DEER VALLEY RESORT; PARK CITY, UTAH (Dec. 30, 2024) – Deer Valley proudly announces the opening of the first phase of its landmark Expanded Excellence initiative, marking a new era in resort history. On Thursday, January 9, 2025, a Grand Opening event will celebrate the new Keetley Express chairlift and officially introduce day-skier access from the newly constructed Deer Valley East Village, creating an enhanced gateway to the resort’s expansion.

Keetley Express Opens to Skiers on Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, Jan 9, 2025, from 8 to 9 a.m.

The Keetley Express and Aurora chairlifts, as well as several newly developed ski runs are planned to open to Deer Valley skiers for the first time tomorrow, Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 9 a.m. This milestone introduces over 300 acres of never-before-skied terrain this season and provides enhanced access through the resort’s new Deer Valley East Village with 500 additional day-skier parking spots.

“This terrain expansion represents a transformative moment for Deer Valley and our skiing guests,” said Todd Bennett, Deer Valley President & Chief Operating Officer. “Keetley Express and the skier access through the new Deer Valley East Village are the next steps in our commitment to deliver exceptional access and unparalleled ski experiences. These enhancements make our world-class terrain even more accessible while maintaining the thoughtful design and exceptional experience that define Deer Valley.”

The three new chairlifts opening this season, each anchored in Deer Valley’s East Village, seamlessly connect skiers to the resort’s existing terrain. Keetley Express, Deer Valley’s first six-person chairlift with a bubble, drops skiers off near the bottom terminal of the Sultan Express chairlift on Bald Mountain. Two additional chairlifts, Hoodoo Express and Aurora, provide access to beginner-friendly trails and return connectivity to Deer Valley East Village.

Tomorrow, skiers will enjoy the opening of the newly extended McHenry ski run and six additional brand-new runs—accessible via Keetley Express and Aurora chairlifts. These initial openings mark the start of a phased rollout for the 24/25 season, with Hoodoo Express and additional new terrain expected to also debut later this season.  

Deer Valley invites skiers to join the Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, January 9, from 8 to 9 a.m., marking a monumental chapter in the resort’s history. This event celebrates the official debut of the Keetley Express chairlift and enhanced connectivity to the expansion. The first 500 skiers arriving at the new Deer Valley East Village and riding the Keetley Express will enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, signature Deer Valley treats, and receive a commemorative sticker to mark the occasion.

Members of the media are encouraged to RSVP for the Grand Opening at [email protected]. Please indicate if you’d like to arrange onsite interviews.

Deer Valley East Village, accessible from U.S. Route 40, offers skiers convenient parking with 500 new spaces and services tailored to streamline their experience. Amenities include:

• A Deer Valley | Helly Hansen retail shop located in the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley.
• A Deer Valley Skier Services facility, featuring ticketing, private ski lessons, and complimentary ski storage.
• A skier shuttle transporting guests between the parking area and the slopes.

Deer Valley’s new 24-25 winter trail map is available to download here. Photos of Keetley Express Chairlift are available to download here. Please credit Deer Valley for use of these images. For more information about Deer Valley’s new terrain expansion and Expanded Excellence projects, visit the resort’s website at deervalley.com, or contact Deer Valley Director of Communications Emily Summers at [email protected] or 435-645-6522. 

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About Deer Valley Resort 
Deer Valley Resort, located in Park City, Utah, revolutionized the ski industry by 
providing the first-class service one would receive at a five-star hotel. The ski-only resort currently offers 24 chairlifts, 122 ski runs, seven bowls, 300 annual inches of
powder, 2,342 acres of alpine skiing, limited lift ticket sales, numerous restaurants, three elegant day lodges, hundreds of luxury accommodations and a renowned ski school and children’s center. In August 2023, Deer Valley announced “Expanded Excellence”,
a significant resort transformation, which will extend the skiable area to a total of 5,726 acres, add a new resort gateway and village, reimagine the Snow Park Base Area and revitalize existing mountain facilities. Deer Valley is honored to be ranked as the
United States’ Best Ski Resort by the World Ski Awards for 12 consecutive years.  View
and download the Deer Valley Press Kit  

Riley Elliott
Communications Specialist
801-580-9396
[email protected]