Fruita, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fruita, Colorado
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Interstate 70 sign at Fruita exit.
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| Motto(s):
Honor the Past, Envision the Future
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Location of the City of Fruita in Mesa County, Colorado.
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 Fruita, Colorado
Location in the United States
Fruita, Colorado
Location in Colorado
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Mesa |
| Established | 1884 |
| Incorporated | April 18, 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home rule municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.183 sq mi (21.193 km2) |
| • Land | 7.892 sq mi (20.439 km2) |
| • Water | 0.291 sq mi (0.754 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,508 ft (1,374 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 13,395 |
| • Density | 1,697/sq mi (655/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−07:00 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−06:00 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81521
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| Area code(s) | 970 |
| FIPS code | 08-28745 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410553 |
Fruita is a town in western Mesa County, Colorado, United States. In 2020, about 13,395 people lived there. Fruita is part of the Grand Junction, Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area. It sits in the Grand Valley.
The town is next to the Colorado River on its south side. To the north are the Book Cliffs mountains. The Uncompahgre Plateau is also nearby. This area is known for its pinyon-juniper trees. The Ute people lived here first. Then, farmers settled the town after William Pabor founded it in 1884. Fruita became an official town ten years later.
Fruita was once famous for growing fruit. Today, it's a popular spot for outdoor sports. People love mountain biking, hiking, disc golfing, and rafting here. It's also close to the amazing Colorado National Monument. Fruita hosts fun yearly events, like the festival for Mike the Headless Chicken. The town's motto is "Honor the Past, Envision the Future."
Contents
History of Fruita
Fruita has grown steadily for over 100 years. Many families living there today are related to the first settlers. The first people to make a home in Fruita were likely Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lapham in late 1882. Other settlers, mostly farmers, soon followed them.
The town we know today was started on May 1, 1884. A man named William E. Pabor created the Fruita Town and Land Company. In 1886, a farmer could buy five acres of land, 200 fruit trees, and water for $500. Pabor saw how great the Grand Valley was for growing fruit. He even wrote a book about it! He planned the town similar to another one he helped found. For a long time, no alcohol was allowed to be sold or made in Fruita. This rule changed in the late 1970s.
The first town plan covered 80 acres with a park in the middle. Water from the Colorado River reached the town in 1907. By 1909, the town center had electricity. In the 1930s, Fruita joined several government projects. These projects helped families move to the area and brought electricity to many farms. Fruita also had a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. This group helped build things like the town library and the amazing Rim Rock Drive. This road goes to the top of the Colorado National Monument, which is 8,000 feet high!
Discovering Dinosaurs: Paleontology in Fruita
In 1900, a paleontologist named Elmer Riggs from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago made an exciting discovery. He found the first known Brachiosaurus altithorax bones. This spot is now called "Riggs Hill." Ranchers had been finding fossils in the area for 20 years.
In 1901, Riggs and his team found almost two-thirds of an Apatosaurus excelsus skeleton. This dinosaur is often called a Brontosaurus. They found it on the northeast side of Dinosaur Hill in Fruita. This is still one of the best dinosaur skeletons ever found! More dinosaur bones were found later, which gave the hill its name. These dinosaurs lived about 150 million years ago, during the late Jurassic Age.
Even smaller dinosaurs were found here! Fossils of the Fruitadens were first discovered in the Fruita Paleontological Area in the 1970s and 1980s. This dinosaur was the world's smallest known plant-eating dinosaur. Its name means "Fruita tooth." You can see a copy of it at the Dinosaur Journey Museum. This museum teaches you all about local paleontology (the study of fossils) and geology (the study of Earth's rocks).
Another amazing find here was the Mesozoic mammal Fruitafossor in 2005. Its name means "Fruita digger." This tiny animal weighed less than 10 grams. It lived like modern-day armadillos, but it was not related to them. This discovery showed that the first "modern" mammals lived during the Jurassic period.
This area is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. It includes other dinosaur sites like Mygatt-Moore Quarry.
Historic Buildings in Fruita
The stone cottage at 432 East Aspen Avenue was built in 1938. It was made by the Works Progress Administration. This building was first the Fruita Museum, showing off rocks and fossils. Later, it was the Fruita Times office and the town library. Today, it's the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce. It's been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996.
The beautiful stone house at 798 North Mesa Street was built in 1908. It's known as the Phillips House and is now the Stonehaven Bed and Breakfast. It's surrounded by old cottonwood trees and farmland. This house is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
The large building at 325 East Aspen Avenue was built in 1912. It was first the Central Grade School. After big repairs in 1993, it became the Fruita Civic Center.
Geography of Fruita
Fruita is located at 39°9′N 108°43′W. It is about 4,514 feet above sea level. This area has a high desert climate. The city covers about 18.9 square kilometers. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
The Colorado River flows near the city. The Colorado National Monument and the Book Cliffs mountains are also close by. The Book Cliffs stretch west into Utah.
Fruita is about 15 miles from Grand Junction. It's about 17 miles from the state of Utah.
Fruita's Climate
The coldest month in Fruita is January, and the hottest is July. On average, Fruita gets about 8.81 inches of rain each year. It also gets about 13.2 inches of snow. The growing season for plants lasts about 145 days. Fruita enjoys about 300 days of sunshine every year!
Education in Fruita
Fruita is part of the Mesa County School District No. 51. The city has six public schools:
- Fruita Monument High School
- Fruita 8/9 School
- Fruita Middle School
- Shelledy Elementary School
- Rim Rock Elementary School
- Monument Ridge Elementary School
Colorado Mesa University, founded in 1925, is the closest college. It's in Grand Junction and has many different subjects to study. Colorado Mesa University Tech also offers programs for job training and college transfers.
Fun Things to Do in Fruita
The Fruita Community Center is a great place for fun and activities. It opened in 2011 at 324 N Coulson Street. It has an indoor pool with lap lanes, a spa, and a climbing wall. The fitness center has modern exercise equipment. There's also a gym for basketball and other sports. Many rooms are available for meetings and events, including a library and a Senior Center. The Community Center helps people connect and stay active.
Biking Adventures in Fruita
The area around Fruita is famous for its amazing mountain, road, and gravel biking trails.
- Mountain Biking: Popular spots include the North Fruita Desert/18 Road trails (like Chutes and Ladders) and the Kokopelli Trailhead region (with trails like Mary's Loop). The Kokopelli Trail is a 142-mile long trail that goes all the way to Moab, Utah!
- Road Biking: Many people enjoy riding the 46-mile loop along the Colorado National Monument. The Fruita Farms/Highline Lake Loop is also a favorite.
- Gravel Biking: This type of biking is becoming very popular. There's even a free guide called the Fruita and Palisade Gravel Adventure Field Guide.
Fruita has several bike shops like Colorado Backcountry Biker and Over the Edge Sports. They can help with new bikes, parts, or repairs.
Bird Watching in Fruita
You can see many common and rare birds in Fruita. These include bald eagles, blue herons, and peregrine falcons. Sometimes, rare birds like the red-throated loon can be spotted. The best places for bird watching are the Colorado River, Colorado National Monument, and Highline Lake State Park.
Water Sports Fun
- Rafting, Kayaking, Boating, and Canoeing: The Colorado River is close by and has parts for all skill levels. You can go on exciting whitewater trips or calm floats through beautiful canyons.
- Stand-Up Paddleboarding: You can paddleboard at James M. Robb State Park, Imondi Wake Zone (which also has wakeboarding!), Snooks Bottom Open Space, Highline Lake, and calm parts of the Colorado River.
- Swimming: The Fruita Community Center has an indoor pool. For outdoor swimming, check out Highline Lake and James M. Robb State Park.
- Waterfalls: There are stunning waterfalls near Fruita, like Rifle Falls. They are great places to visit and enjoy nature.
Golfing in Fruita
Adobe Creek National Golf Course has three nine-hole courses. They are located along Adobe Creek and the Colorado River. There are also four other golf courses in nearby Grand Junction.
Hiking and Horseback Riding Trails
You can find many hiking and horseback riding trails near Fruita. They are in places like the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. Popular trails include Devil's Canyon, Pollock Bench, and trails in the Colorado National Monument like Canyon Rim Trail. Other great spots are Dinosaur Hill, Highline Lake State Park, and Rabbit Valley.
Hunting and Fishing
- Big Game Hunting: Fruita is known for hunting deer and elk. Hunters visit the area's large public lands, like the Grand Mesa National Forest.
- Small Game and Upland Bird Hunting: You can also hunt for rabbits, squirrels, grouse, and pheasants.
- Waterfowl Hunting: The Colorado River attracts ducks and geese for hunters.
- Trout Fishing: The rivers and lakes around Fruita are great for trout fishing. The Colorado River has rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout.
- Warm Water Fishing: Lakes like Highline Lake State Park have bass, catfish, and other warm water fish.
- Fly Fishing: Clear streams and rivers are perfect for fly fishing.
- Ice Fishing: In winter, when lakes freeze, you can go ice fishing for trout and perch.
Parks and Nature Spots
Fruita has many town parks, including Circle Park, Comstock Park, and Veteran's Memorial Park. The James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park is a large park along the Colorado River.
The Colorado National Monument is a huge area of wilderness, almost 20,500 acres. It rises more than 2,000 feet above Fruita. You can see animals like eagles, bighorn sheep, and mule deer there.
The Riverfront Trail system follows the Colorado River. It goes through cottonwood groves and wetlands. Over 200 types of birds live here, along with many small animals. The trail is still growing and will connect Fruita to Palisade.
Rodeo Fun
Rimrock Rodeo happens every Tuesday evening from June to August. You can watch riders and events like "Mutton Busting," where kids ride sheep!
Running Events
Runners in Fruita enjoy races like the July PteRANodon Ptrot and the February Sweet Heart Run. The annual Rim Rock marathon is held in November on top of the Colorado National Monument. Trail running is also popular on the many hiking trails. The Desert RATS Trail Running Festival has races of different lengths in April.
Arts and Culture in Fruita
Fruita's art scene is growing! The town loves to support artists. The 2023 Fruita Fall Festival focused on local art with a mural contest and art walk. The HeART of Fruita is another art program. The Fruita Arts and Culture Board asks artists to show their sculptures around the city for a year.
You can see local art at Orbit Art Space, FARM, and Lithic Bookstore and Gallery. The Fruita Civic Center also displays photos by local artists.
For music, there are Summer Thursday night concerts and the Riverfront Concert Series. Many artists play at local places. Country Jam is a big music event in nearby Mack. Shows also happen during the Fat Tire Festival and the Fruita Fall Festival.
The Mesa County Public Library - Fruita Branch is inside the Fruita Community Center. It has a reading room with a fireplace and meeting rooms. Local newspapers like the Grand Junction Sentinel share news about the area. Fruita also has active groups like the Fruita Lions Club and the Fruita Rotary Club. The non-profit Fruita Thrift shop has helped the town for over 50 years.
Fun Festivals
Fat Tire Festival
Since 1996, mountain biking fans have celebrated the hundreds of miles of trails around Fruita at this festival. It lasts three days and includes races, live music, and parties. It happens every year at the end of April.
Mike the Headless Chicken Festival
Fruita is famous for Mike the Headless Chicken! Mike was a chicken who lived for 18 months after his head was cut off. His owner, Lloyd Olsen, fed him with an eye dropper. Mike grew to be almost 8 pounds! He even toured the country as a side show. A festival in his honor is held every May in Fruita.
Fruita Fall Festival
The Fruita Fall Festival started in 1914 as a harvest celebration for local fruit farmers. Now it's a huge event! It has three days of music, carnival rides, a parade, and fun contests. There's also a youth pet and talent show, and many arts and crafts vendors. This festival takes place on the last full weekend in September.
Notable People from Fruita
- Pat Ament (born 1946) – a famous climber and author.
- Maggie Baird (born 1959) – an actress, writer, and singer. She is the mother of singer Billie Eilish.
- George Elder (1921–2022) – a Major League Baseball player.
- John Otto (1870–1952) – the first superintendent of the Colorado National Monument.
- Elmer Riggs (1869–1963) – a paleontologist who discovered many dinosaur fossils in the area.
Images for kids
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Location of the City of Fruita in Mesa County, Colorado.
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Interstate 70 sign at Fruita exit.
See also
In Spanish: Fruita para niños
