Gorda, a remote outpost in Big Sur, California, has long sold the most expensive gasoline in the contiguous United States. Recently, premium unleaded reached $9.999 per gallon—so high the pump display couldn’t show the decimal. The station, owned by Leonardo Vargas Flores, serves travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway with no cell service and limited amenities.
Despite the staggering price, customers mostly visit the mini marts, where a bag of chips costs $5.99. The station relies on diesel generators, consuming thousands of gallons monthly to stay operational. Vargas Flores, who took over after marrying the previous owner’s widow, adjusted the price to $10.49 after software updates allowed proper decimal display.
The high costs reflect broader economic strains: inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and California’s already steep gas prices averaging $6 per gallon. Gorda’s isolation—27 miles from Hearst Castle—and dependence on tourism make inflated pricing necessary for survival, especially during disruptions like wildfires or road closures. "When it’s busy, I save a little bit of money to put me through the winter," Vargas Flores said, managing the diner, Whale Watchers Cafe, which now sees fewer customers than in the 1990s.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing