Orange Unocal

Overpriced gas but convenient for some.

(Pumped 7÷02÷12 M @ 12:30pm): If you can risk rolling your car down to the intersection where the Lake Avenue Church and another gas station is located across the street, then do so.
I had just finished a nearly three hour roundtrip hike of Echo Mountain via the Sam Merrill Trail (
) with a couple friends, and I needed gas rather urgently, so I coasted down from the top of Lake Ave. and pulled into the Orange Unocal 76.
I had passed two other gas stations earlier (an ARCO, but they don’t accept credit cards so I never give them my business, and I think a Mobile but the cheapest was $ 4.09!), so I was in desperate need for some liquid food for my brave little toaster. There was a long gap between the Mobil and this station, and not at all familiar with this part of town, I unwillingly pulled in to fill up. The gas wasn’t cheap ($ 3.99/gallon) especially when I it’s about $ 3.65/gallon close to my house. But I didn’t think I had a choice because I swear the gas needle was about to break off from being pushed up against the empty marker! The station was big with plenty of room and pump stations, and at this time there were only a few cars. As I begrudgingly inserted the hose into the gas tank, I swear I watched a minor drug deal do gown on the other side of the pump I was at between two cars. All I know was I saw money exchanged into one hand and something else concealed passed off to another… as God is my witness! Now, this didn’t appear to be a shady part of town or anything like that, but I have to admit, I thought this was kind of cool! Nonetheless, with my Oakley cop-​style sunglasses on as I observed what I can, my tank was quickly filled up… with over 11 gallons of gas and $ 45.50 charged to the credit card.
There was no service to speak of. I mean, it was all self-​serve. The pay station accepted my credit card, the gas hosed flowed quickly, there were squeegees and paper towels (I contemplated wiping the windows of my transport but was lazy), and I got a receipt. Oh, and I didn’t happen to see if they had an air and water station.
Parking wasn’t/shouldn’t be any issue — it’s a gas station! If you need to park, then something is wrong! However, there was some room along one end of the station should you need to park for any reason.
Overall, Orange Unocal 76 was like any other gas station… purely functional and nothing else. However, being gouged on the gas prices I could have done without. It’s not like they’re some station in the middle of the dessert where the next station was 100 miles away! I found no value as noted by the prices I quoted above (total bill was around $ 45.50; no tip required), but I needed to feed the driving appliance. The atmosphere was clean, simplistic, and the location was good; don’t let the alleged drug deal scare you. The attire is pure casual, so put on the t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip flops. And they take my credit card of choice… AMEX!