Sandy Point Stables is a 5.9-acre property comprised of the stable and adjacent paddocks. The facility is the last remaining vestige of the original Vanderbilt Sandy Point Farm, a sprawling 280-acre complex that once stretched from East Main Road (Route 138) to the Sakonnet River in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Completed in 1902 by Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (father of Gloria Vanderbilt and grandfather of Anderson Cooper), the building is a stunning representation of Newport’s famed Gilded Age. The enormous structure – the largest surviving equestrian building from that era – contains a 15,000 square-foot indoor riding arena, 24 horse stalls, groom’s quarters (now 4 apartments), and a lounge for Reggie and his guests (now occupied by Stable Sound Studio since 1983).

An avid sportsman and horse breeder, Reggie spared no expense in constructing the facility. He hired the esteemed architectural firm of Walker & Gillette and brought in the best materials and craftsmen available. The result is a showcase of Colonial Revival design and 19th Century engineering ingenuity that endures 121 years later.

Massive 2’ x 12’ cypress trusses support the expansive roof whose peak, complete with cupolas for ventilation, soars 60 feet above the floor. Giant arched windows at both ends and clerestory windows along both sides flood the interior with stunning natural light throughout the day. The 150’-long riding arena was built with curved corners to accommodate carriages, one of Reggie’s many equestrian disciplines.

Reggie was very involved in showing horses and, in 1917, he led the formation of and became the founding president of the Association of American Horse Shows, which today is The United States Equestrian Federation.