Fruita Historic District Review

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Fruita Historic District

Fodor's Review:

In 1880 Nels Johnson became the first homesteader in the Fremont River Valley, building his home near the confluence of Sulphur Creek and the Fremont River. Other Mormon settlers followed and established small farms and orchards, creating the village of Junction. The orchards thrived, and in 1902 the settlement's name was changed to Fruita. Capitol Reef's fruit orchards (Scenic Dr., less than 1 mi from visitor center) are still lovingly maintained by the National Park Service. You can often see mule deer wandering here at dusk, making for great photographs. During harvest season, you can pick cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples.

An old blacksmith shop (Scenic Dr., less than 1 mi south of visitor center) exhibits tools, farm machinery and harnesses dating from the late 1800s, and Fruita's first tractor.

Mormon settlers built the one-room log historic Fruita School (Hwy. 24, 1 mi from visitor center) in 1896. In addition to classes, Mormon church meetings, dances, town meetings, and other community functions also took place in this building. The school closed in 1941 because there were no longer enough students to attend. You can peek inside the windows and listen to a recording of a former teacher recalling what it was like to teach here in the 1930s.

Originally built by Mormon settler Calvin Pendleton in 1908, the historic Gifford Farmhouse (Scenic Dr., less than 1 mi from visitor center. 435/425-3791. Memorial Day-Labor Day, daily 9-4: 30) is one of the few remaining buildings in the area. The Gifford family—the last residents of Fruita—lived in the house from 1928 to until they sold their home to the National Park Service in 1969. Several rooms in the restored house are furnished with period furniture and housewares. The former kitchen has been converted to a gift shop. It's open daily from 11 to 5. The grounds are an idyllic spot for a picnic, too.

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