When I was a youngster, during the golden age of prank calls before caller ID, my friend and I found the name Zerba Zzyzx at the end of the telephone book. We called Ms. Zzyzx and asked if she realized she was the last name in the telephone book. Much to our surprise, she pleasantly told us that yes, she was aware of that fact, and hung up. (It wasn't one of our proudest prank call moments.) Anyway, I hadn't thought about Ms. Zzyx for many years until I just saw this post on Weird Universe about "Zzyzx Road," just outside of Baker, California. I hope that Zerba Zzyzx eventually retired there. Here's the origin of the road's name:
Entrepreneur Curtis Springer decided he wanted to be the last name in the directory, so when he opened a health spa at a natural springs in the Mojave Desert he called it Zzyzx Springs, so he could promote it as "the last word in health." By 1965 he had convinced the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to rename the road running to the springs Zzyzx Road. (It used to be Soda Road)...
Several movies have been named after Zzyzx Road, including the record-holder for the lowest-grossing Hollywood movie ever.
Zzyzx Road (Weird Universe)
