Park City • Technically, as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Richard Getz had spent more time on Deer Valley Resort’s new Keetley Express than almost any other guest.
Arriving at the nearly empty parking lot off Highway 40 at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Heber City resident skied right up to the front of the line for the 9 a.m. first chair — the first “first chair” into the resort’s new and highly anticipated East Village terrain. After about 10 minutes, the luxurious high-speed chairlift — fitted with a grey Deer Valley-branded bubble and heated green-and-black captain’s seats — delivered its passengers to the top of Keetley Point. From there, Getz picked from one of three runs that offered skiers their first glimpse of what the resort has planned for its 3,000–plus acres of new terrain.
By the time he’d gotten in line for his second lap, Getz had formulated some thoughts about the expansion. In his expert opinion, he said, it will be something special.
“This is a game changer,” he said, “not only for Deer Valley but for the Heber Valley.”
(Julie Jag | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers line up to board Deer Valley Resort's new Keetley Express during its maiden voyage Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The high-speed, six-person bubble lift is the first to operate out of the resort's new East Village base and gives skiers access to some of the more than 3,000 acres of new terrain Deer Valley plans to open in the coming years.
Interest and anticipation over the East Village base and terrain has been ramping up since the first runs were cut into the hills above the Jordanelle Reservoir three years ago when the area was still known by its placeholder name, Mayflower. Upon completion, the expansion will likely be one of the largest ever by a ski area in the United States. It will nearly triple Deer Valley’s size, from 2,036 acres covered by 21 lifts to 5,726 acres with 37 lifts. Plus, it will add seven hotels and an access point along Highway 40 in the rapidly growing Heber Valley.
Josh Clark and Ben Jung, both of Sarasota, Fla., were on their last day of their annual family-and-friends ski trip when they found out they’d get a sneak preview of the new terrain.
“We’ve been coming here most years of our lives, and to hear that they’re almost doubling the size of the resort, it’s pretty amazing,” said Clark, 24. “We’re really excited for that, and so lucky to have a little tease of it.”
(Julie Jag | The Salt Lake Tribune) Deer Valley skiers examine a terrain map at the top of Keetley Point on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
The resort announced earlier this year that it would start spinning the new area’s first three lifts during the 2024-25 season, a year ahead of schedule. However, Tuesday’s maiden voyages for Keetley Express and Aurora surprised both guests and some resort personnel. The resort made the announcement via an email to passholders Monday night.
Hoodoo Express, which serves a bunny hill, is expected to open in coming weeks, a resort spokesperson said. And while options for skiing back to the East Village were limited and required a ride on Aurora — which despite being slow does feature an innovative conveyor approach — they should also multiply in the coming weeks. The resort plans to open about 20 runs in total this season, conditions permitting.
(Julie Jag | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers ride Deer Valley Resort's new Keetley Express lift onto Keetley Point on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024.
A grand opening for Keetley Express, the resort’s first six-person chairlift, and the Deer Valley East Village is scheduled for Jan. 9.
The new access point proved to be a local’s secret during the holiday crush. Expecting high visitation, Deer Valley cut off reservations for Ikon Pass holders and day-ticket sales for the holiday week in mid-December. Yet only about 20 cars dotted the 500-space day-visitor lot near the East Village by the time the two new lifts started turning. Riders of the open-air shuttle between the lot and the lift had room to spare. By 11 a.m., the Keetley Express had no line.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Skiers ride Deer Valley Resort's new Keetley Express during its maiden voyage Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The high-speed, six-person bubble lift is the first to operate out of the resort's new East Village base and gives skiers access to some of the more than 3,000 acres of new terrain Deer Valley plans to open in the coming years.
As word gets out, that might change. Sisters Ella and Maddie Limback of Park City said they made sacrifices to become some of the only skiers to traverse the East Village terrain in 2024.
“We were excited,” Maddie, 18, said. “We were going to sleep in and we didn’t so we could come out early.”
Getz said that as the East Village grows in popularity, the changes he predicted will benefit some and hurt others. On the down side, he pointed out, real estate around the Jordanelle Reservoir has become less affordable. On the upside, as a skier he now has a more efficient path to powder lines using the new lifts. Keetley will connect to both the Sultan Express and Mayflower lifts once the resort opens more terrain.
“This is really …,” he said, taking in the surrounding mountains and the current and future runs cut into them. “I don’t know what to say. I lucked out.”
