A recent editorial in the Deseret News mentioned that Heber City Downtown popped up on a list of America’s Most Underrated Nightlife Neighborhoods. Number 12. Just out of the top ten. The author is understandably shocked, as am I, quite frankly. Even though we don’t have all the same features of other “traditional” nightlife towns, I do take issue with the author’s insinuation that Heber is “best known as a passthrough town,” and no one spends an hour in town, “let alone an entire night on the town.” That may have been the case several years ago, possibly pre-2002, but ever since then, we have been on the rise, and more is yet to come. Let me take a moment to refute some of the author’s points about Heber City and, by extension, Heber Valley.

More to do here than meets the eye. Working in the visitor center for over a decade, my team and I have spent countless hours helping guests know all there is to do in the community. At the end of our visits, we hear more often than not, “Wow, I had no idea there was so much to do here!” Whether it’s hitting the trails, exploring three state parks, cruising across one of our three
major reservoirs, teeing off at a golf course, or enjoying some serenity time at the spa, there are certainly plenty of things to do to keep you busy for several days.

More than a one restaurant town. Heber Valley, including Heber City, is becoming quite the foodie hub. With over 40 local restaurants and eateries in this valley, it’d take over a month to try them all! There are plenty of great places to get something unique, fresh, and delicious.

Now, to be fair, Heber City and the Heber Valley don’t have the type of nightlife to claim a spot on an undiscovered list such as this one. However, this is changing. Midway City, for example, is having a renaissance of investment around the historic Town Square, attracting more and more businesses, and creating a walkable retail and restaurant experience. Heber City is also on the verge of something great as revitalization efforts are well underway with improvements at the Heber City Park, strong collaborations with the Chamber and Community Alliance for Main Street, and ongoing efforts to improve policies for local business owners.

All of the efforts that are happening throughout Heber Valley are what I call “local first” initiatives. Improvements to the downtown areas in both Heber City and Midway will help locals spend more time in our communities instead of spending our tax dollars elsewhere. These signature projects and intentional investments will create a sense of place, increasing our already strong community pride. Investing into our downtown areas and, by extension, our nightlife, helps us focus efforts in areas where commercial expansion should happen instead of sprawling outward to the outskirts of town. Our efforts in this area aren’t so we can land on special top ten lists, or to win awards, but rather to create the spaces and places where we as residents can relax, unwind, and enjoy. Oh, and by the way, our guests are welcome too! Is our downtown life there yet? No. Are there signs and efforts of it improving? YES!

Sources:
https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2024/06/11/heber-city-utah-underrated-nightlife-survey/ 

https://wealthofgeeks.com/americas-most-underrated-nightlife-neighborhoods/