James Dean’s Last Stop!
Memorial to James Dean “Too fast to live, too young to die, bye bye.” Eagles
Inside of present day diner
By Brenda Magana
A general store located at Blackwell’s Corner by the intersection of State Highways 33 and 46 was where famous 50’s movie star James Dean made his last stop before his fatal car accident a few miles further down the road. James Dean was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder, which he named “Little Bastard,” to Salinas, California, to attend a car race.
The last things Dean was able to enjoy before his unfortunate death was an apple, a Coca-Cola and the fresh country air. After his death, the general store changed its name to “James Dean’s Last Stop!” in memory of the famous actor. Remodeled in 2010, the store added a “Forever Young Restaurant” and “East of Eden Fudge Factory” to keep James Dean’s memory alive.
The restaurant offers classic food such as cheeseburgers and fries, patty melts, Frito boats, club sandwiches, milkshakes, floats, and other classic 50’s diner fare. The fudge factory offers 30 delicious and creative flavors to choose from. Maple nut, peanut butter chocolate, cookies n’ cream, chewy praline, red velvet, rocky road, you name it, they have it! The factory also sells homemade bark and “Ashers” delicious chocolates. The store also sales locally grown pistachios, almonds, cashews, walnuts, and pecans. The pistachios and almonds are offered in a variety of flavors as well. They sell hickory, BBQ, habanero, chili lemon, garlic onion, roasted, salted, and more. Last but not least, they also carry some of Paso Robles finest wines such as Sunset Red III, Robles Rojos, Muscat Blanc, Chardonnay, and Cameo.
If you happen to be passing by, make sure to check out this amazing and memorable store; trust me you won’t regret it.
Photo of store where James Dean made his last stop.
Fudge for sale