Paonia Attractions

Paonia is named for "peony", the flower. It is said that Samuel Wade wanted to name the town after this flower he admired, using the greek spelling Paeonia. The postal service was “not going to have any of those letters around” so the town was name Paonia. Plants from the original stock are said to be growing today in Paonia Town Park more that 100 years later.

Paonia is a unique community, filled with activism. KVNF (90.9) is a Paonia-based public radio station that broadcasts from Grand Junction to Lake City to Naturist. The High Country News is an internationally award winning environmental newspaper published in Paonia.

Paonia Arts & Entertainment

The Blue Sage is a community-owned performing arts center. Check the schedule in their front window because often nationally known artists/writers are presenters. The vibrant music scene includes a valley symphony, a valley youth orchestra, various chamber groups plus contemporary music acts.

The Paradise Theater shows standard and not so standard movies, and is a lively venue for musical and literary events. Stroll down Grand Avenue, Paonia’s main street, and pop into the galleries for a peek. Paonia is home to many artists and musicians!

Paonia Food and Wine

Most restaurants are within a few blocks of Grand. Homestead Beef carries products from many of Delta County’s ranches – elk, lamb, beef, produce and local specialties. Homestead also serves a tasty lunch special at noon!

Just outside town are orchards and vineyards. Paonia sits in the middle of the West Elks American Viticulture Area, a nationally designated winegrowing area. Be sure to visit a winery or two.

Fresh fruit is available during the summer at local orchards – cherries in early July, peaches in August, apples and grapes in the fall— Delicious Orchards, First Fruits and Orchard Valley to name a few.

Paonia State Park features great scenery, water-skiing, wildflowers and camping. Camp near a babbling stream and water-ski the mountain reservoir in view of majestic Ragged Mountains – a mecca for photographers and nature lovers!