Can’t tell you how excited I am about Tori Spelling’s new book, sTORI Telling ! I absolutely can’t wait to start reading it!!! I love me some 90210 gossip! In honor of Miz Spellings new tell-all, I thought I’d do a little post about the 90210 gang’s alma mater, the fictional West Beverly High School, which I stalked way back when I first moved to LA. In reality, the school isn’t located anywhere near Beverly Hills. It’s called Torrance High School and it can be found in the 90501 zip code, about 25 miles south of Rodeo Drive.
I found this location thanks to my go-to stalking guide and I cannot tell you how excited I was to be there in the flesh. When 90210 was on the air, back when I was in high school, I wanted nothing more than to be Brenda Walsh. I loved her cowboy boots, her men’s ties, and (most of all) her boyfriend, Dylan. In high school, I actually changed my phone number to 34-LUKE-3 – I kid you not! (Needless to say, I didn’t have many friends in high school – lol) So, even though it was 7 years later when I finally got to see West Beverly High in person and 90210 was long past its prime, even though Brenda Walsh had long left the show and Donna Martin was no longer a virgin, I was still absolutely beside myself! I never dreamed I’d get to see West Beverly with my own two eyes.
Unfortunately, Torrance High School looks much better on camera than it does in person. It’s lost a bit of its luster since the 90210 days and it is pretty run down in person, but I loved being there just the same! We visited the school on a weekend and pretty much had free reign to walk around. While many different parts of the school are recognizable from various episodes, most scenes were filmed in the center courtyard known in real life as the Senior Patio. You’ll immediately recognize the center fountain, large archways, and long staircase from various episodes of 90210. The Hello Day, time capsule and senior portrait scenes were all filmed in or around the Senior Patio. You will also recognize the main entrance to the school, which was also featured in numerous scenes.
Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂
Stalk It: Torrance High School is located at 2200 W. Carson Street in Torrance. The school was also featured in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, She’s All That, Skin, Not Another Teen Movie, and Bring It On, as well as countless other productions. The Senior Patio can be found behind the main school building. I suggest visiting Torrance High on a weekend, when you will have more freedom to explore the property.