Fruita Historic District
Without the irrigation made possible by the Fremont River, the community that is now the Fruita Historic District would never have been settled.
Plan Around Fruita Historic District
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Fruita Historic District Details
Without the irrigation made possible by the Fremont River, the community that is now th Fruita Historic District would never have been settled. Mormon pioneers recognized the life-giving possibilities of the river and settled here around 1880. The first settler of note was Nels Johnson, who staked his homestead in Fruita, then known as Junction. Fruita settlers like Johnson realized that the accessibility of water, along with heat that reflected off canyon walls, made the soil fertile, and so he planted the area's first orchards of apples, peaches, pears, plums, walnut, and almond trees. The area became known locally as "the Eden of Wayne County." Fruita residents (the name was adopted in 1902) also grew sorghum, vegetables and alfalfa. In 1884, residents built a passage called the Blue Dugway through Capitol Gorge, which extended to Caineville and Hanksville. The road served as a connection between these isolated river settlements and the rest of Utah until after World War II. The one-room Fruita schoolhouse, built by residents in 1896, also acted as a community center, hosting dances and box socials as well as church services. Farming activities in the area remained as they had been in the 19th century well into the modern era; the first tractor didn't appear here until World War II. The area's establishment as a National Monument in 1937 meant more visitors began arriving, and by 1952 the road (now Utah Highway 24) was paved all the way to Fruita. As visitation increased, the National Park Service began to buy up all the Fruita property that was still privately owned. The task was largely complete by the late 1960s, and many of the community's original buildings were razed. Although all the original structures from the settlement are gone except the restored schoolhouse, the Gifford Home and Museum and a few others, the orchards remain intact, holding approximately 3,000 trees. Today, park guests can visit the Gifford Home and Museum, as well as the schoolhouse and orchards. Visitors are welcome to pick from the trees in season, eating either in the orchards or taking fruit with them, for a small fee.
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Nearby Parks Around Fruita Historic District
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Fruita Historic District
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Fruita Historic District while the map context is still fresh.
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The Mail Tree
From the earliest days of settlement, this tree was a meeting point for mail delivery in Fruita.
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Historic District Parking Area
It's well worth your time to park here alongside the Fremont River and take the time to explore the Fruita Historic District by foot.
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Chinese Wisteria
First planted by settlers in the early 1900s, the famed Chinese Wisteria vine is now in a "rehab" of sorts.
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Nels Johnson Home Site (Chesnut Picnic Area)
Mormon pioneer Nels Johnson was not only one of the first Europeans to settle in what later became the town of Fruita, he also planted the community's first orchards.
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Fremont River Trail
This mostly easy 2-mile, out-and-back trail begins with a walk along the Fremont River and ends with a steep climb to a scenic panorama.
