California’s ‘Hardest Town To Pronounce’ Has Officially Been Named — It Was Once A ‘Healing Waters’ Spa

Many curious and surprising spots can be found all across California, especially around L.A... From ghost towns near the airport to purple sand beaches and Swiss-looking landscapes. But this place is probably the most special of all, thanks to its unique name. At least, that’s what a new study published by *Mental Floss* reports, which mapped towns across the country notable for their impossible-to-pronounce names. The winner for California is none other than Zzyzx, an unincorporated town in San Bernardino County, at the edge of the Mojave National Preserve and home to the natural oasis, Lake Tundae. From “Health Spa” to science hub ------------------------------------ Zzyzx (pronounced ZYE-ziks) came to life in 1944 when Curtis Howe Springer, a self-proclaimed medical doctor and popular radio evangelist, invented the name and gave it to the area, claiming it was the last word in the English language. In this remote desert location, he established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa on federal land, after filing dubious mining claims for 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) surrounding the spring. According to *Atlas Obscura,* Springer aimed to create a “healing utopia” in the desert, claiming miraculous cures. He recruited workers from Skid Row, offering meals and shelter in exchange for building a hotel, a cross-shaped pool, and even an airstrip called *Zyport.* Springer promoted the site on his radio show, selling “healing potions” (actually made from vegetables) that supposedly cured all ailments, including cancer. His schemes lasted 30 years until lawsuits and government intervention forced him out in 1974. Today, Zzyzx is home to California State University’s Desert Studies Center. Source: https://secretlosangeles.com/zzyzx-hardest-town-to-pronounce-california/