The location where James Dean's last photograph was taken

This is the location where James Dean's last photograph was taken.

It is situated at 14331 Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, California.

Back in 1955, this corner was occupied by a small Mobilgas gas station. These days, it is the location of a Whole Foods store.

The photograph was taken on the same day that Dean died in a car crash.

The actor stopped at the station to fill up his Porsche 550 Spyder, which he was planning on racing in Salinas.

Initially, the plan was to transport the vehicle on the back of a trailer (visible in the background). However, Dean made the fateful decision to drive it to Salinas himself in order to break the engine in.

Sadly, he never made it to his destination, as he was involved in a fatal collision on California State Route 46, near Shandon.

The Mobilgas station is long gone, as it was demolished three years later in 1958.

Although a "Casa de Petrol" station stood at this corner up until 2016, it was not the same station that Dean visited on that fateful day. Building records and aerial photographs prove that "Casa de Petrol" was actually built on an adjacent lot at a later date.

Note: A special thanks to Steve Conlin for providing us with information pertaining to the two stations.

Photos

Photos of the gas station and other related images.

Casa de Petrol

Steve Conlin has done extensive research on Dean's last photograph. After looking at property records and aerial photographs, he learned that "Casa de Petrol" (pictured above) was not the station that Dean visited. In reality, he filled up at a smaller Mobilgas station that existed much closer to the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Tyrone Avenue. At the time of his death, Casa de Petrol did not exist, as 14325 Ventura Boulevard was occupied by the Rosalie LaMore real estate office.

Last photo

This was one of the last photographs taken of Dean before his fatal car accident. The trailer in the background was originally going to transport his Porsche. However, the actor wanted to test his engine before racing in Salinas.

The Rosalie LaMore real estate office and its address (14325) are visible in the background. Notably, a wall separates it from the gas station.

Whole Foods

The lot is now home to a Whole Foods grocery store.

Judging by Google Street View images, the location where Dean's photograph was taken is close to the front entrance.