Stories from the Grand Valley
Trail intel, local food, festival guides, and the odd headless chicken. New stories land every week.
North Fruita Desert Campground, Explained
Everything about camping at 18 Road: sites, fees, reservations, what to bring, dispersed options, and how to score the Grand Valley's best campsite.
The Hot Tomato: Fruita's Famous Pizza
Why the Hot Tomato is mountain biking's most beloved pizzeria, what to order, how to beat the wait, and how a pizza shop became Fruita's heart.
18 Road, Trail by Trail
A rider's guide to every major 18 Road trail: Kessel Run, Zippity Do Da, Joe's Ridge, PBR, Prime Cut, and how to link them into perfect laps.
The Western Slope Cowboy Gathering Has Fruita Roots
The Western Slope Cowboy Gathering runs this weekend in Grand Junction, and its roots run straight through Fruita. Founders, schedule, tickets, and local tips.
Fruita, Colorado vs Fruita, Utah
Two Fruitas, 250 miles apart. One has the campground and orchards in Capitol Reef, the other has the bike trails. Here is how to tell them apart.
Mike the Headless Chicken: The True Story
The real history of Mike the Headless Chicken, the Fruita rooster who lived 18 months without a head, and the festival that celebrates him.
The Fruita Fall Festival, Explained
Everything about the Fruita Fall Festival: what happens, when it runs, parking, food, and tips from a local for making the most of the weekend.
Moon Farm: Fruita's Storybook Farm
What Moon Farm is, why Fruita kids have loved it for generations, and what to know about visiting this quirky old farmstead on the edge of town.