In addition to its famous scenery and lively culture, California is a state with many untold secrets just waiting to be unearthed. An enigmatic road that leads to a frightening ghost town is home to one such secret.
Explore a spot that has been preserved in time and gain insight into California’s past at this lost location, which is cloaked in mystery and intrigue.
As we explore the spooky legends and obscure past of this mysterious place, come along.
Zzyzx Road: California’s Mysterious Road to a Unique Ghost Tow
Few people have ever driven down Zzyzx Road, and even fewer are aware of its storied past, despite the fact that most Californians have passed it multiple times on their route to Vegas.
With a few hours to spare and a penchant for touring deserted locations, Zzyzx might be the greatest side trip in Southern California for those with an interest in contemporary history.
Zzyzx Road’s history in California
The region around Zzyzx Road is particularly intriguing because it has an oasis and a natural mineral spring. This place is ideal for a holiday because it has water despite being in the middle of the desert.
The land was home to a small base in the mid-1800s, therefore the initial “settlers” were actually U.S. Army personnel.
Zzyzx Road didn’t actually exist until 1944, though. In order to capitalize on the healing properties of the mineral springs, a self-described health guru named Curtis Springer purchased the mining rights to the region that year with the intention of creating a top-tier health spa.
Although Springer had been marketing health aids and supplements since at least 1928, Zzyzx would be his greatest success.
However, why Zzyzx? As for his last resort, Springer said, it would be “the last word in medicine.” The Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Resort served visitors who wished to use homeopathic treatments to cleanse their bodies from 1944 to 1974.
Visitors would consume freshly prepared food, such as goat’s milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, and rabbits (raised and kept on site in underground chambers), in addition to taking mineral baths.
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What to look for today when traveling along Zzyzx Road?
The Bureau of Land Management forcefully closed the Zzyzx Health Resort on April 11, 1974. The place is remains comparatively immaculate today in part because Springer had only 36 hours to leave the property.
A portion of the resort’s infrastructure is still in place, including the “Castle,” Pool House, and the remains of “Caruso’s Fountain” in a pond surrounded by palm trees.
Actually, a large number of the palm trees that were planted at the resort are still flourishing and provide a striking border along the property’s perimeter.
Although the resort’s remains are still open for exploration, the Desert Studies Center, a California State University field station, now occupies part of the site.
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As a result, experts and students frequently visit the Mojave Desert to study its natural features. You might run into other tourists when you arrive, or the location might be really empty.
Google Maps shows that there are signage indicating which areas are private and which are accessible to the general public. Reaching the location shouldn’t take long because it’s just a few miles off the highway.
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