The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences

I never really played sports growing up, but I’ve always been athletic and adventurous in my own way. Any chance I had in challenging myself physically and mentally, I would take. With that being said, I was excited to explore The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences because I love a good getaway especially since it’s an excuse to escape the city and explore a new destination. Ever since the pandemic, I haven’t been able to travel internationally as freely as I’d like, so I’ve been focusing more on domestic destinations. It’s been an exciting journey to check out local spots because there is beauty all around us.

When I visited The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences last week, I had no idea what to expect because I’ve never been to a sporting club before. However, I knew I would enjoy myself simply because I love getting out of my comfort zone and I’m also the type to say yes to things that I am not familiar with. Since August was coming to a close, I knew I wanted one more trip to fully complete my summer.

The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences is located in Richmond, Rhode Island and it was about a 3.5 hour drive from the city (it would’ve taken 2.5 hours without traffic). The only other time I’ve visited Rhode Island was when I visited another property of the same collection, Weekapaug Inn. I had a great time last trip and it was very relaxing and quiet, so I didn’t think this time would be much different.

We are not defined merely by what we do, but also by how we choose to spend our time. The Preserve is a private sporting club and residential community dedicated to providing extraordinary experiences for the select families who call it their own private getaway. This true legacy opportunity allows families to enjoy time together exploring the outdoors and cultivating memories for a lifetime and for generations to come.”

Although I travelled with a friend, I can understand why The Preserve is considered a private getaway for families. The 3,500 pristine acres of land is truly a sight you have to experience yourself. Once I arrived, I remember being in awe of how spacious the property is and once I entered my room, the first thought that came to mind was ‘wow, I actually would love to spend a week here with family and friends and this would make for an awesome summer house getaway.’ 

The Preserve actually offers private residences in a variety of styles and sizing, which all made sense because my room was part of The Hilltop Lodge. My one bedroom accommodation consisted of a gorgeous kitchen with an island and granite counters and top tier appliances, a spacious living room with a fireplace and tv, a comfortable king sized bed, a stunning bathroom, washer and dryer, and the most beautiful feature was the private patio with comfortable chairs to lounge in.

I loved the stylish and luxury finishes throughout because it fit my personal interior design preference and it was cozy and inviting enough for me to feel like home. The actual condo was bigger and more stunning than my own apartment so needless to say, I wanted to move in! The patio was an added element that took my breath away because there’s nothing like drinking coffee in the morning outside. I also had a very calming and grounding morning where I meditated and journaled as I always do back at home.

During the first and only night that I was there, I was lucky enough to experience the the opening of The Safari Tent Scotch and Cigar Tasting Experience, which featured five Laphroaig scotches, ranging from Laphroaig 10 Year to Laphroaig 25 Year and a selection of Cohiba cigars, including the highly-rated Cohiba Royale and Cohiba Black expressions. Although I’m not a huge scotch drinker or a cigar enthusiast, I still enjoyed the experience because the two luxurious tent setup was absolutely stunning. It reminded me a little of Marrakech because the tents was styled with oriental rugs, large lanterns, wood plank ceilings and curated artwork. Outside the tents were a wood-burning fire pit, Adirondack chairs and pillows, so if that doesn’t scream a cozy vibe, then I don’t know what will!

It is truly a magical pop up experience that anybody would be mesmerized by and it definitely made for great photo opportunities. Whether you love scotch or cigars, or you’re like me and that’s not really your thing, I would still recommend trying it because the safari tent also includes delicious charcuterie, cheese, chocolate and roasted nuts to complement the tasting notes. It’s also a great activity to do before dinner because it felt like happy hour, where I can unwind, drink and socialize, which eased me well into dinner.

Maker’s Mark Hobbit House was where the dinner took place and that’s what I was looking forward to the most during this trip. And yes you read that right, dinner in hobbit house is exactly how it sounds and the concept was inspired by the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. There are actually two Hobbit Houses on property, but it doesn’t matter which one you dine in because they’re both unique experiences. The four course dinner included Maker’s Mark bourbon flight tasting and red and white house wine. The owner of The Preserve, Paul Mihailides blessed us that night by joining us for dinner and Linda (one of the staff who was so lovely serving and educating us throughout the night) made the evening memorable. The meal was out of the world and my favorite items were the apricot mustard preserve that went with the cheese charcuterie board and the biscuit with Shy Brothers Hannahbelle cheese.

I loved how intimate the dinner was, especially since we were closed in proximity from one another and we were dining in the cozy hobbit house.And if all the food wasn’t enough, I then went outside to the nearby fire pit to make smores, which is one of my favorite activities of all time. It was the perfect evening to end my night at The Preserve!

The Preserve offers four-seasons of almost any outdoor activity, and every indoor luxury including; stocked fishing ponds, world-class sporting clays, upland hunting, ziplining, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, tennis, horseback riding, archery, ATVs, cross country skiing, snowmobiles, and a championship 18-hole golf course artfully carved from stunning landscapes. In addition, The Range at The Preserve is America’s longest indoor automated range with 150-yard-lanes and features our two-story Sporting Shoppe ready to outfit your every adventure!

I couldn’t leave The Preserve without experiencing one activity so I decided to gather my courage and try clay shooting. I have never held a gun before, so it’s safe to say that I was a bit nervous. However, I knew that I was going to be guided by an expert, so that made me feel less anxious. I always say that fear is what you make of it, so once I changed my perspective to embracing fear, I was able to see the experience with more excitement. I was intimidated when I arrived at the station, but Richie walked me through all the safety features and made me feel calm and confident. I also  knew I was there to challenge myself both physically and mentally, so I simply stepped up and did the best I could. There was an incredible adrenaline rush that ran through my body when I attempted my first aim and I was shocked that I successfully hit my target on the first try! I was determined to hit more of my targets and I don’t want to brag, but I think I did pretty well for a first time shooter.

I realized throughout the clay shooting experience is that while it’s a physical sport, it’s more of a mental sport. I had to mentally focus on my target and once I was able to concentrate on where the target was in the air, I would envision hitting it and then I would zero into that mindset. I also discovered that form is everything and when I had the stance down along with the placement of the gun on my shoulder and against my cheek, I was able to tune everything else out and just focus on the target. I am so happy that I went through with the clay shooting because it was one of the most exciting things I’ve done in my life! I also have to admit it’s a bit addicting and I would’ve probably stayed longer had it not been so tiring with holding the gun because after a few rounds, it was heavy and I needed to recharge.

After the intense shooting experience, I had breakfast at Double Barrel Kitchen and felt energized to make my way to Ocean House, which is another property in the same collection. I didn’t stay at the the beach hotel overnight, but I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon at the beach and experience their Sipping Terrace high tea, which you can read about here. Although I only stayed for one night at The Preserve, I made the most of it. I definitely don’t think one night is enough and I would love to return next time and stay for longer so I can experience everything the property has to offer.

*I want to give a huge thank you to The Preserve for hosting me and making me feel so welcomed!