Fruita, Utah

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Fruita
Ghost town
The historic Fruita schoolhouse
Fruita
Location of Fruita in Utah
Coordinates: 38°17′08″N 111°14′39″W / 38.28556°N 111.24417°W / 38.28556; -111.24417Coordinates: 38°17′08″N 111°14′39″W / 38.28556°N 111.24417°W / 38.28556; -111.24417
Country United States
State Utah
County Wayne
Founded 1880
Abandoned 1955
Elevation[1] 5,436 ft (1,657 m)
GNIS feature ID 1441249[1]

Fruita is the best-known settlement in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States. It is located at the confluence of Fremont River and Sulphur Creek.

History

Fruita was established in 1880 by a group of Mormons led by Nels Johnson, under the name "Junction." The town became known as Fruita in 1902 or 1904. In 1900, Fruita was named The Eden of Wayne County for its large orchards. Fruita was abandoned in 1955 when the National Park Service purchased the town to be included in Capitol Reef National Park.

Today few buildings remain, except for the restored schoolhouse and the Gifford house and barn. The orchards remain, now under the ownership of the National Park Service, and have about 2,500 trees. The orchards are preserved by the NPS as a "historic landscape" and a small crew takes care of them by pruning, irrigating, replanting, and spraying them.

The one-room schoolhouse was built and opened in 1896. The few students were instructed mainly in reading, writing, and arithmetic, but when the teachers were capable, they also studied other subjects such as history or geography. The room was also used for balls and religious services. It was renovated in 1966 by the National Park Service.[2]

Fruita is currently the heart and administrative center of Capitol Reef National Park.

See also

Popular culture

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fruita
  2. ↑ Fruita Schoolhouse PDF — National Register of Historic Places - Original Nominiation Form

External links

Media related to Fruita, Utah at Wikimedia Commons

Municipalities and communities of Wayne County, Utah, United States
Towns
CDPs
Unincorporated
community
Ghost towns
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