Fruita, Utah

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.

It was established in 1880 by Mormons under the name "Junction," and first in 1902 [ [http://www.capitol.reef.national-park.com/info.htm#red Red Rock Eden: The Story of Fruita and the Orchards] ] or 1904 [ [http://www.onlineutah.com/fruitahistorya.shtml History of Fruita] ] became known as Fruita. In 1900 Fruita was named "The Eden of Wayne County" for its large orchards.

Today the 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, pruning, irrigating, replanting, and spraying.

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.

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