Palisade

East Orchard Mesa is a hidden passageway into Palisade, only accessible by a winding road that journeys through peach tree orchards and vineyards on the plateau above town. Trendy local businesses are seemingly out of place on this somewhat rural road, accompanied by wineries, diners and barn-style markets with neon signs. Prairies and horse pastures replace the desert of Grand Junction as two canals flow through East Orchard Mesa. "It's just field after field of vineyards with older and newer farmhouses tucked away," says Taylor Knight, a longtime resident and real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties. "There are still a lot of areas on Orchard Mesa to build, and I can see it being a place where newer homebuyers can purchase." East Orchard Mesa is home to wineries, cellars and farmsteads, which offer tours and wine tastings with a view of the cliffs. "It's a special area," says Rebecca Loucks, special event coordinator for Palisade. "There are a lot of really well-established vineyards and orchards, and it has spectacular 360-degree views of the valley." Restoration Vineyards provides a rotating food truck menu with a view of Mount Garfield and live music on a small stage. Carlson Vineyards has sweet fruit wines in a shady garden seating area, and friendly cats roam the premises. Palisade Pies is a café with an old-fashioned exterior and a sleek modern atmosphere inside with homemade ice cream and pies. There are several distinctive retail and dining options in East Orchard Mesa. Alida's Fruits and Anita's Pantry are convenience stores with an inventory of produce, jam preserves, and handmade gifts. Residents venture two miles north to Downtown Palisade for restaurants like Peche, an upscale steakhouse with creative plating presentations in a warmly lit dining room. Family Food Town is Palisade's primary supermarket and deli. East Orchard Mesa is a residential area with gravel roads trailing off the main route. Farmhouses and ranch-style homes often sit on multiple acres. Lots in East Orchard Mesa are well-irrigated with lush grassy lots compared to other, more sparse areas of the Grand Valley. Housing prices typically range from $400,000 to $900,000. "Orchard Mesa has newer, nicer areas and some older homes that need a little urban renewal," says Knight. "You can get a lot more for $500,000 here than you can in the Redlands." A ranch-style home on a half-acre lot can cost between $400,000 and $500,000, while modern homes and farmhouses with more property can be listed for $600,000 to $900,000. Large Mediterranean homes with horse barns on several acres may cost up to $1.2 million. Vineyards in East Orchard Mesa are common wedding venues because of spectacular views and location near Palisade. "This area is utilized a lot by people who love to bike. Bridal parties rent electric bikes for winery tours," says Loucks. Riverbend Park in Palisade is a venue for several of Colorado's most anticipated events, like the Palisade Peach Festival, which features a vendor market with fresh peaches, live music and food trucks in mid-August. The Colorado Mountain Winefest has sampling sessions and a grape stomp in September. The Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival is a three-day event in August where folk music fans can camp by the river. Much like the rest of the valley, Palisade is a hub for outdoor recreation and nature. The Palisade Rim is a hiking area that ascends into the Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world at 11,000 feet tall. The top of Palisade Rim is the Palisade Plunge, an extreme mountain biking trail that drops 6,000 feet to the bottom of the valley. The Bookcliffs are a golden mountain range named for their bookshelf-like features, and Mount Garfield is its prominent fixture with a challenging uphill hike to an American flag at its peak, which flies over the interstate. Riverbend Park features a shady disc golf course and a boat launch. One section of the James M. Robb—Colorado River State Park borders East Orchard Mesa with fishing holes, walking trails around a lake and places to raft on the river. The Colorado Riverfront Trail stretches 22 miles west, passing through Grand Junction, Fruita and ending in Loma. The Colorado National Monument is a large park with trails through desert canyons 28 miles west. Powderhorn Mountain Resort is located on the Grand Mesa with snow-covered slopes and cross-country skiing 29 miles east. The Mesa County Valley School District serves over 20,000 students in the Grand Valley. Taylor Elementary School receives a B-minus grade from Niche. Mount Garfield Middle School offers an International Baccalaureate program and maintains a C-plus grade. Palisade High School earns a B-plus, and Niche ranks it the second-best high school in Mesa County. East Orchard Mesa is a car-dependent neighborhood without direct access to public transportation. The Grand Valley Transit (GVT) system is active in Downtown Palisade, with over 10 bus stops throughout town, including three on Iowa Avenue. C ½ Road enters East Orchard Mesa, curving and changing names to 38 Road, which intersects G Road toward Downtown Palisade. Grand Junction is 13 miles west on State Route 6, and Fruita is 26 miles west on Interstate 70. The Grand Valley's central expressway is I-70, which leads west to Salt Lake City or east to Denver. The Grand Junction Regional Airport offers travel to the Denver International Airport, 15 miles west.