The New York Times, Bike Magazine, the Denver Post, and Outside Magazine have recognized Fruita, Colorado, as one of the best places on Earth for mountain biking adventures. Hundreds of miles of bike trails surround this Western Slope community of about 13,800 residents.
So, how did a town named Fruita become such a popular destination for mountain biking? And how did the city come up with such an elaborate trail system? Let’s find out.
From Orchards to Off‑Road Origins
Fruita, Colorado, was founded in 1884. Fruita.org says the Fruita Town and Land Company offered 5 acres of land, 200 fruit trees, and water to any farmer who could move to the Grand Valley and pay $500. Agriculture did very well for a couple of decades. By 1909, more apples were grown in Fruita, Colorado, than in any place on Earth.
By the early 1920s, things had changed. The orchards were gone, and oil and gas booms and busts from around the Grand Valley left behind the beginnings of a trail system that surrounded the town. For more on what happened to Fruita’s orchards, take the link above.
The Rise of Fruita’s MTB Culture
Fruita started catching mountain bikers’ attention in the ‘80s and ‘90s as Moab-style riding took off. In 1995, Troy Rarick opened Over the Edge Sports and kicked off local trail-building. He launched the Fruita Fat Tire Festival to bring riders together, which later evolved into the “18 Hours of Fruita” endurance race—an 18-hour ride around a 7-mile loop at Highline Lake…