Continuing our travels on Interstate 70 in the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, we visited the small town of Fruita, Colorado. This Western Colorado town had a climate that surprised us and the most unique story we've ever heard. In fact, the town of Fruita surpised us in more ways than one!
We made our way to Fruita after our visit to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We were working our way toward Moab, Utah and the town of Fruita was almost perfectly placed halfway between the two. We chose to stop here because of the location, and we didn't know anything about the town before our visit. But we quickly realized that we needed more time in Fruita than what we had planned.
A Brief History of Fruita CO
No story of Fruita is complete without the dinosaurs! Like the area that is now recognized as Dinosaur National Monument (almost due north of here in Northwest Colorado and Northeast Utah), the Fruita area was once a hotbed for dinosaur life. Later came the nomadic Ute Indians, and later still the first homesteaders arrived here in 1882, establishing the first school in 1883.
William Pabor opened the Fruita Town and Land Company in 1884 and the town of Fruita was officially born. Following his lead, the town established temperance rules. No alcohol was to be manufactured or sold in town. (The temperance laws here were not changed until the 1970s).
The original town plat was comprised of 80 acres. The first water reached the town center in 1907 with electricity coming online here in 1909.
In 1900, paleontologist Elmer Riggs was studying the area on behalf of Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. After discovering dinosaur bones in nearby Grand Junction, Dr Riggs and his crew made their way to Fruita where they unearthed even more dinosaur bones in multiple places around the area dating back 150 million years!
And then there's Mike the Headless Chicken! We share his unusual story in the video. THAT was completely unexpected and one of the most unique things we've ever come across! Fruita celebrates Mike each June with the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival. You can't make this stuff up!
Mike the Headless Chicken Statue
How Did Fruita, Colorado Get Its Name?
You'd be hard pressed to find a more fitting name for a town than Fruita in the early days. Founder William Pabor believed that the Grand Valley held great potential as an agricultural center for fruit production. Mr Pabor planted apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, and grapes in the Fruita area. And in 1886, settlers who paid $500 to his Fruita Town and Land Company received five acres of land, 200 fruit trees and water.
We would never expect to find large fruit productions centers in the high desert, but irrigation from the Colorado River began in the 1880s with the use of gravity canals, bringing water to much of the Grand Valley. And for a while, Mr Pabor's expectations were met with massive success. Between 1909 and 1910, Fruita yielded as many apples per acre as anywhere on the planet!
But the orchards eventually became victims of their own success. Most of the farmers were inexperienced in agriculture. Crops died in large numbers due to incorrect planting, overwatering, pests and improper orchard management.
Things to Do in Fruita CO
James M Robb Colorado River State Park
Dinosaur Journey Museum (part of the Museum of Western Colorado)
Adobe Creek National Golf Course (home of 3 9-hole golf courses)
Free Things to Do in Fruita CO
Pay your respects at the Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial.
And while you're there, visit the Colorado Welcome Center next door to the memorial.
Stroll through the shops, restaurants and breweries in downtown Fruita.
Enjoy a round of disc golf at the Snooks Bottom area and Fruita Riverfront Park along the Colorado River.
Hardcore mountain biking explorers can travel Kokopelli's Trail, a roughly 142-mile trail connecting nearby Loma, Colorado to Moab, Utah.
If you have a National Parks Pass, you can enjoy a scenic drive and miles of trails within neighboring Colorado Monument National Park.
Hike a 1-mile trail in the spot that started the dinosaur fossil excavations in Fruita: Dinosaur Hill. Interpretive trail signs along the path tell the story of the quarry site and the cave where paleontologists discovered one of the most complete examples of a Brontosaurus in 1901. Public restrooms and a picnic table area are located at the trailhead.
Tips for Visiting Fruita, Colorado
This area gets very hot during the summer (it was 100 degrees while we were here over Labor Day weekend). Plan to visit in the shoulder seasons or come prepared for the heat.
We really enjoyed the town's Farmers' Market! If you are in town on a Saturday morning, this is a worthy activity. Though Fruita may not be the fruit capital of the world these days, they still grow some nice produce.
Do NOT miss exploring the dramatic red rock landscape of the Colorado National Monument! You'll find it just 2 miles from James Robb State Park. The sheer cliffs and spectacular views are incredible.
For a scenic drive, be sure to set aside time to cruise the entire 23 miles of Rim Rock Drive. This stunning drive through Colorado National Monument connects Fruita with Grand Junction. Along the way, you'll pass through tunnels and have the opportunity to stop at scenic overlooks with views of rock formations over 1.7 BILLION years old that will leave you speechless.
The national monument visitor center also offers Ranger Programs, a gift shop, and a small museum with hands-on exhibits and fossil specimens telling the story of the history of life in this region of Colorado. There are easy hiking trails with incredible views behind the visitor center.
While we didn't visit on this trip, we hear good things about the Dinosaur Journey Museum. Spending time exploring the museum exhibits (including real fossils discovered in this area) would be a nice way to spend a hot afternoon while learning more about what makes this region special. You'll find this museum next to the entrance to James Robb State Park. It is one of the Museums of Western Colorado, a collection of museums focused on sharing the cultural and scientific heritage of Colorado's Western Slope.
Our Campsite in Fruita
The people of Fruita, like much of Colorado, embrace the great outdoors and pride themselves on offering the best outdoor recreation possible. Here even the public art sculptures feature the outdoor adventures of mountain bikers, kayakers and fishermen.
If you enjoy state parks, there is another Colorado State Park just 12 miles west of Fruita: Highline Lake State Park offers RV and tent camping, hiking, biking, boating, birding and wildlife watching.
Where is Fruita, Colorado?
You'll find Fruita CO on Interstate 70 just west of Grand Junction, Colorado. It is in Western Colorado in the high desert on the Colorado Plateau. Fruita is surrounded by the Colorado River, Colorado National Monument and the Book Cliffs Mountain Range, west of Colorado's Grand Mesa.
Our Basecamp for This Visit
📍 James M Robb Colorado River State Park in Fruita, Colorado.
James Robb is a collection of state parks in several towns along the Colorado River. So, as we mention in the video, be sure that you know which campus you are going to if you book reservations. This park was very nice, clean, and well-maintained with friendly park rangers. It was conveniently located on the edge of the town of Fruita with Colorado National Monument just a few miles away. Several restaurants are very nearby.
The park roads are in great shape and the easy to travel with an RV. There are pull-through and back-in sites with 30 and 50amp electricity and a very nice, clean dump station. This state park is an excellent basecamp for exploring the area. We did, however, have consistent issues with weak electrical breakers due to the extreme heat and holiday weekend. (The park was full for the holiday.) Unfortunately, the maintenance park ranger was not available to replace breakers during the holiday weekend.
For More Information on Visiting Fruita CO
Visit the Fruita Tourism website.
Fruita, Colorado Fun Facts
Approximate Population
13,508
Elevation
4,514'
Year Founded
1884
Average Summer Temperatures
50° - 93°
Average Winter Temperatures
13° - 46°
Geographic Area
8.2 square miles
A Few Photos from Our Visit to Fruita
Entering Colorado National Monument
Hiking in the Monument
Fruita Farmers Market
Creative Little Library
Well Lit State Park Sign
