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Pirateship Park

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 Vail, 81657

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About

Pirateship Park is the Town of Vail playground built around a life-size pirate ship, at the base of Gondola One in Vail Village. Children climb to the crow's nest, walk the plank, swing, scale the climbing nets and take on the green sea monster at the bow. The Town's own capital plan calls it one of the most popular play areas in Vail.

It suits families with young children who need a break between a village stroll, lunch and the gondola, and parents who want a free, easy stop with nothing to book.

The ship

Vail designs and builds its own playgrounds, usually with an artist on the design team and a theme for each park. Here the theme is the ship itself, which gives the play area a story that younger children pick up on straight away. The Town started a refresh in spring 2024, planned to replace the wooden decks, add a new ladder to the crow's nest and a new climber, repair the surrounding sidewalks and repaint the whole ship.

Where it is

The park sits on Hanson Ranch Road at the foot of Vail Mountain, right by Gondola One, so it is an easy meeting point before or after time on the mountain. The deck at Los Amigos overlooks the playground, which lets parents keep an eye on the ship from a table. It is one of eight neighborhood parks the Town owns and maintains, alongside Ford Park, a short walk east, which has a bigger fort-style playground.

Good to know

There is no fee and no booking. Town parks are available for casual gatherings on a first-come, first-served basis. Dogs are allowed on a leash in town parks. Vail Village is a pedestrian village, so arrive on foot or on the free in-town bus rather than planning to park beside the playground. It is a year-round village playground; in winter, expect snow on the ship.

Sources: Town of Vail parks and playgrounds, Discover Vail parks and playgrounds, Vail Daily on Vail's playgrounds. Checked September 24, 2026.

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Contact Information

Company Name
Pirateship Park
Location
9 Hanson Ranch Rd
Vail, 81657

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About Pirateship Park

Quick answer: Pirateship Park is a park at 9 Hanson Ranch Rd, Vail, CO 81657. Pirateship Park: a free Town of Vail playground with a life-size pirate ship, crow's nest and climbing nets at the base of Gondola One.

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Pirateship Park is the Town of Vail playground built around a life-size pirate ship, at the base of Gondola One in Vail Village. Children climb to the crow's nest, walk the plank, swing, scale the climbing nets and take on the green sea monster at the bow. The Town's own capital plan calls it one of the most popular play areas in Vail.

It suits families with young children who need a break between a village stroll, lunch and the gondola, and parents who want a free, easy stop with nothing to book.

The ship

Vail designs and builds its own playgrounds, usually with an artist on the design team and a theme for each park. Here the theme is the ship itself, which gives the play area a story that younger children pick up on straight away. The Town started a refresh in spring 2024, planned to replace the wooden decks, add a new ladder to the crow's nest and a new climber, repair the surrounding sidewalks and repaint the whole ship.

Where it is

The park sits on Hanson Ranch Road at the foot of Vail Mountain, right by Gondola One, so it is an easy meeting point before or after time on the mountain. The deck at Los Amigos overlooks the playground, which lets parents keep an eye on the ship from a table. It is one of eight neighborhood parks the Town owns and maintains, alongside Ford Park, a short walk east, which has a bigger fort-style playground.

Good to know

There is no fee and no booking. Town parks are available for casual gatherings on a first-come, first-served basis. Dogs are allowed on a leash in town parks. Vail Village is a pedestrian village, so arrive on foot or on the free in-town bus rather than planning to park beside the playground. It is a year-round village playground; in winter, expect snow on the ship.

Sources: Town of Vail parks and playgrounds, Discover Vail parks and playgrounds, Vail Daily on Vail's playgrounds. Checked September 24, 2026.

Parks Playgrounds Kids Activities Family Friendly Free Vail Village things-to-do things-to-do/parks-gardens

Amenities at Pirateship Park

  • Pirate-ship playground
  • Swings
  • Climbing nets
  • Picnic area
  • Open picnic tables
  • Restrooms nearby
  • Trash and recycle bins

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Pirateship Park?
At 9 Hanson Ranch Road in Vail Village, at the base of Gondola One, at the foot of Vail Mountain. It is a Town of Vail neighbourhood park and an easy meeting point before or after time on the mountain.
What is there for children at Pirateship Park?
The centrepiece is a life-sized pirate ship, with swings and climbing nets; that is the Town's own description of the park. On the ship children can climb to the crow's nest and walk the plank, and visitor guides consistently describe a climbable sea-serpent ("sea monster") figure, a helm and a slide as part of the play area. It is built for imaginative, climb-all-over-it play, aimed at younger children.
Does it cost anything, and do I need to book?
No. Pirateship Park is a free Town of Vail public park, and casual visits need no booking, no tickets, reservations or operator. Just go.
Are there restrooms and picnic tables at Pirateship Park?
There are restrooms nearby in Vail Village, but not in the park itself, Pirateship is one of only two Vail parks the Town lists that way. For picnics the Town inventory lists a picnic area with 2 open (uncovered) tables and no grills for this park, and trash and recycle bins. Plan food accordingly: a village picnic on an open table, not a grill cookout.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash. The Town allows leashed dogs in its parks except Ford Park and within 100 feet of an athletic field, and dogs must be leashed in Vail Village in any case. The Town's only off-leash parks are Bighorn Park in East Vail and Stephens Park in West Vail; this is not one of them. Clean up after your dog.
What are Pirateship Park's opening hours, and is it open in winter?
The Town of Vail does not publish opening hours for Pirateship Park, and it publishes no seasonal closure; so follow any signs posted at the park. The Town describes the park as well-used in both summer and winter months; in winter, expect snow on the ship and dress for a cold, outdoor playground rather than a summer stop.
Was the playground renovated?
Yes. In spring 2024 the Town ran a $300,000 safety-improvements project: the park closed on or around April 25, 2024 for the work, which replaced the wooden decks, installed a new ladder to the crow's nest, added a new climber, repaired the sidewalks and repainted the whole ship. The Town aimed to finish before the GoPro Mountain Games in June; its June 10, 2024 update put estimated completion in late June, and a small follow-on phase (two play components and minor ADA upgrades, $43,862) was reappropriated in 2025. The ship you see now is that refreshed structure.
Can I host a gathering or reserve the picnic area at Pirateship Park?
You can gather there, but you cannot reserve it: the Town makes Vail's parks available for gatherings on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservation system for this park's picnic area. Arrive early for the 2 open tables on a busy village day.
How do I get to Pirateship Park, and where do I park?
Come on foot or on the free in-town bus: the park sits in pedestrian Vail Village at the base of Gondola One, a short walk from the village's shops and restaurants. There is no parking beside the playground, the Town inventory puts the closest parking about 1,200 feet away, so do not plan to drive up to the ship; use a village parking structure and walk in.

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