It seems like everyone talks about the pies at Gifford Homestead - while we were in the Capitol Reef visitors center, almost every single person in line to talk to the rangers asked where to pick up pies! Of course we got into it as well, dropping in a bit before lunch on a overcast Monday morning. As we waited in line, the cashier told us that last year, the store sold over 81k pies! We ended up picking one plus a delicious looking cinnamon roll in the cabinet. Mixed Berry Pie ($8.50) - This is a mini, personal sized pie, with an extremely flaky pie crust, filled with plenty of sweet and tangy mixed berry compote, and then topped with some baked crunchy oat crumble. I believe the crust uses shortening instead of butter or lard considering the taste, but the texture is pretty much perfectly flaky. It's thin on the bottom of the pie, but doesn't get soaked through with the berries. The sides are a bit thicker to give more baked crisp texture with the flake. There's a good filling to crust ratio and the filling is quite good. It's not too sweet and filled with blueberries, strawberries, and other berries. I was honestly surprised that such a tourist trap could actually have a good pie. (4/5) Cinnamon Roll ($4) - Unfortunately this one is a miss. The cinnamon roll is dry, hard, and dense inside, making it not a pleasant eat. It's topped with sweet cream cheese frosting. (3/5) Gifford Homestead is basically a must visit attraction inside the park. I don't think the food is going to blow anyone's socks off, but considering the fact that it's in the middle of the National Park and the business has so much history, I certainly don't regret visiting! read more

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04/19/26 After reading the reviews, I had really high hopes, but sadly left disappointed. The best of our sweet treats was the peach pie, although it tasted more like apple pie. What I saw inside the pie was definitely peaches, but it tasted almost exactly like apple pie. It was good, but not something I'd come back for. The strawberry rhubarb was quite the disappointment. The strawberries seemed like they were not fresh and most likely frozen. They did not taste like they were in season and had an awful tartness that was not enjoyable as all. The cinnamon bun was slightly better than the strawberry rhubarb pie, but it was mostly just dry and hard. If you are going to purchase anything, I'd stick with the peach pie of the three things we purchased. Perhaps the apple pie or cherry pie are better than what we had, but I don't think we'll ever be back to give them a try. read more

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Great views, fast service, and cute market/pantry selection. What mattered most was the PIES...which didn't live up to the hype for me. Crust was not buttery/flaky - pretty flavourless although the fillings did pack a punch for flavour. Really liked the APPLE PIE filling (the crumble could've been more flavourful and crunchy). We also got the CHERRY PIE. I didn't realize they used maraschino cherries (which I'm not the biggest fan of), so it just didn't suit my personal taste. Worth a visit though, but don't cry about it if you miss it ! read more

Gifford Homestead - Apple crumble (3.5/5) love the filling, crust was very lacklustre. Cherry (2/5), just not a big fan of maraschino cherries - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

This homestead is located in Fruita, UT. It is a house with one room that is a dedicated museum. When visiting Capitol Reef, this is a popular stop. People come here for the pies. We did that as well. We bought a Cherry Pie and a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. We also got ice cream to go with the pies. They are pre-scooped and frozen in a plastic condiment container. The pies we chose were good, but I wouldn't say they were outrageously tasty. The fillings were delicious, but the crusts could have been better, flakier. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie & Cherry Pie ($8.50 each) Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Cream ($2 each) The Jorgensen family was the second family to live in this house. Dewey Gifford married Nell Jorgensen and became the new owners of this home on the farm wherer they raised animals and grew crops. They lived off what they produced and raised. In 1969, they were the last residents of Fruita and sold their home & land to the National Park Service. It was interesting looking at the artifacts in the museum. Funny thing is that the Gifford House usually opens on Pi Day, 3.14 or March 14. It then closes sometime in late November (date varies). While waiting to buy pies, you can shop for and purchase handmade items like books, quilts, historic postcards, jams, jellies, cookie cutters, and aprons. It was pretty busy when we went but it didn't take too long to make our way to the front to choose our pies. Staff was restocking pies on the shelves. We sat outside in the covered area which looks like it was once a carport. This was a nice stop, giving us time to stretch our legs, eat some pie, and take in the scenery! read more

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This place is absolutely BOMB. I got recs from several people to come here for pie and pastries and I was not disappointed!! I got the cinnamon roll which I promptly went outside and ate as soon as I bought it (it was delicious, even though it wasn't warm -- I'm sure it would have been STELLAR after a 10-15 second warm up in a microwave!). I also bought two pies - the mixed berry, and cherry flavors. They had a strawberry rhubarb and a peach flavor that were VERY tempting, but I was by myself and only had 4 days to consume the pies so I just got two. They're the size of a small plate/large saucer; I ate half a pie at a time and it was a LOT of sugar, even after full days of hiking. But sooo tasty, and very good after a short heat in the microwave. Perfect end to a day after dinner with a beer at the Bnbs where I was staying. Would absolutely recommend a visit here if you're at Capitol reef, it's a must really if you like pastries/sweets at all! read more

Gifford Homestead - The cinnamon roll (immediately ate this at the little picnic table outside the shop even though it was cold) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

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Buy a pie! Buy two. Also, the ice cream is homemade. You won't be disappointed, but shop early as they sell out most days.

While visiting and exploring Capitol Reef National Park, we heard about this homestead/bakery and terrific baked goods they create especially the homemade pies. After a long day of hiking, we stopped here to check out the history of the area, walked amongst all the fruit trees and of course grabbed a pie. This area was settled by the Mormons back in 1880. What they discovered was some very fertile soil that they were able to grow alfalfa, vegetables, and many different fruits. Over the next several decades about 10 families lived here in what was known as Fruita and lived productive lives. Today many of the original orchards remain and are still producing delicious fruit. The last private resident Dewey Gifford sold his house to the National Park Service and moved away in 1969. Two years later, Capitol Reef National Park was established. One can enjoy learning the history of the Gifford Homestead, grab a spot under a tree and enjoy a picnic, purchase a pie or two and breathe in the surrounding high walls and colors of Capitol Reef National Park. Be sure to come early to grab your pie(s) as they sell out quite quickly. read more

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While in Capitol Reef National Park we stopped at the Gifford Homestead to get some pies. We initially got an apple pie and the cinnamon roll. After trying the apple pie we decided to get the strawberry rhubarb pie for the road and it traveled well. They were all delicious and would highly recommend getting the pies while in the park. read more

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This was a cute little store with nice little crafts and souvenirs for both capital reef and the homestead. The stuff is priced good, but the only issue is that when I went theu were out of all baked goods and said that they usually are by 11 am. This is just the way it is, but it was a little disappointing to walk in expecting to buy delicious treats and have them all sold out. On the bright side, if you are lucky enough to snag some treats they all seemed pretty good when it comes to pricing. read more

Capital Reef National Park is absolutely breathtaking but who would have ever thought in between these majestic red canyons holds a tiny town called Fruita. Here is where you can find the most wonderfully delightful homemade pies! During my visit I tried the apple pie, mixed berry pie, and cherry pie. All of them were to die for but my favorite one was the mixed berry because of the crumbly bits on top and the sweet fresh berries gushing in my mouth. Get your pies early because they tend to sell out. You can enjoy them outside Gifford's house. There are some tables and with a beautiful view of the orchids, the barn, and the canyons. We decided to eat our pies at our cabin after doing a 6 mile hike. It was definitely a rewarding treat. No other pies will ever compare to these ones. read more

Gifford Homestead - From top to bottom: Apple pie, cherry pie, mixed berry pie. Pie Heaven indeed! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

On our last road trip we made a point of stopping at the Gifford Homestead for one of their famous pies. The line was long already at 11:00 a.m but the pie was worth it for a one time thing. I would not go out of my way to go back. We had the Cherry and the Peach and I think the Cherry was probably the best. They are large so you could split one if you wanted. read more

Located inside Capitol Reef National Park, there is really no better way to end a hike than with a personal pie. We had the mixed berry with a side of vanilla ice cream. It was heavenly. It's impossible to leave the national park without picking up a pie (and there's a line to prove it). Sitting outside on the picnic benches right next to the horses is not a bad setting either. read more

Other reviews cover the history, answering "wait, why is there fresh pie in a national park?" In any case--it's exceptional pie even by real-life standards, let alone for a national park eatery! Personal sizes are appreciated as a solo traveler, and they're delicious, with fresh fruit and a super flaky crust. The ice cream was not great, seemed to have melted and refrozen on the outside. read more

We had read online that you have to get the pie while in Capitol Reef NP. And they were not kidding. This pie was incredible. It's $8.50/mini pie, and it's 100% worth it. They have so many good flavors to choose from - we loved the apple, cherry, and strawberry rhubarb. They also have cinnamon rolls for those who are pie fans, and they're pretty good too. They also sell other local goods inside, such as fresh jams and jellies and kitchen supplies. They have a wonderful picnic area right outside if you want to enjoy your pie. The entire area is so relaxing, there's a river flowing right behind the home, and you'll have a beautiful view of Capitol Reef around you. Highly recommend getting here in the morning. These pies are popular, and they go fast. So they will be gone by sometime in the afternoon before the officially close. This is a must-stop while visiting Capitol Reef NP. read more

Gifford Homestead - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

After everyone I knew and every blog I read said you have to come here for pie when visiting Capitol Reef, obviously we had to stop for pie. We got there close to when they opened because we didn't want them to sell out. We tried: - Cinnamon Roll - Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - Mixed Berry Pie - Peach Pie I loved all of them. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the mixed berry pie. The pies are small mini pies, not full size pies which I prefer. I'd recommend stopping by for some pie while visiting the park! read more

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"Don't change your recipe for cherry pie EVER. It's just how my mom used to make it." That's the first thing I heard from an obviously very pleased customer when I walked through the door of Gifford House. So how could we not get a cherry pie with that rave review? In our two night stay here, we managed to devour four pies. We loved the peach and cherry pies! The mixed berry was pretty good too. Apple was ok. Also, we were there first thing in the morning and felt so lucky to get the highly coveted cinnamon roll. Not sure what the fuss is about, sorry to say. It was dry and hard. If you're worried you will miss the pies, the lady told us they usually sell out around 3pm. Can't wait to share and taste the unique jams that we purchased too! read more

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The crusts of the pies were really good! The fillings were fine. There was plenty of space to eat. The different fruit trees were cool. My dad was disappointed that there was only one room talking about the history of it. read more

Gifford Homestead - Apple pie and strawberry rhubarb pie - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

We heard lots of chatter about the pie at the Gifford Homestead in Fruita, so we stopped by after exploring Capitol Reef for the morning! They have tons of pies options (apple, cherry, strawberry rhubarb, berry, etc) and we definitely had a hard time deciding. They also sell other baked goods like sourdough and cinnamon rolls, salsas, pickled veggies, etc. We ended up getting an apple pie ($6.50) and a cinnamon roll ($3.25). The apple pie was tasty! It was a mini pie that was more of an apple crumble than a pie, I'd say. There was lots of crispy, sweet crumble on top and had a very thin crust. It was filled with lots of apples slices, and perfect to split between two people. The cinnamon roll was definitely the winner! Very doughy and cinnamon-y with delicious delicious cream cheese frosting. And a big portion for $3.25! Would highly recommend. read more

Gifford Homestead - Apple pie - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

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Treats: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Overall: Come for the views...stay for the pie! The extended review... Treats: Cinnamon Rolls: 3/5 - Not too shabby. A nice treat after a long hike. Pies: 3/5 - These are actually made at the Broken Spur from what we were told. The Peach and the Mixed Berry were good though pretty standard fare I'd say. Definitely a nice thing to have as a treat after hiking. Be sure to get here early in the morning. Service: 4/5 - Friendly service from the staff. Ambiance: 5/5 - It's such a cute little store that sells everything from treats to preserves to tea towels. read more

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The best cinnamon rolls around! Sell out an hour after opening typically! The pies are awesome as well!

The pies!! Delicious and a nice after hike treat. Definitely pick up your pie as early as possible to have the best selection. The mixed berry and peach were both delicious. read more

Adorable shop with a wide selection of pies, jams/jellies, sauces, bread, cinnamon rolls, and kitchen accessories. We got a mixed berry pie to share which was delicious, the streusel topping was great. read more

Gifford Homestead - Mixed berry pie - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

My friend and I had to stop here on our way through the park during our Utah road trip to all the "Mighty Five" of Utah's National Parks. I had seen the pies here mentioned multiple times on review websites so we stopped by and easily found parking in a gravel/grass lot nearby and walked over. It's in Fruita, which is neat because most National Parks don't have a town/settlement with stores like this but because of the unique nature of Capital Reef National Park, this little settlement remains and this "town" hosts the employee residences as well as a bunch of fruit trees where you can pick fruit to take. It's definitely an interesting stop-off and a unique one for this gal. The Homestead is a set of unassuming and small buildings including a barn and a small "home" with about three rooms inside. This is the store where you find the pies. The inside is small and cozy with a main room where the pies and some other snacks and cookies and granola bars and stuff are available to purchase as well as another small room in the back with home goods for sale like mugs and keepsakes. You can purchase individually wrapped ice creams to have with your pies and they have a few different flavors of pie to choose from. They also have jams and jellies and honey for sale you can purchase and take with you. It was all locally made and delicious. I purchased a very sturdy and pretty mug as a keepsake and two Strawberry rhubarb pies to enjoy later that night in our hotel as well as a granola bar for after our upcoming hikeS in the park. Delicious! Everything I got was good. I loved the snack bar (though I admit I probably wasn't very discerning after about 12 miles of hiking) and the pies were rich and delicious and filling with large pieces of strawberry inside. No muss no fuss here but it's a place you gotta stop if you're already in the park! read more

The pies were excellent! We tried peach & strawberry rhubarb. We also got salsa. Everything was great

Such a cool pie shop ran by the historical society inside of Capital Reef National Park!They sell fresh pies and cinnamon rolls everyday until they sell out. They also sell different souvenirs such as stickers and jams. I tried five different pies during the week I was here and the apple was my favorite. All of the pies are delicious but the apple has a special crumble topping that was amazing. Come early in the day to guarantee you get the pie you want. read more

Gifford Homestead - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

Amazing pies, and gift shop store. The 2 ladies checking us out were very pleasant, friendly, & efficient. read more

This place and the orchards were the reasons why we decided to visit Capitol Reef National Park and it did not disappoint! They have a few items from the Gifford house that you can buy at the visitors center, but I recommend stopping by this place if you have the time. Location: If you go the visitor center, take the road directly right out of the parking lot. If you take the right on the main road, you're going the wrong way. This place is located between the visitors center and the fruit orchards. Pros: -great pies! -picnic benches outside -water fountain outside -limited covered benches adjacent to the house -souvenirs and gift shop Cons: -come early if you want to try their cinnamon rolls. They were out by the time we arrived. read more

One mile or so South of the visitor center on scenic drive inside Capitol Reef National Park, there are several reasons to visit here but the best of them may be homemade pie sold inside the house on the homestead property. Open from 8a to 5p the earlier the better for pie selection. Six bucks each, great crust and filling and big enough to serve 2 for dessert, lunch or breakfast. Strawberry-rhubarb has lots of yummy rhubarb cut in nice size pieces and not too sweet. Mixed berry, apple, peach and cherry too. Buy one of each; there are no calories on vacation and proceeds go to support the house. House and associated out buildings built by one of the 15 or so Mormon families that settled Fruita beginning in 1860s and who lived there into the 1950s, the original part of the house was built in 1906 and expanded in years beyond. Docents inside are super friendly and helpful. Now a part of the Park, this is a great glimpse at history. Parking in lot adjacent and overflow half block down on opposite side of street. The house is not ADA accessible nor is most of the property but exterior may be navigable with difficulty. Access compliance here could be achieved with relatively little expense in this built environment. But for now if a member of family traveling with you is, for example, disabled due to military service they are second class citizens for equal access here. :( read more

Gifford Homestead - Built 1906 by Mormon homesteaders in Fruita - now a part of the Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

I love Capitol Reef! It is my favorite of the Mighty 5. In this area, there are fruit orchards and deer aplenty as well as massive reefs protruding from the high desert. Pay attention to learn about the deep history about frontier life and how this area developed. On your way into Capitol Reef, there is the wonderful Gifford Homestead that offers spectacular pie, no matter the fruit of choice. Make sure to get there early as so many more people have discovered this pie haven in the last few years. They are pot pie sized and $8.50 each currently. I bought a bunch, took them back to Denver and then freezed them. All of the fruit is grown in Utah with a hearty and delicious pie crust; the mixed berry is a crumble. Note that they are made by the Broken Spur Inn but they don't sell them there. They also sell cinnamon rolls in addition to some items like jam and kitchen stuffs. read more

So cute and soooo worth the stop while in Capitol Reef National Park. Unique in the national park system and oh. My. Goodness. The pies!!! Just get one of each! And the ice cream... get that too. Sit on a picnic bench with the family and take in the beauty as you devour the pies! read more

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The gifford homestead was the best thing that day in capital reef. Great pie. The park area we wanted to see was closed for paving. So it was a wasted day read more

Get a cinnamon roll to-go to heat up the next day and eat a pie that's fresh the day you purchase these goodies- you won't regret it! Super yummy and not too dough-heavy. It was a lighter pie than usual, which made it refreshing after a good hike at Capitol Reef. read more

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This was our reward after our hot morning hike. I decided I had to get a pie after two different people told us to get one, even though I'm not a big pie fan. I had their peach pie, which was perfectly fine. It's not something I would say you must try. Hopefully the fruits were fresh and not canned. The two people working there didn't seem particularly friendly either. read more

Had a short stopover to but had a tasty strawberry rubbarb and peach pie. Bought tea and jam. read more

Gifford Homestead - Tea - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

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Gifford homestead is like an oasis within Capital Reef National Park And filled with Pie! Delicious homemade personal sized pies- cherry, strawberry rhubarb, peach, and apple. They also have a cute little gift shop filled with homemade preserves and salsas. And have sourdough loaves and cinnamon rolls( but they were all out) when we got there around noon. An amazing little spot! read more

Gifford Homestead - Cherry pie with an amazing backdrop - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Fruita, Utah

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These pies were delicious. Cherry was my fave. I loved the crust and the cherries were juicy and delicious. Strawberry rhubarb was excellent too. The shop was full of fun gifts like cookbooks and cute aprons and a variety of jams and salsas. Staff behind plexiglass and all guests in masks. read more

Pie crust was perfection. I was disappointed with how much cinnamon was in my strawberry rhubarb pie. A big is ok but this was enough that I couldn't help thinking "Please get Christmas out of my summer time pie." read more

What a perfect spot for pie among the historical orchards and bonus the pies are awesome! We Bought 14 pies. They are small individual pies and we had 16 people to feed. The are just over $6 a pie but well worth it! We got there after 1 and they were sold out of their bread and cinnamon rolls and we got the last apple pie. I would suggest buy your pie and bake goods in the morning. Put it in a cooler and eat it after a day of hiking in the orchards when you are surrounded by deer! We tried Apple- it was a crumble and okay least favorite out of the crowd Cherry - was a little tart but a crowd pleaser strawberry rhubarb - on point. Best pie! Peach - really really good Sold out of mixed berry The crust was a perfect flaky a lot of crust! We did try all the homemade ice cream. $1- cup and it was delicious with the pie! This will be a for sure memory stop eat pie when you hike spot for our family now on! read more

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This is a MUST visit. We bought a few pies and a cinnamon road for the road and they were mouthwatering. I would also highly recommend the honey apricot BBQ sauce. The sauce is so well balanced and tasty that we are sad we only bought one jar. read more

Tasty mid-morning snack after a hike to Hickman Bridge! We purchased the strawberry rhubarb to share. The crust was just the way I like it. The filling had the right balance of tartness and sweetness but it was a bit too runny. I also purchased a cherry pie for myself to enjoy later. It was very good a day later but sweeter and again, a bit too runny. A very beautiful place to rest, savor and explore. read more

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