The Bizarre Story of Zzyzx and Curtis Howe Springer

Located directly off Highway 15 in California, today, Zzyzx is home to the California State University Desert Studies Centre. However, it was once home to a health spa called Soda Springs or Zzyzx, with a somewhat bizarre story attached to it. The spa founder and owner, Curtis Howe Springer turned out to be somewhat of a conman, despite claiming to be a doctor amongst other things.

Springer was born in 1896 in Birmingham, Alabama and left school after the 9th grade. He claimed to have been in the position of the Dean of Greer College as well as being a Reverend, having an M.D. and PhD. However, it would appear that Springer never attended university or any other educational establishment after the 9th grade.

Seemingly, Springer managed to blag his way through a number of jobs, most of which, he was successful at. He worked as an insurance salesman, radio evangelist and a self-proclaimed medical doctor, calling himself "the last of the old-time medicine men." He created his own range of health products, which he sold through his radio show and via mail order. His radio show was extremely popular and was broadcast on over 300 stations worldwide. During the 1930s, he travelled throughout the Midwest, preaching and lecturing on health and hygiene, despite having had no formal medical training.

After making some money through his preaching and other ventures, Springer used the money to file a mining claim in the Mojave Desert, which he called Zzyzx because it would be the last word in the English language and his spa was to be the “last word” on health and vitality.

Springer built a group of cottages which he called Zycott and a hotel, labelled the Castle for paying guests. He extended Zzyzx to include a dining room, lecture hall, a pool and the obligatory chapel. He also installed a diesel-powered boiler to heat the water, claiming that the mineral enriched water offered miracle cures. However, the water actually came from the Mojave River. In order to recruit staff to his remote desert spa, Springer picked up people from the Skid Row, offering them work in exchange for food, lodging and a small wage.

Springer used his religious radio show to promote his desert spa, requesting donations from his listeners for his miracle cures that could heal anything from haemorrhoids to cancer. However, these cures were comprised of nothing more than common vegetables. He also published newspaper advertisements to promote his new health spa as well as featuring it in his own newsletter which he called, The Elucidator.

Soda Springs ran for almost 30 years with people believing they were receiving natural medical treatments. In 1969, several customers made complaints and one former employee described Springer’s miracle formula as 10% crust from Soda Lake and 90% Epsom salts. After an investigation by the American Medical Association, they labelled him the "King of the Quacks". He was also accused of tax evasion by the IRS, and the FDA accused him of false advertising. Springer was convicted in 1974 of fraud for which he served prison time. Springer died in 1985 at the age of 88 in Las Vegas.

The California State University took over Zzyzx in 1976, and today it forms part of the California State University Desert Studies Center. The remote desert location of Zzyzx makes it one of the best locations for bird watching. Only a few of the old buildings remain today from the health spa, but nevertheless, they are a reminder of the obscure story of Curtis Howe Springer and Zzyzx.

I just happened to stop by on route to Los Angeles. The place was very quiet, with maybe one more person having a look around. Zzyzx is open to the public. However, if you intend to visit please be mindful that classes may be in session.