The ride-hailing company's decision comes after a judge ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to ground the choppers during the star-studded opening weekend.
Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez said that he could still ticket or arrest pilots because the companies didn't get the proper permits to land in a field not far from homes in the mountain town. "I don't want to arrest people and take them to jail. But that is an option available to me," he said.
"We've seen a ton of interest, people are really excited about it," Patterson said.
On Thursday, Uber began offering to ferry visitors by helicopter about 40 miles from the Salt Lake City airport to the Robert Redford-founded festival in Park City. The company is charging USD 200 one-way during the day and USD 300 at night, with lower prices for customers who book ahead.
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But at a late-afternoon hearing yesterday, Judge Kara Pettit decided prosecutors didn't have enough evidence for a restraining order that would have grounded the choppers.
She'll take up the case again Monday, though that would come after the end of Uber's helicopter service to Park City.
"There are just too many questions and issues to be able to enter an order today that there's been a violation," she said.
The helicopter companies say they did try to work with the county, even striking a last-minute deal to land the copters at a helipad owned by the sheriff's office instead.
Martinez said he ultimately decided it wasn't right to let a private business use public resources.
Lawyers for the helicopter companies say the zoning rules are meant for construction and development. They pointed to other issues with the quickly filed suit, including the exact owner of the land the choppers are using. "This case just can't get out of the blocks," attorney David Jordan said.