When the list of significant 21st century environmental preservationists is compiled, the name Paul Mihailides will be very close to the top.
As the sole founder, developer, and hands-on chairman of The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences in Richmond, Rhode Island, Mr. Mihailides must be credited with the preservation of 3,500 acres of pristine forested wilderness. Within its hilly, boulder-strewn topography, he has carved out space for one of the hemisphere’s most amenities-rich entities of its kind. A seemingly endless variety of outdoor sporting fields and indoor facilities share space with custom-designed high luxury homes of diverse configurations, fine and casual dining spaces, a world-renowned spa, an everything outdoor superstore, and endless trails blazed in antiquity and maintained with uncompromised respect for the past and the future.
Mr. Mihailides employs hundreds of Rhode Islanders and other locals, supports countless vendors, makes massive contributions to state and regional economies, and attracts members and guests from a wide range of social strata. And he has done so without imposing one red cent of economic burden on taxpayers.
Much has been written, in this space and in international media, of the adventure, luxury, and tranquility that The Preserve provides to all who partake in its offerings. In the coming weeks and months, “Dispatches” will provide unprecedented access to The Preserve, its current profile, and its stunning plans for the future.
Right now we shall focus on another brilliant plan made real that has sprung from Mr. Mihailides’ astounding vision. The Preserve is located in a hub position that provides members easy day access to some of America’s most coveted vacation attractions.
Newport. Watch Hill. Westerly. Jamestown. Narragansett. Legendary destinations one and all, steeped in history, culture, and near-incomprehensible natural wonders. All are within short drives through stunning scenery. All are, to borrow a term of art, force multipliers for The Preserve’s irresistible appeals to the mind and the emotions.
Newport, Rhode Island is the capitol of America’s Gilded Age. The most dramatic of its summer “cottages” built by 19th and 20th century captains of industry welcome visitors into luxury that otherwise would be inconceivable. Wonderfully preserved historic neighborhoods provide vital glimpses into life as far back as pre-Revolution colonial life. And Newport’s other-worldly coastline is as timeless as it is overpowering.
Watch Hill, Rhode Island, in the town of Westerly, has been the vacation destination of choice for New York’s most privileged residents for more than 150 years. And it was the favored summer vacation spot for President Eisenhower. At the same time, its quaint neighborhoods and storybook village vibe reward residents and visitors alike with classic restaurants and shops and a carousel that has charmed generations of young riders. To walk the winding Watch Hill streets is to lose track to time, but never of place..
Jamestown, Rhode Island is a short bridge ride away from Newport. Rolling farm land and deep forests give way to areas with Victorian mansions, manicured neighborhoods, and rugged coastlines that lead to the amazing Beavertail peninsula and its great lighthouse. Walk its perimeter and experience the magical conjoining of land and sea.
Narragansett, Rhode Island offers a heady mixture of the preceding destinations’ essences. On its coastline-hugging Ocean Road are private mansions that in many instances have remained in the same families for generations. Its public beaches are the choice of summer vacationers from all 50 states. In the winter, Narragansett presents tableaus of snowy cliffs and frozen salty spray that draw daring explorers who revel in the visual glories of nature flexing its muscles.
All of these locales -- Newport, Watch Hill, Westerly, Jamestown, and Narragansett -- may be thought of as extensions of The Preserve’s glories. The genius of Paul Mihailides makes that possible. But “genius” does not describe the man’s deeper abilities. He fits to a “T” the most rigid definition of visionary.
Think of him as an entrepreneur, sportsman, investor in human potential, and devoted family man. But the description that pleases him most surely is Paul Mihailides, preservationist.
We are in his debt.
By Charles Drago
