Nestled discreetly within 3,500 private acres in Richmond, Rhode Island, The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort has emerged as a four-season luxury destination that defies conventional expectations. What began as an ambitious concept met with considerable skepticism has blossomed into an expansive private wilderness, featuring a five-star lodge, an impressive spa, and a diverse array of world-class sporting facilities. This sprawling estate, representing nearly half a percent of Rhode Island’s total landmass, is now recognized by prestigious publications and industry leaders as a premier destination for discerning individuals seeking an unparalleled blend of outdoor pursuits and refined hospitality.
An Improbable Idea Takes Root
The genesis of The Preserve was a vision so grand it initially strained credibility. Plans included an extensive network of over 100 miles of trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, state-of-the-art clay shooting ranges, expansive upland fields, equestrian facilities, tennis courts, swimming pools, a comprehensive sporting shop, a luxurious spa, and a central lodge. All of this was envisioned on a property that began with a much smaller footprint, leading many to question its feasibility within the context of Southern Rhode Island’s landscape, the state’s market, and the available acreage.
However, the relentless pursuit of this vision transformed the initial hundred acres into a vast expanse stretching roughly four miles by six. This remarkable development has been further amplified by its proximity to the thousands of additional protected acres within the Carolina Management Area, creating an unparalleled sense of secluded wilderness. The success of this ambitious undertaking has not gone unnoticed. Forbes has lauded The Preserve as "The Finest Sporting Club in America," while Beretta and Holland & Holland have unequivocally declared its upland grounds to be the finest in the country. The esteemed MICHELIN Guide has also added The Preserve to its list of selected hotels, further solidifying its position on the global luxury travel map. Publications like Travel + Leisure have also featured the resort, underscoring its growing prominence. The initial skepticism has been replaced by widespread acknowledgment that ambitious foresight, combined with meticulous execution, was precisely the right approach.
What truly distinguishes The Preserve from other high-end sporting estates is its unwavering commitment to operational excellence across all its amenities. Unlike establishments where certain features might serve primarily as aesthetic embellishments, every aspect of The Preserve is actively maintained and continuously enhanced. The clay shooting courses have been expanded rather than merely preserved, the gun room’s collection has deepened, and the trail system continues to grow, reflecting a dynamic and evolving experience.
A Sporting Estate of Unprecedented Modernity
At The Preserve, shooting is not an ancillary activity; it forms the very core of the resort’s identity. This is evident in the comprehensive and meticulously designed shooting facilities. The club boasts two full sporting clays courses. One, an expanded 19-station course, guides guests through wooded paths, connecting artfully constructed pavilions with open fields and challenging terrain. A 12-station compact course weaves through tall field grasses, utilizing elevation changes to present challenging, authentic shots. For those seeking different shooting experiences, two five-stand courses offer heated, covered positions, ensuring comfort even during the colder New England months. Dominating the landscape is a 210-foot European tower, the tallest in the Northeast, engineered to simulate the high-flying, fast-paced flight of Continental game birds, offering a genuinely demanding challenge.
Beyond the clays, The Range stands as a remarkable indoor facility, recognized as the longest indoor automated shooting range in the country. It features 150-yard lanes with no caliber restrictions, accommodating 24 stations for pistol, rifle, and archery. A FATS® firearms training simulator further enhances the training capabilities. The instructional staff comprises an elite group of professionals, including former Navy SEALs, Green Berets, seasoned NRA instructors, and former Olympians. This attracts not only discerning civilian guests seeking private instruction but also municipal agencies that utilize the facility for professional training contracts.
The upland hunting season, running from October through March, unfolds across hundreds of acres of meticulously managed sorghum fields. These fields are equipped with English-style blinds strategically positioned miles from the resort’s main facilities, ensuring a true wilderness hunting experience. The Preserve is also home to an on-site pheasantry, raising approximately 15,000 birds annually. For anglers, ten stocked ponds offer a bounty of trout and bass, with landlocked salmon planned for future stocking, catering to the fly-fishing enthusiast.
Complementing these sporting pursuits is the expansive Sporting Shoppe, a 50,000-square-foot emporium showcasing an inventory valued in the tens of millions. The fine gun room alone houses millions of dollars worth of exquisite firearms, including handmade rifles and shotguns from renowned Italian artisans like FAMARS, alongside a comprehensive selection of optics, apparel, and a vast array of pistols catering to serious collectors.
The Table, The Fire, The Fleet: An Estate of Refined Indulgence
As the resort’s offerings extend beyond its sporting prowess, The Preserve begins to resemble a self-contained, exceptionally appointed principality. The culinary experience is anchored by Double Barrel Steak, the signature restaurant, boasting Rhode Island’s largest wine cellar. Valued at over a million dollars, the cellar features a curated selection heavily weighted towards prominent Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, with top-tier bottles reaching approximately $18,000. This establishment operates in partnership with internationally acclaimed chef David Burke, who has provided the culinary direction and sommelier expertise.
Adding a unique touch to the dining landscape are the Hobbit Houses, enchanting subterranean dining rooms nestled into hillside boulders. These offer an intimate setting for bespoke culinary experiences, such as a Maker’s Mark tasting menu that unfolds across five courses, featuring five distinct expressions of the bourbon, including a private-barrel Preserve Reserve. For those who prefer a more relaxed yet sophisticated ambiance, three safari tents offer a luxurious retreat. Adorned with antler chandeliers and plush leather club chairs, these tents provide an ideal setting for enjoying single malt Scotch, with Laphroaig being a featured offering.
The Preserve has also become the inaugural home of the Bentley Outdoor Experience. A dedicated 2.2-mile off-road course, built at a cost exceeding $2 million, was initially constructed to showcase the capabilities of Bentley vehicles. Impressed by the result, Bentley established a permanent partnership, allowing guests to experience the thrill of driving Bentaygas through challenging water traps and steep descents. The property also features a rotating fleet of Flying Spurs and Continental GTs, available for guests to test drive on various terrains.
Further enhancing the resort’s extensive amenities is a 63-acre equestrian center, home to over 30 horses, including three imposing 19-hand Percherons, descendants of prized warhorse stock. The resort also features an 18-hole championship golf course, clay and grass tennis courts, multiple swimming pools, a 1,765-foot zipline, rock climbing facilities, and more than fifty miles of marked trails. The presence of two helipads underscores the accessibility and exclusivity of the property. This vast array of activities and amenities makes it clear that a single day is insufficient to fully appreciate the breadth of experiences offered.
The Resort Experience: Where the Day Finds Its Perfect Conclusion
While the expansive grounds and diverse sporting opportunities are compelling, the true allure of The Preserve may lie in the refined experience offered once the day’s activities conclude. The resort’s lodging options present a stark contrast to conventional hotel inventories in New England. Guests can choose from elegant suites in the Hilltop Lodge, spacious homes at Laurel Ridge, chic townhomes on the Green, cozy cabins on Blueberry Hill, or the rustic charm of Whitetail Ridge cabins. For those seeking a more contemporary or unique stay, architectural tiny homes with dramatic two-story windows, seasonal luxury safari tents, and even a treehouse are available. With approximately fifty unique accommodations scattered across the 3,500 acres, no two guest experiences are precisely alike, each offering features like private cedar hot tubs, stone fireplaces, and gourmet kitchens, all enveloped in profound silence.
Complementing the active pursuits is The Hilltop Spa, a 12,000-square-foot sanctuary offering a comprehensive range of treatment rooms, salon services, and wellness programs, providing the perfect counterbalance to the resort’s emphasis on exertion. Casual days can be spent at the H2O Café and the poolside, while more formal evenings culminate at Double Barrel Steak. The resort also offers curated packages, such as "Clay & Stay," "Couples Retreat," "The Bentley Experience," "Hobbit House Getaway," and "Equestrian Dreams," allowing guests to seamlessly book the property’s most sought-after experiences.
The seamless operation of this complex resort is managed by the Spottswood family’s Brightwild team. Founded in 2019 in Key West, Brightwild deliberately eschews traditional hospitality industry categories, operating on the principle that a lodge suite, a townhome, and an off-grid cabin are all fundamentally the same product: an exceptional stay delivered by knowledgeable and passionate local staff. Instead of a conventional concierge desk, Brightwild emphasizes local expertise, ensuring guests receive personalized and authentic service. This meticulous attention to the operational underpinnings of the resort is what elevates it from a mere collection of amenities to a world-class destination capable of meeting the rigorous standards of global five-star establishments.
Residential Living: A New Standard in Exclusive Community
The residential component of The Preserve has quietly become a significant highlight, establishing a new benchmark for exclusive living. The property offers a diverse range of residential options, from compact tiny homes and townhomes on the Green to luxurious condominiums within the Hilltop Lodge and expansive 6,000-square-foot single-family estates on Laurel Ridge. All residences are situated within the secure, private, gated community, granting owners full club privileges. Recent residential sales have reportedly exceeded $3,000 per square foot, a figure that surpasses pricing in prestigious locales like Beverly Hills, underscoring the exceptional value and desirability of this Richmond, Rhode Island, enclave.
For individuals not yet ready for ownership, membership and resort stays provide full access to the club’s extensive amenities. Future development plans are ambitious, including a longevity-focused medical center, a general store, a dedicated combat marksmanship range, additional treehouse accommodations, and a further expansion of the resort’s room and suite inventory, promising continued growth and innovation.
Experience The Preserve: Clays 4 Charity, August 14, 2026
For those seeking to grasp the essence of The Preserve in a single, immersive experience, the 4th Annual Adam Vinatieri Clays 4 Charity event on Friday, August 14, 2026, presents an ideal opportunity. This year’s event holds particular significance as a "Hall of Fame Edition," celebrating the induction of four-time Super Bowl champion Adam Vinatieri into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The prestigious shooting event is co-hosted by Vinatieri and Paul Mihailides, chairman of The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort. Mihailides has been the driving force behind Clays 4 Charity since its inception, consistently growing the event into a prominent fixture on the sporting calendar. For 2026, he has dedicated the event to honoring Vinatieri, expressing his profound honor in celebrating his friend Adam’s Hall of Fame achievement. Both Vinatieri and Mihailides will address attendees at the morning kickoff, sharing insights and congratulations.
The day promises a dynamic gathering of amateurs, celebrities, and seasoned competitors across both sporting clays courses. Professional trappers and coaches will be stationed at every point, ensuring that both first-time shooters and experienced marksmen receive expert guidance and enjoy a fulfilling afternoon. The invitation beckons participants to "Join four-time Super Bowl Champion Adam Vinatieri at the Northeast’s premier sporting club," a call that consistently attracts hundreds of attendees.
The event commences at 9 AM with check-in, breakfast, and a silent auction. A safety briefing and official kickoff are scheduled for 10 AM, with shooting activities commencing immediately thereafter. Throughout the day, participants can engage in a variety of additional activities, including fly fishing, paintball, an obstacle course, a session at the indoor luxury range, axe throwing, chainsaw carving, lawn games, and browsing vendor booths. The live auction begins at 2 PM, followed by a dinner crafted by Chef David Burke at 3 PM. The evening will feature live music from Nashville Americana singer-songwriter Dave Kennedy, acclaimed guitarist and mandolinist Andy Wood, and platinum-selling country artist Tyler Farr. The festivities will conclude with Adam’s After Party for sponsors and VIPs, offering cocktails, cigars, and Hall of Fame-inspired stories.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, with additional funds allocated to The Geronimo Foundation, a designated beneficiary for 2026, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, which champions the outdoor sporting tradition. Key partners powering the event include Needham Bank, Blaser, SIG Sauer, Fly Alliance, and Swarovski Optik.
Entry fees begin at $599 per shooter, which includes a full day of shooting on both courses, access to all-day activities, breakfast, lunch, the David Burke dinner, and after-party access. A foursome can be booked for $2,249. For corporate engagement, a Station Sponsor package, including a company banner on the course and event recognition, is available for $4,400. Dinner-only tickets are priced at $250. A limited number of station and partner sponsorships remain, and organizers welcome raffle donations, silent auction items, and in-kind contributions. For those who wish to extend their experience, two-night stay packages are available, allowing participants to fully immerse themselves in the resort’s offerings and discover why a single day is rarely enough.
