In the 1970s, Gerald and Betty Ford had rented a condo in Vail for ski vacations, and when Ford became president of the United States in 1974, to accommodate his security detail, Ford stayed at Dick Bass’s home on Mill Creek Circle, which, with Vail, became known internationally as “The Western White House.” As Vail’s year-round recreational offerings increased, it became clear that the missing link was a public open space network connecting the heart of Vail Village with parks and cultural facilities. Town leaders initiated a master plan for a park and outdoor amphitheater to be located just east of the Village on the north side of Gore Creek. The president and first lady were pleased to lend their names to an effort that supported the community that had welcomed them so completely.

The Town of Vail owns, manages, and maintains Gerald Ford Park. It is primarily responsible for maintaining and operating The Commons, a space used by locals and visitors for its playground, multiple walking paths, picnicking opportunities, organized courts, and central lawn. Programmed events occur on the multiuse lawn throughout the year. Gore Creek and the adjacent riparian corridor and trail are used seasonally for fishing, tubing, and other water activities, and as the primary pedestrian connection to Vail Village. Two pedestrian bridges connect Vail Valley Drive to Betty Ford Way, the central thoroughfare of the park: one at the entrance to the amphitheater, referred to as the Nature Center Bridge, and another near the Commons Lawn, referred to as the Manor Vail Bridge. Under a long-term lease arrangement with the Town, the Vail Valley Foundation and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens own their respective buildings—the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center—and operate, manage, and program their respective venues. 

Completed in 1987, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater structures are owned and operated by the Vail Valley Foundation, which operates the venue on a long-term lease from the Town of Vail. The “Amp” was the first major building to be constructed in Ford Park. Willie Nelson headlined its inaugural performance, which was attended by President and Mrs. Ford and other Vail dignitaries. Located between the Upper and Lower Benches, the 2,500-plus-seat venue (a mix of open-air lawn and covered pavilion seating areas) hosts big names in rock, country, classical, and bluegrass. It is the home base for Bravo! Vail; hosts the world’s top talent at the Vail Dance Festival each summer; and it is home to community events, graduations, and a host of ceremonies that, together, make it a central gathering place for everyone who loves Vail.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (BFAG), located on the Upper and Lower Benches, is an internationally acclaimed botanic garden known for its alpine horticulture, education, and conservation. At 8,200 feet, it is the highest-elevation botanical garden in North America and attracts nearly 200,000 visitors annually. BFAG comprises four distinct sections: Mountain Perennial Garden (1989), Mountain Meditation Garden (1991), Alpine Rock Garden (1999), and the Children’s Garden (2002). Its collection features more than 3,000 species of native and exotic high-altitude plants, many of which grow in alpine regions around the world. Open year-round, the gardens are free to visit and host various programming and events. 

The Vail Recreation District (Vail Rec) operates the Bill Wright Tennis Center, located on the Upper Bench of Ford Park adjacent to the athletic fields along the Frontage Road. One of the earliest features of Ford Park, the fields also provide a buffer between the interstate and the Lower Bench features of the park. Vail Rec also operates the South Ford Park Field, which serves the soccer, rugby, lacrosse, and sand volleyball communities.