What Recognition Has Stepping Stone Ranch Received?
Updated
Stepping Stone Ranch has been recognized as a Rhode Island landmark and was named Yankee Editor's Choice, Best of New England 2011. These distinctions reflect its long history as a family-built business dating to 1957 and its evolution into a recreation, entertainment, and equestrian destination.
The Recognitions on Record
The ranch's own site highlights two main forms of recognition:
- Yankee Editor's Choice, Best of New England 2011 — an editorial selection by Yankee magazine naming the ranch among the best in New England for that year.
- Rhode Island landmark status — the site describes Stepping Stone Ranch as "a Rhode Island landmark," a designation tied to its history and scale rather than a specific award program.
Both are presented as points of pride on the ranch's website, alongside its identity as a family business.
Why the Ranch Earned This Attention
The recognition makes more sense against the property's background:
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | Mid-1950s, built by the Davis family |
| Stated history | "A family built business since 1957" |
| Size | 118 acres in rural West Greenwich, Rhode Island |
| Ownership change | Changed hands in 1995; cared for by the Waldron family since |
| Former role | Leading recreation and entertainment destination hosting thousands of guests and celebrity music performances |
| Current role | Wedding and special event venue, plus equestrian education facility |
The combination of scale, longevity, and reinvention — from music and recreation venue to events and riding — is what the landmark framing rests on.
What the Recognition Means for a Visitor
If you're considering the ranch for a wedding, event, or riding program, the awards are context rather than a guarantee. They signal:
- A long operating history (since 1957) rather than a new venture.
- Regional editorial attention (Yankee's Best of New England 2011).
- A recognized place in Rhode Island's landscape.
They don't tell you current pricing, availability, or facility condition. For those, check the ranch's own Pricing and Menu Options page and its riding program details directly.
Quick Answer
Stepping Stone Ranch's documented recognition is the Yankee Editor's Choice, Best of New England 2011 honor and its standing as a Rhode Island landmark, both supported by its history as a family-built business since 1957 on 118 acres in West Greenwich.