx, California?
Soda Springs, a natural spring, has long seen human activity. The area was a prehistoric quarry site and projectile points and rock art can be found in the area. The Mojave Road ran past the spring, as did the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. Remnants of a wagon road stop and railroad artifacts are readily seen. Evaporative salt mining and mill sites can be found here as well. The name Zzyzx, pronounced // (pronounced as “Zei-zix” with the accent on the first syllable, rhyming with “Isaac’s”, not “physics”), was given to the area in 1944 by Curtis Howe Springer, claiming it to be the last word in the English language. Springer made up the word’s pronunciation. He established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa at the spot, which was federal land that he had no permission to use. He used Zzyzx until 1974, when he was arrested by the United States Marshals for misuse of the land as well as alleged violations of food and drug laws, and the land was confiscated by the government. Since
