Zzyzx Road: The Strange History & Hidden Wildlife of This Mojave Desert Landmark
October 2024 // Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, California
Camera:
Sony α6000
Lenses:
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens
Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens (SELP1650) *discontinued, link is for renewed version
Locations:
Caruso’s Fountain
California State Desert Wildlife Studies Center
Lake Tuendae
Zzyzx Road
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For how isolated Zzyzx is, the amount of attention it has drawn is surprising. This stretch of Interstate 15 is mostly uneventful. You’ve either just left Eddie’s World - car full of bulk candy, beef jerky, and made-to-order pizza - or you’re counting down the minutes until you get there. But something about the Zzyzx Road sign has piqued the curiosity of travelers for years, including my own.
Hidden in the Mojave Desert, Zzyzx started as a health spa in the 1940s, run by a so-called doctor named Curtis Howe Springer. The government shut it down in 1974 for squatting on public land, leaving behind an odd mix of abandoned buildings. Today, it’s a desert wildlife studies center for California State University.
For once, the timing was right, and we found ourselves driving down Zzyzx Road on a warm October afternoon.
Lake Tuendae, an artificial pond in the Mojave Desert, was originally built as part of the mineral springs resort. Though once a decorative feature, it’s now an essential refuge for native wildlife, including the endangered Mohave tui chub. We had a lovely time exploring the lake and spotted wildlife, including bighorn sheep, American coots, and more.
Gallery
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