Orchard City

Delta County, Colorado

Orchard City is a unique agricultural, residential and recreational area nestled between the cities of Delta, Cedaredge to the north, and Hotchkiss to the east. Orchard City is the governing body for the communities of Austin (zip 81410), Cory (zip 81414) and Eckert (zip 81418). The incorporated area of Orchard City is comprised of over 7,000 acres.

Orchard City is known for its outstanding orchards featuring a variety of apples, cherries, apricots, pears and peaches. It is also well known for its variety of organic farm produce and livestock including cattle, sheep, elk and buffalo.

Every Spring the Greater Sandhill Cranes begin their northward migration through New Mexico and the San Luis Valley of Colorado.

The Valley celebrates the cranes that gather for several days or weeks with a festival called Eckert Crane Days. Visitors can see hundreds to thousands of Sandhill Cranes at a time!

The primary first stop for the most of the Cranes leaving the San Luis Valley is Hart's Basin and Fruitgrowers Reservoir in Eckert, Colorado. Eckert is located below the Southern rim of the world's largest flat-top mountain, the Grand Mesa.

Sandhill Crane