Ever been traveling on Interstate 15 through the Mojave Desert of California and wondered what was up with Zzyzx Road? Zzyzx is best known for the Curtis Springer resort founded in 1944 but once was an essential waypoint for travel when it was known as Soda Springs. Soda Springs was an important waypoint on the Mohave Trail and later a station for wagons on the Mojave Road. Soda Springs would even see service on the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad as a siding facility from 1907-1940 before it became Zzyzx.
https://www.gribblenation.org/2021/04/interstate-15-exit-239-to-zzyzx-road.html?m=1
Who in their right mind would name a place or a road Zzyzx? Sounds like something someone would do when they are absolutely wasted, or sky-high under the influence of narcotics.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on April 01, 2021, 06:49:37 PM
Who in their right mind would name a place or a road Zzyzx? Sounds like something someone would do when they are absolutely wasted, or sky-high under the influence of narcotics.
Apparently a snake oil salesman and a tax dodger (which probably goes hand-in-hand with being drunk or high).
Here's a fun story about the town (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/21414). Max is right about the guy being pretty sleazy.
Wow. That's an ugly exit tab. Definitely deserving the worst of road signs thread.
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on April 01, 2021, 06:49:37 PM
Who in their right mind would name a place or a road Zzyzx? Sounds like something someone would do when they are absolutely wasted, or sky-high under the influence of narcotics.
Perhaps someone who's a Dr. Seuss fan? The Lorax goes to the Mojave?
www.ihoz.com was the first road-related website I ever found and let me to MTR back in the day. I'm surprised it's still up.
Chris
Xkcd had a great take on this
https://what-if.xkcd.com/152/
I remember seeing the name on a highway sign the first time I drove from L.A. to Vegas and wondered: "What the hell kind of place is that?" It wasn't until years later when I learned that it was the last alphabetically-named place in America.