In the mid-1980s, developer Paul Mihailides bought 3,500 acres of pristine wilderness in Richmond, Rhode Island. There were just a few structures on the hilly terrain, like several small wood houses and an early 20^th-century barn, but the property was composed of pristine forests, pastures, 10 miles of Pawtucket Wood River and 13 small ponds.

Construction of a golf course and club house began in 2016, followed shortly by residences, as Mr. Mihailides decided to develop the vast terrain into a private, year-round lifestyle property called The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort. The property now includes private, single-family residential homes; townhouses; a four-story building with apartments; all-suite Hilltop Lodge hotel, and stunning wood and glass “tiny” houses used by owners, or rented out to resort guests.

© The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort

While guests can rent beautiful homes for vacations at The Preserve, a club membership is necessary to own a home and have the use of all the sporting activities, a big part of a guest visit to The Preserve. They now include two manicured tennis grass courts and two clay tennis courts; two pickleball courts; an 18-hole executive golf course; an Equestrian Center with 18 horses (now living like kings in a beautiful, restored early 20^th-century barn); and the longest, automated indoor rifle and pistol shooting range in the country.

The two-level, on-site Sporting Shoppe and the shooting range cover 50,000 square feet, with an additional 25,000 square feet of retail space to be added shortly. The Sporting Shoppe sells guns, fishing gear, and equipment and clothing for most outdoor sports. Additional sporting activities at The Preserve include outdoor sporting clays, pheasant shooting (fall only), volleyball, croquet, basketball, biking trails, a 1,765-foot zip line, a clay Bocce ball court and fly-fishing ponds. There are a few sporting activities not represented at The Preserve. The property also features meeting and event spaces for groups of up to 350 indoor and 1,000 in outdoor tented areas, with construction on a new event barn for weddings, galas and conventions in the final construction stage.

© The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort

Guests can walk to most of the sporting locations and find the right equipment perfectly laid out for use. But if headed to golf, fly-fishing or the well-maintained horse barn for trail rides, guests will be chauffeured to those sites via new Bentley SUV automobiles, with the vehicle trunks carrying golf clubs, fishing gear, hunting rifles or well-filled lunch baskets for a quiet picnic in the countryside.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available daily at Double Barrel Steak, The Preserve’s signature restaurant and bar. Outdoor dining is available on the DBS porch. A unique dining experience is offered at one of the Maker’s Mark Hobbit Houses, small, cozy stone houses in the woods where a private four-course lunch or dinner includes artisanal cheese and charcuterie board, roasted pheasant and watermelon burrata salad, a main course of ginger salmon and Maker’s Mark braised short ribs, two sides, and dessert. Each course is paired with the finest bourbons from the Maker’s Mark collection. The bourbon-pairing experience is available for two people or a group of eight.

© The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort

Another favorite spot among The Preserve guests and residents is the Safari Tent Scotch and Cigar Tasting Experience. Sitting inside or outside the luxury tents, guests enjoy curated scotches and cigars with charcuterie and an assortment of culinary delights.

To keep fit for all the dining and sports activities, OH! Spa is a guest favorite. It is located at Hilltop Lodge, The Preserve’s luxurious, 18-all-suite hotel with suites consisting of a large living room, full kitchen and guestroom. Many of the Hilltop suites include a porch as well. OH! Spa, next to the Infinity Pool, provides many types of massages and body treatments by a staff of welcoming professionals. Lunch is available outside at the spa’s poolside H2O Café, or indoors at Lily Pad Café. All the dining venues at The Preserve are open to the public. The many sporting activities require a club membership or an overnight guestroom reservation.

© The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort

Throughout the winter season all indoor activities are available, and The Preserve moves from summer sports to cross-country skiing, ice fishing, horse carriage rides along snowy trails, and numerous outdoor fire pits available for delicious BBQs set up by staff.

About 30 American Black Belly rams owned by The Preserve graze year-round on the resort’s beautiful meadows between the horse barn and resort entrance.

Richmond, Rhode Island, was founded in 1747. It is 35 miles south of Providence.