Amasa Pierce Orchard
The many orchards, including Amasa Pierce, that lie within a mile or two of the visitor center are remnants of the pioneer community of Fruita, which was settled in 1880.
Plan Around Amasa Pierce Orchard
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Amasa Pierce Orchard Details
The many orchards that lie within a mile or two of the visitor center, including those once owned by including Amasa Pierce, are remnants of the pioneer community of Fruita, which was settled in 1880. No more than 10 families ever lived in the area at one time, and the last resident moved away in 1969. Early settlers planted the orchards both as a cash crop and for subsistence. Trees flower between April and October, depending on the fruit they bear. Amasa Pierce Orchard, next to the Fruita Schoolhouse, features apple and apricot trees, which flower in April and May and late February through April, respectively. Apples are available for harvest in September and October; apricots are available from late June through mid-July. Today, the orchards are preserved as part of the Fruita Rural Historic Landscape, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can stroll in any unlocked orchard, as well as consume any ripe fruit they find. Fruit may not be picked in quantity, however, until the designated harvest begins; orchards that are open for picking are signed as such. Visitors should never climb the trees; safety ladders and hand-held pickers are provided. Visitors must pay for any fruit they take from the orchards at self-pay stations with scales, plastic bags, and signs listing fruit prices, which are located near the entrance of orchards open for harvest. The 19 separate orchards contain approximately 3,100 trees, including cherry, apricot, peach, pear, apple, plum, mulberry, almond and walnut. The National Park Service now maintains the orchards year round via historic cultivation practices.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Amasa Pierce Orchard
Compare nearby parks around Amasa Pierce Orchard when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Amasa Pierce Orchard
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Amasa Pierce Orchard while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Historic Fruita School
The historic, one-room Fruita School was built in 1896 when local settler Elijah Cutler Behunin donated land for its construction; the town was still known as Junction.
0.1 mi away
Ripple Rock Nature Center
The Ripple Rock Nature Center, typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, offers families lots of hands-on activities to learn about the history and geology of Capitol Reef National Park.
0.1 mi away
Fremont Gorge Overlook Trail
The 4.6-mile one-way Fremont Gorge Overlook hike begins just under a mile down Scenic Drive from the visitor center.
0.1 mi away
Merin Smith Implement Shed (Blacksmith Shop)
The Merin Smith Implement Shed (Blacksmith Shop), constructed in 1925, is in the Fruita Historic District.
0.2 mi away
Chinese Wisteria
First planted by settlers in the early 1900s, the famed Chinese Wisteria vine is now in a "rehab" of sorts.
