All About Grand Junction, CO
Grand Junction was incorporated in 1882, and George Addison Crawford planted the first vineyard in Colorado near Palisade, giving the area the nickname of Colorado Wine Country. Today it is home to nearly 42,000 people. Fruit growing has been one of Grand Junction’s main economic activities since it was founded. Orchards of peaches, pears, apricots, plums, cherries, and wine grapes thrive in the semi-arid environment.
In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Grand Junction’s economy was very unstable due to its reliance on the vast oil shale reserves in the Piceance Basin. When oil prices were high, it was profitable to extract the shale to produce oil, but lower oil prices led to a dramatic economic bust called “Black Sunday” that kicked off after a single phone call from the president of Exxon to cut losses in the area. Fortunately, modern Grand Junction has a more diverse and stable economy, relying on tourism, agriculture, livestock, and health care in addition to energy mining.
Ruby Canyon Dental in Grand Junction, CO
We love serving the people of Grand Junction, CO and helping them achieve their healthy smile goals. Whether that means essential preventative dentistry through regular cleaning appointments, something more advanced like dental implants, or even cosmetic treatments like veneers to give your smile a pearly white gleam, we look forward to being your partners in lifelong dental health. Check this map if you need directions to our practice.
See What Grand Junction Has to Offer
One of the most breathtaking local sights is the Colorado National Monument, particularly if you can get there in time to see it at sunrise. At any time of year, you can soak in the beauty of the red rock canyons and rock formations. Another great local spot to check out is the Riverfront Trail, where the formerly bleak piers and overpasses have been transformed into vibrant artistic expressions in the form of art murals.
Grand Junction is known as the best biking town in America for mountain bikers. Kids would enjoy Rustler’s Loop, the Kessel Run, or Prime cut, while beginner adults will enjoy Three Sisters Park, and there’s plenty for even advanced riders to tackle, like the Lunch Loops trail system. There’s also a beautiful scenic downhill mountain bike park at Powderhorn Mountain Resort.
You’ll find a year-round paradise at the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, with more than 300 stream-fed lakes and things to do all year long, from fishing to hiking to skiing. There are also petroglyphs and pictographs left by the Fremont people, who farmed the region’s fertile soil from 200 to 1300 A.D.
