Blackwell’s Corner

If you happened to be in the area, please stop at this landmark — famous for being the American cultural icon, James Dean’s last stop before his tragic death. The store is huge and there are variety of snacks and souvenirs. The homemade fudges are super delicious. I admire the people who are trying to make a living in this remote town, providing an oasis (and toilet!) for the weary travelers.

Interesting place. Saw the sign for free samples of pistachio and almond bark! So I thought it sounded really good. We pulled over but there were no free samples. Had to buy a little sour cream size container for $ 5. Also bought some jalapeño pistachios (meh — kinda stale), and one of those wheels with a variety of flavors for $ 18. Back to the bark. Nonononononono… The «chocolate» bark tasted like the kind of chocolate they make into those hollow bunnies at Easter. Not good chocolate. Couldn’t even decipher the flavor of the few pistachios and almonds from that nasty fake chocolate. So don’t buy into the hype of the famous bark. Interesting stop though. The store is huge.

Quite the amazing super-​sized country store. This place is loaded with different local foods that you can sample, as well as purchase. If you’re a candy and/​or nut fanatic you’ll adore this place. In addition to the local food offerings there are the typical items that you find in a convenience store. Left loaded with almonds and other tasty nuts. One other thing to note… arrived here after driving across state from the Monterey area and they temps here were near 100 °F whereas they were in the 60’s in Monterey. So be ready for the sudden change in climate.

I’m not sure why people are complaining about their gas prices as they are pretty average. And realistically the only place for gas within a good 15 miles (or more) range.
My only problem was that the store carried very little food — and I don’t mean snacks — but actual food. There’s the «café» inside, which really wasn’t a café. They offered pre-​packaged sandwiches and potato salad.
I was hoping for more deli-​style items when I had stop, seeing how large the store is and that it contained a café.
The original Blackwell’s Corner store was torn down, and this new one built. It was James Dean’s last stop for gas before his fatal crash in Shandon. However, most of that nostalgia died when the original store was torn down.
They do have an enormous amount of nuts and fudge though.

Solid rest stop with delicious fudge and almonds. Very eclectic and strange store in middle of nowhere. A must try at least once.

As far as places to stop on the road, Blackwell’s corner is top notch. Not only do they have a great selection of snacks, drinks, and other convenience store staples, they also have a restaurant, very clean restrooms, and large variety of souvenirs and other items that you don’t normally find in a normal convenience store.
The employees are always friendly and we always stop here on our way through to the coast.
If you stop here just to use the restroom, please support them by buying something, even if it’s small. I hate to see a place like this go away, and the only way they’re going to stay is if they’re supported.

We always stop here on our way home from Santa Cruz for pistachios, almonds, fresh fudge, sugar free chocolates, and other jellied and pickled delicacies. This is great place to pick up gifts and shop local.
Historically James Dean’s last stop, Blackwell’s Corner store is most recognizable by being the only place off the highway with giant James Dean cut outs marking its entrance.
Stop for gas and snacks, plus you can even order a meal at the diner inside!

Well Blackwell’s Corner is always a stop for us. First it is just far enough from our house that the restrooms are very welcome, at least by one of the people in our car. The restrooms are clean and spacious, nice. Next if possible, I like to buy gas, to help keep the place open, I always buy some bags of pistachios, almonds, a salsa or two, some olives and various drinks. The nuts and the olives come in so many flavors! The gifts from the store are always welcomed by people we visit and the quality is always there. I encourage others to support and keep stores like this in business, with a few simple small purchases. The welcome ability to stop in a place where there is almost nothing in all directions is something to be appreciated.

I wanted to like this place. On the plus side, the front cashiers have always been friendly and there is a really big selection of nuts, jams, dried fruit treats, etc. I would give the front part of the store a 4.
But I have gone to the back twice now. The first time, the workers completely ignored me so I left. The second time,. they were just not pleasant. Not rude, but just. meh. And from what I was told. by the person I gave the fudge, too. It was dry and not really that good. Which is disappointing. I would give that side of the store a 2.
So calling it even at 3 stars.

They sell flavored pistachios! We bought chile lemon, habanero & hickory flavors. They are good but a bit pricey! :)

I never thought I’d be writing a review for a gas station, but this one seems to have historical significance. Needing a break from driving through wine country, we stopped here to stretch the legs and fill up. The store is huge, and they have a ton of locally grown nuts and homemade fudge, along with other souvenirs, like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe posters and trinkets. Bathrooms were reasonably clean. The creepy people statues were, well, creepy.
I’m all about supporting the local area, but the cost of these local products was pretty expensive so we only bought waters and gas. We did learn later that gas here was $ 1 per gallon more than the ones literally ½ mile down the street. So we should have waited. But if we did wait we wouldn’t have known that this was where James Dean was last seen alive. So kinda morbid and cool, but at a higher cost.

This place is an oasis in the desert. We really needed a break and this place had some really nice snacks and odds and ends.
The reason I am giving it only 1 stars though is because when I stopped here last weekend I bought about $ 30 worth of goodies (some honey, a drink, taffy, and hot sauce). When I checked out, my bill was about $ 30 ($ 32 if I am remembering correctly). When I checked my bank account this morning I had been charged $ 42, a $ 10 increase. While checking out the young man helping me said they did not offer cash back and guided me through using the keypad. My guess is that an extra $ 10 was added after I saw the original total and was pocketed. To me this is really shitty because I have been here several times before. It feels like a mom and pop establishment and there are even signs saying that they only stay open because of customers supporting a local economy. I could have just gone in to use the restroom (which was really why we were there) and not gotten anything.
Super disappointed :(

Prices are a bit expensive especially for their «homemade» stuff. I go often due to them being the only thing within a 10 mile radius of work. They have nice staff and see plenty of out-​of-​towners.

This is a great stop fri the normal gas station. Lots of goodies and things to look at. Plus lots of free samples of pistachios & fudge. The garlic & onion pistachios are AMAZINGLY addictive! Wish I could order more online!

Riding from San Jose to L. A, a guy tends to find the need for a rest stop. Heading eastbound on CA-​46 I needed refueling, rehydrating, and restroom break. If it wasn’t for this place i would have been a deserted, dehydrated, mess. Now normally this may have been your average trip to a convenience store. A bag of skittles and water, right? But to my surprise this place has quite some history.
Apparently James Dean, actor an pop culture legend made a stop here before his fatal crash. I’m not gonna give a history lesson here, I suggest you google it, I found it interesting. Anyhow stop by this place. Free fudge!!!

If you driven down Highway 46, you know there isn’t much on it, outside of Paso Robles and the wineries. I stopped for gas but realized in a short while that there is much cheaper gas at the 1 – 5 junction not too far away. But if you do stop for gas or to use the restroom, you must take a gander at this store.
For one thing, it’s HUGE. It looks like a building that a large in-​city flea market would be in, with half of the booths gone. The size of the building dwarfs the shelves of goods and some of the goods — jewelry and giant faux diamonds in glass cases — are too bizarre to be believed. At the far end is a 1950s diner that doesn’t appear to be in use but who knows. Checkered floors, jukebox, swivel chairs and red countertop. It would be amazing to actually stop in and have burger and fries here.
There are also a plethora of «stuffed» human sculptures that can freak you out if you see one out of the corner of your eye and think it’s a real person standing there. I didn’t get a chance to fully examine the dust bowl caravan and display. Not sure what it’s doing there but I got a chuckle out of it. This place is a sight. Go in. Buy something. It’s worth it.

A «gas station» by definition has gas. They have yellow tape around the pumps and NO SIGNS. You have to go in and ask then they tell you there’s no gas. They have a giant programmable marquee that could have a sign on it but I guess they’re too lazy, or stupid, who knows.
The restroom was out of most supplies and had one working sink for half a dozen stalls. The faucet was old and had a gross peeling texture that made me feel dirty to touch it.

Awesome visit. Never thought, this is James Dean last stop before the fateful accident. Wide selection of pistacios, nuts and fudge. They have a 50’s theme café that was closed at the time. They sell unique wares like lottery lucky charms, buffalo sticks ans shirts that celebrate the Indian animal totems. We had a picture taken on the James Dean memorial. Really cool considering we found this out by accident!

The packaging says FARM but the prices say BIG CITY. Expensive gas, too.
We stopped here because we thought the almonds and other nuts would be fresher and more affordable than other places. We got the idea that the farm was near here. Maybe this is wrong? Fresh, probably. But everything is too expensive inside, and gas too expensive outside. Won’t be back.

This gas station has a diner inside adorned with murals celebrating the career of James Deen, an actor who met his demise on highway 46. They also sell their own fudge, jarred fruits and typical convenience store junk food. This is a great place to stop and browse.