WTF – Welcome to Fruita!
by Kristen Lummis
In many ways, Fruita, Colorado is a quintessential American farm town. The town’s skyline is dominated by a grain elevator. There’s a busy local co-op and the small main street is grounded by the western equivalent of a village green complete with a circular park near the center of the town. Area families farm and ranch, and the Future Farmers of America chapter at the local high school routinely wins national awards.
Take a second look and note that the towering grain elevator sports the image of a giant mountain biker. The town park is home to Greta the dinosaur. And at that same high school, the mountain bike and ski clubs are popular extracurricular activities.
In the heart of Fruita, walk along Aspen Avenue and find gourmet coffee shops, brewpubs, bike shops, an independent bookstore, and boutiques. Scattered among the retail offerings is an assortment of sculpture, most notably an iron rendering of Mike the Headless Chicken, a local fowl whose life was famously extended when a farmer’s ax missed its mark.
Fruita is no longer just a farm town. More importantly, Fruita doesn’t want to be just another tourist town.
Instead, Fruita locals pride themselves on wholehearted hospitality.
As Fruita City Manager Shannon Vassen says,
“Any time is a great time to visit Fruita. With 32 miles of new trail at 18 Road in the North Fruita Desert, a downtown full of growing and thriving businesses, and weather that invites you outside year-round, there’s never been a better time to come see what’s happening here.”
It’s no wonder the town’s unofficial motto (as seen on countless black and white stickers) is WTF or Welcome To Fruita.
Celebrating the Outdoors
Much of what makes Fruita unique is its location. Local Frank Ladd, explains:
“I’ve been in western Colorado for twenty-two years, but I’m originally from the midwest. Of everywhere I’ve been, Fruita is unique. It’s a down-to-earth home town, but with all the beauty of the mountains, the canyons and a vast array of outdoor activities.”
Fruita is the gateway to the Colorado National Monument, a 32-square mile wonderland of red rock spires and canyons that became part of the National Park Service in 1911.
A magnet for climbing, hiking and road biking, the Fruita entrance to the Monument offers the easiest access to developed camping and the park’s visitor center.
In autumn, the Tour of the Moon cycling event is held on the Colorado National Monument. While this event is fully supported, independent cyclists can ride Rim Rock Drive through the park at any time, provided they have bike lights.
Rim Rock Drive is also the site of the Rim Rock Marathon held in November. An up, across and down route with a net elevation change of over 2,000 feet, it’s one of the most unique, breathtaking and challenging 26.2 (and 13.1) mile races in the country.
Perhaps most famously, Fruita is a mountain biking epicenter, with over 50 trails serving up hundreds of miles of rides for all levels.
New trails are being added this season at Kokopelli Loops and a new paved bike path, with some single track portions, will soon link Fruita to the Kokopelli trailhead.
Other trail systems in the area include 18 Road, with the largest trail network and a popular campground; Rabbit Valley, home of the Western Rim Trail; and Highline Lake State Park, a magnet for families and beginners, as well as host to the 18 Hours of Fruita Mountain Bike Race, held early May each year.
Rafters are at home in Fruita with easy access to the Colorado River and Ruby-Horsethief Canyons from the James M. Robb – Colorado River State Park. Campers can reserve their river campsites online, making the float through these glorious canyons all the more relaxing.
As for dinosaurs, the Museums of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey is a research center for working paleontologists and an interactive museum with animated and hands-on exhibits. Dinosaur excavations are ongoing at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry west of Fruita and the Museum schedules days when the public is invited to help dig.
Fruita Festivals
In April Check out Desert Rat Races, Golf Tournaments, Desert Gravel. In May 18 Hours of Fruita, Adventure Fest & 18 Rd., with Mike the Headless Chicken Festival in late May – complete with Music headliners with Concerts that are free and other activities that include a 5K run, a disc golf tournament, a regular golf tournament and more.
The Fruita Fall Festival is Fruita’s oldest festival, founded in 1914. A community harvest celebration, the Fruita Fall Festival involves local schools, businesses, and visitors in a parade, outhouse race, carnival and features three stages with live music.
Every month, year round has something to offer. Stay in touch here: https://www.fruita.org/calendar.aspx?CID=14
Kristen Lummis is a western Colorado based freelance writer. She is the co-author of a ‘Century of the Maverick Spirit -Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Colorado Mesa University’. She contributes to numerous regional publications and has extensive experience writing about the ski and snowboarding industry.
Featured Photo Courtesy of Arron Inagro
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