I've driven past Zzyzx dozens of times going from Los Angeles to UT and just learned of its fascinating history. Thank you for posting this. Apparently they're okay with folks walking around and checking out the remains so we plan on stopping by soon.
What he says at 5:40... I hope the Zzyzx sign never changes, at least on the interstate exit sign. That sign is what brought my interest to this place in the beginning and is one of many signs on the side of the roads across America that make road tripping one of my favorite hobbies of spontaneous discovery.
I did field work at Zzyzx back in the late 70's. We camped there. The buildings were so spooky that we all stayed in tents, even though the wind was so bad that we had to collapse them. We had fun with the bats attacking our kite one night. Be careful with the mud flats - every once in awhile someone thinks it would be a good idea to drive across them. It's not a good idea. There are also people with guns and they love to shoot things up. I mean things like car windshields. I don't know how good the road is now; back then they filled up the many potholes with broken bricks. It was a hard ride and one of our party ended up leaking oil.
I used to listen to him all the time on the radio station KG ER in Long Beach. His voice sounded so soothing. I always wanted to go out and spend “a day, a week or a lifetime“
I remember hearing Dr. Springer's radio broadcast in the late 1960's. Then, while traveling through the Mojave Desert in the early 1970's, we toured the Zzyzx Mineral Springs property and visited with Curtis Springer. It is always unfortunate when the dreams, the investments, and the endeavors of a lifetime are swept away by outside entities.
I also remember the radio broadcasts. I never visited zzyzx, but I did spend some time at Deer Valley YMCA camp in Pennsylvania. Some of the buildings there were from the days when Brother Springer built a health spa. Here is a quote, "The land that Deer Valley currently occupies belonged to the family of Howard G. Peck from about the time of the Revolutionary War. In the year of 1931 Curtis Howe "Doc" Springer came from Florida to open a health resort. He purchased and constructed his resort on the Peck property.[2] “Haven of Rest” was a free resort, running solely on donations. Springer was forced to close the resort in 1937 when the cost of construction resulted in money problems.
I started taking 'field study classes' in 1990. Over the next 30 + years I took over 70, I actually lost count.... So I am VERY familiar with the area... This was very interesting video, thanks for the memories....
Finally my curiosity over the odd Zzyzx exit sign seen going to & from Vegas got the better of me and eventually led me here. Little did I know the colorful history I'd find! Seems like a mega-millionaire could turn this oddity into something pretty cool -- an unusual stopover spot far more interesting than Barstow, Baker, or Primm. Is it really important that the government owns that plot of land? Why?
2 me. It seems its a sacred place, and the government found out something about it. Which is why those studies in different fields were brought there, im curious to know why , and what they learnt, even the bsld man said, theres tremendous potential in the mission. Chilling words, its sad how the government can just seize properties like that. Thats exactly what happened with mel's hole. 😮
Wow , he single-handedly help solve the homeless crisis in Los Angeles and of course the government shut him down after he spent millions to improve the land, and then they stole his property.
THAT’S how you view it? The land was never his to begin with. He filed a mining claim on federal land. Helped solved the homeless crisis? Translation: Extorted the homeless for free labor. He also sold fake heating remedies to the unsuspecting. The man got what he deserved.
I've driven past Zzyzx dozens of times going from Los Angeles to UT and just learned of its fascinating history. Thank you for posting this. Apparently they're okay with folks walking around and checking out the remains so we plan on stopping by soon.
Holy cow. That's great! Thnx
What he says at 5:40... I hope the Zzyzx sign never changes, at least on the interstate exit sign. That sign is what brought my interest to this place in the beginning and is one of many signs on the side of the roads across America that make road tripping one of my favorite hobbies of spontaneous discovery.
Wasn't Jim Jones from California too?
I did field work at Zzyzx back in the late 70's. We camped there. The buildings were so spooky that we all stayed in tents, even though the wind was so bad that we had to collapse them. We had fun with the bats attacking our kite one night. Be careful with the mud flats - every once in awhile someone thinks it would be a good idea to drive across them. It's not a good idea. There are also people with guns and they love to shoot things up. I mean things like car windshields. I don't know how good the road is now; back then they filled up the many potholes with broken bricks. It was a hard ride and one of our party ended up leaking oil.
Fascinating. I enjoyed reading your recollections. Thanks.
Marvellous. Thank you for posting
I used to listen to him all the time on the radio station KG ER in Long Beach. His voice sounded so soothing. I always wanted to go out and spend “a day, a week or a lifetime“
I remember hearing Dr. Springer's radio broadcast in the late 1960's. Then, while traveling through the Mojave Desert in the early 1970's, we toured the Zzyzx Mineral Springs property and visited with Curtis Springer. It is always unfortunate when the dreams, the investments, and the endeavors of a lifetime are swept away by outside entities.
I also remember the radio broadcasts. I never visited zzyzx, but I did spend some time at Deer Valley YMCA camp in Pennsylvania. Some of the buildings there were from the days when Brother Springer built a health spa. Here is a quote, "The land that Deer Valley currently occupies belonged to the family of Howard G. Peck from about the time of the Revolutionary War. In the year of 1931 Curtis Howe "Doc" Springer came from Florida to open a health resort. He purchased and constructed his resort on the Peck property.[2] “Haven of Rest” was a free resort, running solely on donations. Springer was forced to close the resort in 1937 when the cost of construction resulted in money problems.
I find this place absolutely fascinating, I visited recently. I wish that I could find recording of his old broadcasts, I would listen to them.
yeah they even renamed the road! what assholes. guy was generous to a fault and this is what he gets.
An old-time radio blogger posted a few of his 1930s broadcasts, mile-a-minute mini-sermons. The dude had a real gift for gab.
seriously!
I started taking 'field study classes' in 1990. Over the next 30 + years I took over 70, I actually
lost count.... So I am VERY familiar with the area... This was very interesting video, thanks for the memories....
God bless the memory of Curtis Springer
5:51 A house in Compton surrounded by sherrif's where they have a susp. . . ? Some things *never* change!
Compton has been bad since the 60s
This a 2pac qupte, " some things will never change " he says it i think after changes song
I used to live where you could get his radio show at night . “This is your old pal Curtis Springer here “ .
“Super Squatter” brilliant
Smear campaign right?😮
If the government wants your property.........Damn shame!
the government always goes after those improving things and refuses to do squat about those destroying stuff.
Finally my curiosity over the odd Zzyzx exit sign seen going to & from Vegas got the better of me and eventually led me here. Little did I know the colorful history I'd find! Seems like a mega-millionaire could turn this oddity into something pretty cool -- an unusual stopover spot far more interesting than Barstow, Baker, or Primm. Is it really important that the government owns that plot of land? Why?
Before the PTL club and Jim Baker, There was. :)
i wanna be 'round my vegetables, cart-off and sell my vegetables...
2 me. It seems its a sacred place, and the government found out something about it. Which is why those studies in different fields were brought there, im curious to know why , and what they learnt, even the bsld man said, theres tremendous potential in the mission. Chilling words, its sad how the government can just seize properties like that. Thats exactly what happened with mel's hole. 😮
Hello!
Wow , he single-handedly help solve the homeless crisis in Los Angeles and of course the government shut him down after he spent millions to improve the land, and then they stole his property.
THAT’S how you view it? The land was never his to begin with. He filed a mining claim on federal land. Helped solved the homeless crisis? Translation: Extorted the homeless for free labor. He also sold fake heating remedies to the unsuspecting. The man got what he deserved.
the gov loves to take shit away from ya
They killed off the indigenous that lived on that land....and then here comes dude who decides to squat on the land.... Jacobs...smh😡