“ The technological revolution has desensitized America in so many different ways and it ’ s also desensitized family ... I wanted to create a community of like-minded individuals to help grow our family unit — both my family and other families .” — PAUL MIHAILIDES
for access to the shooting range to a one-time fee of $ 125,000 ( plus an annual fee of $ 7,500 ) for full access , including the ability to stay in one of its many multimillion-dollar homes up to a dozen times per year . ( The homes have sold for $ 2 to $ 4 million .)
Some of the amenities — namely the bird hunting — are causing headaches for a faction of Richmond residents , who report finding wounded or dead birds on their roadways and backyards . Some also complain about the steady sound of gunfire , the high cost of membership and how the business is changing the town . Don ’ t get them started on the look of the new billboard-esque sign at the resort ’ s Kingstown Road entrance .
Others are more wary of the constant legal battles with town officials over everything from zoning and planning matters to taxes .
“ He ’ s not a good neighbor ,” says John Peixinho , who ’ s one of only three families since 1691 to own the historic Samuel Clarke Farm in town .
“ You have to be honorable , equitable and charitable if you ’ re going to run a business like the Preserve in Richmond or any business anywhere ,” he says .
In many ways , the Preserve has become somewhat of a litmus test in the town that ’ s home to 7,700 residents . There ’ s widespread disagreement over whether the resort represents an out-of-touch haven for gun-loving elitists or a much-needed influx of economic activity in a bedroom community with one of the highest residential tax rates in the state .
“ I ’ m happy to have them as a neighbor ,” says Richmond resident Julie LeBeau , pointing out the business is one of the largest taxpayers in town .
LeBeau and her family moved to Richmond three years ago because she wanted a yard for her children and a good school system . She ’ s not bothered by the sound of gunshots , which she says can be common in any rural community — with or without the Preserve .
“ We don ’ t have much here in the community and the Preserve has brought jobs to the area ,” she says . While she ’ s not a member , she has visited the Preserve multiple times for events and its spa , one of a handful of amenities open to the public .
‘ A COMMUNITY OF LIKE- MINDED INDIVIDUALS ’
FOR MIHAILIDES , the Preserve is a culmination of his life ’ s work , which includes creating companies and working on real-estate ventures tied to resorts , golf and residential and commercial properties .
A North Kingstown resident , Mihailides grew up on the Cranston-Providence border wanting to be a police officer . But that changed around his eighteenth birthday when he bought a home , fixed it up and flipped it for a hefty profit at the time , discovering a far more lucrative career could be made in real-estate development . It has become the backbone of his business ventures ever since .
Beyond business , he talks about family a lot . Two of his three children are involved in his business . Mihailides is married and has grandchildren . He gets teary eyed when he talks about both his parents dying from COVID-19
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE PRESERVE SPORTING CLUB & RESIDENCES .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023 61