Zzyzx - California — Abandoned Places, Gold Rush & Route 66 Travel Photography

Raise your hand if you've ever driven by the exit for Zzyzx Road, while speeding along Route 15 on your way to Las Vegas, and wondered at all about that name. I know when I was a kid that name always fascinated me. It was also very useful when you needed an X, Y and Z to finish a game of Alphabet soup.

I was on the final day of my vacation one October a few years ago when I drove the 4.5 mile, part dirt, part paved road to Zzyzx. I once again credit Huell Howser for inspiring me to visit an amazing spot in California. You can enjoy his visit by clicking here.

Once known as Camp Soda and Soda Springs, the U.S. Army established an outpost here in 1860. Miners later processed the adjacent lake minerals for a number of years and in 1906 the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad established a stop here. From 1944 to 1974, a Dr. Curtis H. Springer operated a health resort at the site he renamed "Zzyzx Mineral Springs."

The pond is very impressive and photogenic. Lined with lush vegetation and tall Palms, it is literally an oasis in the desert. I bet there were some great parties here back when the resort was thriving.

Springer built a number of buildings and created the large pond at this spot. He used the springs to bottle his mineral water, claiming they held restorative powers. The good doctor eventually had to leave his resort, due to some, ahem, alleged misuse of the land.

Today, Zzyzx is home to the Desert Studies Center, which is part of the Mojave National Preserve. Its purpose is to provide opportunities to conduct research, receive instruction and experience the Mojave Desert environment. There were a few cars near the buildings while I was there, but I didn't see any people. I wandered around for a bit, took some pictures, and cut my head on an old rusty window frame on the abandoned pool building.

The pool building is quite interesting and must have been quite the fancy place back in the day. There were individual soaking tubs inside the building, presumably filled with hot mineral water from the springs. Outside, a nice pool and what appears to be additional soaking troughs. A great view out to the dry lake too.

The interior of the pool house needs a bit of rejuv.

Lots of palms all around, and even a boat! Aground on the shore of this, deserted desert dream.

At the beginning, Springer’s resort grew to include a two-story “Castle” residence, housing and overnight accommodations for over 100 visitors, an office, library, church, goat shed, subterranean rabbit chambers, lecture room and a dining hall. There was even a runway for the “Zzyport.”

Even though most of the original buildings are gone, Zzyzx is still a fascinating place to visit and photograph. The paths are fun to follow and the pond is beautiful.