GJ Union Depot

05/10/2026

Thank you Grand Junction! Over 1,000 attendees at National Train Day! This event is made possible by our team of volunteers and community organizations working together! Thank you to the Wheels West Car Club for putting on an excellent display of beautiful classic cars! Thank you and for handling food and beverages! Our friends and Mesa County Historical Society had great displays! As always pulled it all together for the members, donors and sponsors, this is happening thanks to the support of this community!

04/17/2026

On this day, April 17th 1906, Grand Junction's Union Depot celebrated its grand opening! Commissioned by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, the building was designed by Henry J. Schlacks, the founder of the school of architecture at the University of Notre Dame. The depot served the Colorado Midland, Denver & Rio Grande Western, Rio Grande Western, Rio Grande and Amtrak over its 86 years of continuous passenger service until its closure in 1992. Through city, state and community support, Union Depot is targeting Fall 2027 for its grand re-opening. Please join us Saturday May 9th, 2026 as we celebrate Union Depot's 120th birthday, along with Colorado's 150th and America's 250th! Hosting Wheels West Car Club classic car show and many historical railroad items on display. 11:00 am - 3:00pm open house, free admission, all ages.

04/14/2026

It's that time of year! Come celebrate Union Depot's 120th, Colorado's 150th and America's 250th! National Train Day, Saturday May 9th, Rods and Rails Classic Car Show at the depot! Free admission, all ages, 11am -3pm.
Wheels West Car Club
Carlson Vineyards
Grand Valley Model Railroad Club
Friends of GJ Union Depot
History Colorado
Amtrak

Rods & Rails
Saturday, May 9th
GJ Union Depot

Join the party on National Train Day: Celebrating 250, 150, and 120 years!

2026 is bursting with milestones – America’s 250th birthday, Colorado’s 150th year of statehood, and GJ Union Depot’s 120th anniversary since opening on April 17th 1906.

Bring your family and friends to honor our nations founding, the spirit of Colorado, the legacy of GJ Union, and classic cars!

Wheels West Car Club
Carlson Vineyards
Grand Valley Model Railroad Club
GJ Union Depot

12/16/2025

GRANTS AWARDED!! When Colorado approved gaming casinos in 1990, a portion of tax revenues were required to fund historic preservation throughout the state. Each year, the State Historic Fund awards $8-10M to help advance preservation projects. Yesterday the latest awards were announced. Grand Junction's Union Depot was awarded a max grant for $250,000! Additionally, the Grand Junction Downtown Development Authority pledged the required matching funds of $250,000!
This fully funded scope of work will enable a roof replacement, upgraded transformer, utility relocations and stub outs. Historic rehabilitation projects like this are only possible when a community comes together to save a place that matters. The cooperation at the city and state level has pushed this project into the construction phase, with a targeted Grand opening in 2027.
Thank you to the Friends of GJ Union Depot, Downtown Grand Junction, History Colorado, Amtrak and to all the sponsors, donors, volunteers we couldn't do it without you!

Colorado Department of Transportation
Grand Valley Model Railroad Club
Visit Grand Junction
Colorado Railroad Museum
Colorado Preservation, Inc.
Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Historical Photos of Fruita & Western Colorado
The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction
KJCT News 8
KKCO 11 News
KREX5 FOX4 Westernslopenow

10/11/2025

One-Time Only! Yoga and Breakfast at Union Depot Saturday Oct 18th, Vinyasa class 9:00-10:00 am Instructed by Melissa Asay link to tix below

119 Pitkin Ave GJ,CO 81501

Ticket includes; breakfast from
Hot and cold beverages by and

All Ages and abilities. Mats included, Front Doors Open at 830am. Link to tickets below

Come see the latest treasure we discovered inside the lobby wall!! Evidence of a railroaders food pyramid!

Invite the fam to join you after class for a property tour!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yoga-at-the-depot-tickets-1671986238849?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawNXq55leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFmaURsQlN0ODVPTVJ6UzlqAR4Xyzw7bpV7r0_aHQ76Q9NgL010qXHuBP9yjt2Ab2U7MY9aQeYGyUNPCraVUQ_aem_uaF0Kx9PnUJYuoIHfyD66Q

10/02/2025

The Depot after Dark...Our last Free event until next year, come one come all, all ages, art exhibits, live music, Food truck, wine bar...FRIDAY OCT 3RD, 5 - 9 PM! This special Artist Open House is sponsored by a generous grant from Colorado Creative Industries. Come as you are, include GJ Union Depot on your 1st Friday Art Walk! Carlson Vineyards 505 Fix Food Truck History Colorado Grand Junction Creative District - GJ Creates Amtrak

10/01/2025

🎨🚂 First Friday at the Depot – Oct 3rd!

Kick off your October with a celebration of creativity at the Depot!

This First Friday, we're bringing together traveling Colorado artists, fresh off the Zephyr, creating art on the train and teaming up with local GJ talent for a one-of-a-kind experience!

🍴 Food: 505 Fix Food Truck

🍷 Drinks: Carlson Vineyards

🎶 Music: Jon Rizzo

Come celebrate with us — art, food, drinks, and music all in one unforgettable night and at an unforgettable place. See you at the Depot!

09/09/2025

Community Support Update!!! Our friend Ryan Nelson, owner of donated mobile sandblasting services and uncovered hidden treasure! After stripping 10 coats of paint, historic embossing was revealed on the canopy beams...all beams are stamped "CARNEGIE", indicating this steel was produced by Carnegie Steel. The sandblasting cleaned the beams to a "white steel" appearance. Jeremy and Brandon put in serious work from the scissors lift!! To top it off, the Engineers Without Borders club from Colorado Mesa University volunteered their time to apply rust preventing paint to the newly exposed beams. As an enterprise zone project we were able to pass Colorado tax credits along to as thanks for their support of this historic preservation project, thank you Ryan, your generosity puts us one step closer to a grand opening! Thank you your volunteerism is very appreciated!! History Colorado

09/06/2025

Restoration on the trackside canopies has begun! Thank you to our friend Tim Navin that showed up on a moment's notice to throw down some emergency welds! These will be a work in progress over the next 12 months but the dirty work is nearly complete. Thank you to our volunteers, Keith and Scott, for getting the disassembly completed so quickly! History Colorado

07/08/2025

Another railroad safe!? We are not trying to become a railroad safe museum but when we find an orphan in need of a home we call in the crane crew! This is the Denver & Rio Grande Western safe formerly housed in the Fruita, CO depot. This was donated by the George Hatmaker family after being stored in their garage for nearly 60 years! The Fruita depot is no longer standing and we are happy to house this local piece of railroad history! Colorado Railroad Museum History Colorado