One of the best parts of living in San Diego – aside from the city’s pure magic – is the easy access to nature and charming nearby towns. From black sand beaches to stunning nature getaways and quirky bed-and-breakfasts, there’s no shortage of weekend escapes or day trips. And with fall around the corner, we’ve got just the spot for you to explore; a place with a unique name and a fascinating history.
Zzyzx, the hardest to pronounce town in California
According to a new Mental Floss report, which looked at towns across the U.S. with impossible-to-pronounce names, Zzyzk wins the title for the state of California. This unincorporated town in San Bernardino County was once a “healing waters” spa, and it’s now home to Lake Tundae and the Desert Studies Center.
Pronounced Zy-ziks, this place has a (hi)story worth telling. Curtis Howe Springer, a con artist, named the area back in 1944. He claimed that this would be the last word in the English language, and so his “spa” would appear last in any listing. He then created the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa by filing dubious mining claims on federal land. Springer used the springs to bottle his water and provide drinks for travelers through the hot desert, claiming healing properties.
Of course, much of it wasn’t true, as typical Curtis. Sorting fact from fiction in his story is nearly impossible, as he lied far more often than he told the truth. He often claimed different educational backgrounds depending on the audience, even inventing institutions like the “Springer School of Humanism.” Between the 1910s and 1930s, he reinvented himself repeatedly. He was a prohibition crusader, radio evangelist, Methodist minister, and self-proclaimed physician and lecturer.
Building and growing Zzyzx
What began as a camp of 20 tents, Zzyzx was pitched as a refuge for people from LA’s Skid Row. He offered food, shelter, and medical care in exchange for help building his retreat. Many of the recruits left within days, because of the strict no-alcohol policy. But some stayed, embracing Springer’s mix of faith, sobriety, and “healing” mineral waters.
The ‘springs’ were artificial pools fed by nearby Soda Springs. With a steady stream of new volunteers, Springer expanded Zzyzx into a sprawling compound. It included a 60-room hotel, a church, a spa with mineral baths, a private airstrip, a radio studio, and even a castle. The grounds were wired with loudspeakers, blasting his beliefs.
From Zzyzx, Springer hosted a syndicated radio show carried on hundreds of stations in the U.S. They’d feature religious music, anti-alcohol preaching, and requests for donations. In return, listeners received bottles of his so-called miracle cures – blends of celery, carrot, and parsley juice. They were marketed as remedies for everything, from bad breath to cancer.
Eventually, in 1974, the land was reclaimed by the government, and the town was abandoned.