The town of Vail is actually comprised of three different, connected “villages,” Vail Village, Lionshead and Golden Peak. These areas were established around the main lifts taking you up Vail Mountain, Gondola One in The Village, The Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead and The Riva Bahn chairlift at Golden Peak, also known as Chair 6. Each “village” has its own unique character and atmosphere. You can walk to each one of the villages from the other one, with the longest distance being from Golden Peak to Lionshead or vice versa. There is also an in-town free shuttle bus that will take you from village to village. All three “villages” are pedestrian only too, so you will not have to worry about avoiding cars while exploring.

Vail Village is the middle and original village, founded in 1962. Lionshead came after Vail Village in the late 1960’s and Golden Peak shortly thereafter as a home for Vail’s famous ski school. For a history of Vail go here: https://www.vailgov.com/history-of-vail.

Vail Village is home to Bridge Street, Vail’s “Main Street.” Bridge Street is named after Vail’s iconic covered bridge, which can be found at the bottom of the street. The covered bridge spans the beautiful Gore Creek. At the top of Bridge Street is Gondola One and Mountain Plaza, where all things skiing and snowboarding happen from lift tickets to ski rentals, lockers and food, ski shops and of course, the gondola. In the middle of Bridge Street you will find Vail’s other iconic symbol, the clock tower. Vail Village has a distinct European mountain ski village character and flair.

Up and down Bridge Street is where you will find many of Vail’s shops and restaurants. In the early days Bridge Street was not heated and many skiers skied right down the street when the mountain closed, making it hazardous, but providing a true ski town feeling. Today Bridge Street is covered with heated pavers, making the stroll up and the down the street much easier. Vail Village also has Gore Creek Drive and Meadow Drive, where many more shops and restaurants are located.

Lionshead Village is about a mile west of Vail Village, an approximate 15 minute walk. Or again, you can take the in-town shuttle which picks up at the covered bridge as well as several points on its Meadow Drive route. Having been built in the late sixties, Lionshead Village in its inception had a certain sixties feel, with a mod clock tower and concrete gondola building. All that has changed now, since The Arrabelle at Vail Square (a large hotel and spa) was built as the village’s centerpiece in the early 2000’s. The Arrabelle, like Vail Village, has a European design. Most of the buildings in Lionshead have also since updated in similar fashion. Near The Arrabelle is the Eagle Bahn Gondola and all the necessary services for skiing – ski school, lift ticket sales, ski rentals, lockers and food. Lionshead is home to many fine shops and restaurants as well.

A short five minute walk to the east of Vail Village is Golden Peak. As previously mentioned, Golden Peak, the third “village,” was built to house Vail’s first ski school. It is mainly a base area for skiing with all that you need to do so, lift tickets, ski rentals, ski school, ski storage and food. There are many ski season events that happen here too, such as Vail’s New Year’s Eve Ski Down and Vail’s July Fourth fireworks, as well as concerts, ski races, and other competitions like The Burton Open snowboarding event in the springtime. Golden Peak is also home to Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, where many athletes train and race all winter long. There is one ski shop here and a couple of restaurants, mostly to serve the ski day and apres crowd.

For more information on the three villages go here: https://www.vail.com/explore-the-resort/during-your-stay/about-the-villages.aspx. Here is a map of Vail for you. Enjoy your stay in Vail at Sandstone Creek Club!