I’ve driven to Vegas dozens of times. Five miles southwest of Baker is an off-ramp sign of a road called Zzyzx. I would always giggle at the Zzyzx Road sign when passing it. I wondered who the heck would name a road Zzyzx (pronounced “Zye-Zix”) in the first place. Such an odd name.

On this trip, I decided actually to pull off the road and get a photo of the sign. Then I decided to drive down the road and see what I could find.

Such a silly name must have been made up. And I had plenty of time to kill and lots of daylight left before I hit Vegas.

The word Zzyzx was a name that was made up by a renowned crazy quack named Curtis Howe Springer in 1944. He wanted a name that would be the very last name in the English language. I think he succeeded.

Springer established a health spa and mineral springs at Zzyzx. There was a natural spring in the area called Soda Springs. He bottled this water to sell to thirsty travelers in the desert. He set up his wife and himself in a ranch, filed mining claims for 12,800 acres of land on this spot, and imported animals to make his ranch more appealing to visitors.

Springer spent a good deal of time as a Los Angeles radio evangelist. He proclaimed that he was a preacher, even though he had no religious training at all. He also claimed to be a doctor, which helped in his advertising when he set up the area of Soda Springs as a mineral springs and health resort. The area was supposed to be “the last word in health,” just as Zzyzx was the last word in the English language.

Springer claimed to have degrees from many academies and universities with names he’d made up. He claimed to be the former dean of Greer College (which never existed), and founder of the Springer Schools of Humanism (nonexistent) and honorary president of the National Academy (also nonexistent). He was the editor of his own magazine called “Symposium Creative Psychologic.” He discussed subjects like “success,” “Picking a Husband For Keeps” and health-related matters.

Springer and his wife made a fortune selling his “snake oil” products. He shipped them all over the world. His products were supposed to cure cancer, baldness and every malady you can imagine. He was a charismatic character and the epitome of the snake-oil salesman. Although previous attempts at more traditional health spas had failed the Springers, Zzyzx seemed to catch on, and travelers from near and far scampered off to spend time at the ranch.

As the ranch became more and more popular, Springer had to build a 60-room hotel, a church and even an airstrip. He hired Skid Row bums to build it. He even built a castle, planted rows of palm trees, and the spring became a lake which he stocked with Mohave tui chub, now an endangered fish. Street names such as “Boulevard of Dreams” were fit even for Vegas.

Once he accomplished this beautiful oasis in the middle of nowhere, he added on a radio station where he could provide music, preach scripture, and rant non-stop. His station broadcast nationwide. This crazy crackpot was known often to salute the U.S. government with his middle finger.

As with all good things, Zzyzx came to an end when the government came in and busted the “King of the Quacks,” a name given to “Dr. Springer” by the American Medical Association. Springer went to jail for medical fraud and other violations. After his stint in jail, he retired to Vegas and lived there until his death in 1985.

The area of Soda Springs was taken over by the Bureau of Land Management and is now inside the beautiful Mojave National Preserve. The site is protected habitat for the endangered chub, and Cal State University has a Desert Studies Center there.

The newer buildings are well maintained and occupied. The older concrete buildings still stand, some without roofs, and some in terrible condition.

If you choose to visit Zzyzx, note that there are rattlesnakes and tons of scorpions here, so be on the lookout for them. There also could be classes in session, so be courteous.

Bring your camera and you’ll have a tall tale to tell, something similar to a story that might have been spun by good old Springer himself. Have fun. I sure did.

Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel is executive director of the Community Hiking Club and president of the Santa Clara River Watershed Conservancy. Contact Dianne through communityhikingclub.org or at zuliebear@aol.com.