THE PRESERVE CLUB & RESIDENCES

Celebrates New Range & Lodge

By AP Connolly

The Preserve Club & Residences in Richmond, Rhode Island, the Northeast’s finest four-season sporting club and community, has garnered a national reputation as “3,500 acres of adventure, exclusivity, and serenity.” On the strength of that accomplishment, I couldn’t resist the chance to experience Preserve Chairman Paul Mihailides’ latest triumphs, The Sporting Shoppe and The Range at The Preserve, at their recent two-day Grand Opening Event.

To say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. Located in an impressive new 50,000 square foot lodge, the stunning, two-story Sporting Shoppe has been created in the tradition of history’s legendary expedition outfitters. Step inside, become immersed in an artistically conceived, panoramic display of some of the world’s most coveted bespoke long guns, and realize that indeed you’ve entered the “everything outdoor superstore.”

SO MUCH MORE!
Sporting enthusiasts will find the most extensive inventory and lowest prices on guns and ammo, plus kayaks, canoes, fishing gear, crossbows, gentleman’s and utility knives, and the best brands for hiking, camping, and hunting equipment and supplies. On display are all-season sporting clothing and even formalwear and cigars. Also available is the Sporting Shoppe Outfitting Program that provides direct access to the best hunting and fishing guides from across the globe.

In the same building as The Sporting Shoppe is The Range, America’s longest indoor range with 150-yard lanes! The universal reaction I witnessed at the grand opening, to the first view down a lane the length of a football field-and-a-half, is gape-mouthed astonishment—followed almost immediately by a widening smile and the irresistible urge to meet the challenge. All shooting bays boast soundproofing- and reverberation-suppressing technology, and are adorned with custom wood paneling. The shooting bays are also equipped with a mounted target programming touch screen designed by Meggitt wireless target retrieval systems.

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE
Shooting enthusiasts can also challenge themselves with 3D Archery, and Golf Simulation and Firearms Training Simulation (FATS®) rooms. There are no caliber restrictions. Also, handsomely appointed Ram and Fox Den members’ lounges, a reach-in humidor, lockers and gun-safes, a stunning two-story stone focal wall, and full heat and air-conditioning systems further ensure that luxury and adventure can magnificently co-exist. The Range at The Preserve is genuinely the ultimate shooting experience.

Both days saw endless lines of sporting enthusiasts taking advantage of massive Grand Opening specials. Many won spectacular prizes, including hunting gear valued thousands of dollars. One lucky customer won the coveted, one-year Range Marksman Membership! And more than a few Grand Opening attendees signed up for classes at The Preserve Academy that offers firearm safety courses taught by certified professional instructors for all skill levels.

The Sporting Shoppe is open to the public seven days a week. Multiple levels of Range memberships are available at the current limited time introductory membership pricing, with higher level memberships providing access to many of The Preserve’s amenities including sporting clays, tennis, pool and cabana, and Members’ Lodge dining.

A SPORTING PARADISE
Located 2.5 hours from NYC, 1 hour from Boston, and just one mile off Interstate 95 at Exit 3A, The Preserve Club and Residences has already drawn scores of New Yorkers to its indelibly beautiful and exciting experiences. Hemingway famously called Paris “a moveable feast.” I submit that The Preserve is a natural feast served with elegance, absorbed for a lifetime.

Additional adventures found at The Preserve across its 3,500 acres include quintessential upland hunting, zip lining, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, championship golf, stocked fishing ponds, world-class sporting clays, ATVs, snowmobiling, equestrian experiences and more. Private residences are available for purchase for those seeking a wilderness dream home complete with full concierge service. Homes include Signature Residences, Townhomes on The Green, and the Hilltop Lodge Condominiums, offering one-level and multi-level living. Options include private in-home elevators.

For more information on The Preserve Club and Residences and to schedule a private tour call 401-539-4653 or visit ThePreserveRI.com.