Heber Valley, Utah (September 12, 2024)– The historic Heber Valley Railroad is honored to announce its 125th anniversary celebration, commemorating the arrival of the first train to Heber Valley in 1899. This special two-day event will be held on September 27th and 28th, 2024, at the Heber Valley Railroad Train Depot, located at 450 South 600 West in Heber City, Utah.

Mark Nelson, Executive Director of Heber Valley Railroad, stated, “The early railroads played a pivotal role in shaping the West and the great State of Utah. On September 29, 1899, the Denver Rio Grande Western train first arrived in Heber City, marking a significant milestone. We are delighted to celebrate this historic event and showcase our continued commitment to preserving this unique railroad heritage.”

Today, Heber Valley Railroad offers scenic and special event excursions year-round, running 15.5 miles from Heber City to Vivian Park in Provo Canyon and back. To mark this major 125th anniversary milestone, the upcoming event will feature low-cost rides, educational tours, and historical displays, along with food and entertainment for all attendees.

EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday, September 27th
12:00-1:30pm: Lakeside Limited train ride
2:00-4:00pm: Free tours, lectures, and historical displays
4:00-5:30pm: Deer Creek Express train ride
5:30-7:00pm: 125th anniversary reception
7:00-8:00pm: Line dancing (instruction included)

Saturday, September 28th
12:00-1:30pm: Lakeside Limited train ride
2:00-4:00pm: Free tours, lectures, and historical displays
4:00-5:30pm: Deer Creek Express train ride
5:30-7:00pm: 125th anniversary reception
7:00-8:30pm: VIP History Train Ride with live entertainment and historical presentations
8:30-9:30pm: Line dancing (instruction included)
9:30-10:00pm: Fireworks display

MEDIA INVITATION
We cordially invite members of the media to attend the VIP portions of the event, including the exclusive History Train Ride on Saturday, September 28th at 7:00pm. The VIP train will offer limited seats in seven train cars, with amenities including a drink station, hors d'oeuvres, live entertainment, and historical discussions. A special reception with government officials will also be held during the reception on Saturday. Media representatives are welcome to interview officials and representatives during the event.

Please confirm your attendance and request access to VIP areas by contacting Mark Nelson, Executive Director, at [email protected].

Train photography is available here. For more information about the event, please visit the website: https://www.hebertrain.com/hebertrain125. For additional history about Heber Valley Railroad, please visit this website: https://www.hebervalleyrr.org/ourtrain-2/ourhistory.

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About Heber Valley Railroad
Formed in 1992 as an independent agency of the State of Utah, the Heber Valley Railroad operates scenic tourist trains on the historic tracks originally built by the Denver Rio Grande Western Railroad in 1899. Today, the railroad runs approximately 550 passenger trains annually, welcoming over 130,000 visitors each year to enjoy vintage train rides, Utah history, and exceptional hospitality.

Heber Valley Railroad Media Contact
Mark Nelson  
Executive Director  
Heber Valley Railroad  
[email protected] 
hebertrain.com

About Heber Valley, Utah
Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, Heber Valley is just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. Surrounded by world-renowned resorts such as Deer Valley and Sundance Resort, Heber Valley offers three expansive state parks, an Olympic venue, a historic tourism railroad, 90 holes of stunning mountain golf, and a quaint Swiss-influenced town. For more information, visit gohebervalley.com.

Heber Valley Utah Media Contact
Jessica Turner
Public Relations Manager
[email protected] 
gohebervalley.com