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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Nels Johnson Home Site (Chesnut Picnic Area) Details
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. Arriving in the Capitol Reef area in 1880, Johnson saw that the water from the Fremont River plus the sunlight and heat reflected off the canyon walls of the Waterpocket Fold, made for rich soil and fertile ground for fruit trees. Johnson planted trees bearing apples, peaches, pears, plums, walnuts, and almonds, and today the park service uses these same fields to raise traditional varieties of fruit. Visitors can pick fruit here in season and enjoy a respite at the shady picnic area nearby, which also has accessible restrooms.
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Nearby Parks Around Nels Johnson Home Site (Chesnut Picnic Area)
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Nearby Points of Interest Around Nels Johnson Home Site (Chesnut Picnic Area)
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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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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.
0.1 mi away
Chinese Wisteria
First planted by settlers in the early 1900s, the famed Chinese Wisteria vine is now in a "rehab" of sorts.
0.1 mi away
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.
