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April 28th, 2004
Turns out that crazy road we saw on the drive to Las Vegas has quite an interesting story as well as a huge internet fanbase. There’s even a band named after it.
Apparently, some guy in the 1940s set up shop on the land and built “an elaborate complex that included a church, radio station, private airstrip and 60 cabins, along with a health spa with mineral baths.” The guy turned out to be an evangelist who claimed the title of doctor and minister.
“The American Medical Association came to learn of Springer through his radio show, quickly dubbing him the ‘King of Quacks’.”
“Springer’s enterprise drew to a close in 1974, when the government shut him down for food and drug law violations as well as unauthorized use of federal land. He was jailed for a few months and then retired to Las Vegas, where he died in 1986.”
“Today, Zzyzx Springs is home to California State University?s Desert Studies Center, run by Professor Rob Fulton of Cal State Fullerton.”
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