Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Zzyzx Road along the I-15 in California

In Zzyzx, California

Zzyzx Road is a 4.5 mile / 7.2 km long, part paved and part dirt, rural collector road in the Mojave Desert. It runs from Interstate 15 generally south to the Zzyzx settlement.

The name Zzyzx, pronounced /ˈzaɪˌzɪks/ (pronounced as "Zie-zix" with the accent on the first syllable, rhyming with "Isaac's", not "physics"), was given to the area in 1944 by Curtis Howe Springer, claiming it to be the last word in the English language. Springer made up the word's pronunciation. He established the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa at the spot, which was federal land that he had no permission to use. He used Zzyzx until 1974, when he was arrested by the United States Marshals for misuse of the land as well as alleged violations of food and drug laws, and the land was confiscated by the government.

Go here for more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zzyzx_road
Photo courtesy of slworking2

Posted via web from Barstow High Reunion

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