At the heart of Capitol Reef National Park is the Fruita Historical District. Fruita was a small Mormon pioneer settlement, one of the more isolated ones in the state. In addition to a moderate climate, it had year-round water flowing through the area via the Fremont River. Although this made the land well-suited for agriculture, Fruita/s claim to fame was its orchards. It became the fruitbasket of Utah.

Fruita faded away as the land was incorporated into Capitol Reef National Park. An old school house, a few old houses, the ... (more)