Welcome to the Club at Silo Ridge

Private residential clubs like Silo Ridge offer amenities to rival the poshest resorts. We take a members-only tour. Silo Ridge Ridge House perches on a picturesque hill in Amenia, New York, surrounded by the manicured greens of an 18-hole, Tom Fazio–designed golf course. From this rustic restaurant’s porch, one can survey much of Silo Ridge Field Club, the ultra-exclusive, members-only community it serves. Views stretch through Dutchess County, the Hudson Valley, and neighboring Berkshire Mountains, with wooded valleys and slopes between. Right now, Ridge House—with its polished “terrain-to-table” menu by chef Jonathan Wright—acts as a temporary clubhouse. An even more impressive outpost will be built in the near future as part of a master plan by Discovery Land Company founder and CEO Mike Meldman along with Pedro Torres of Silo Ridge co-developer Stoneleaf Partners. This vision incorporates unheard-of amenities that aim to please each member of the family. Values diverge from the buttoned-up rulebooks that typify country clubs. Silo Ridge encompasses 850 acres, with an adjacent 500 acres placed into conservation as part of the North American Land Trust. Homeowners on-site have access to a cornucopia of amenities that rival—and arguably surpass—those of many leading luxury resorts. Perhaps surprisingly, the values at this residential club diverge from the buttoned-up rulebooks that typify the historic country clubs dotting America. There is no dress code, though all tend to be respectful of the affluent environment. Family is the focus—with vertical memberships accommodating everyone from grandparents and grandchildren to pets. A view from the golf course “Luxury to me is when service is seamless and natural—everywhere,” Meldman says. “When you’re a member at a Discovery Club, the experience is very personal. The staff knows you and your family because we offer a community.” You might call it full concierge-style living. If a person plans to spend the weekend at their Silo Ridge residence, a staff member can adjust their heat, pop a bottle of wine into their fridge, change a lightbulb, and more. Most members park their car (or get picked up from the Metro-North railroad station at Wassaic, or even helicopter in) and then travel by golf cart during the rest of their stay. An entire ecosystem of activities and resources exists within the community, and it is nurtured wholeheartedly. Putting near the silos As a connective carpet, the golf course is the most obvious amenity. In fact, Meldman’s approach to all his developments stems from a desire to get his children to visit golf courses. This manifests in unexpected ways— from shoeless and shirtless playing, if one chooses, to classic cars as decorations. But it’s Silo Ridge’s comfort stations (two stops along the course, with delectable, diverse food and drink options) that set it apart. Accessible from the third and sixth hole, the “Front Porch” offers, among other options, an ornate Bloody Mary bar for adults and an ice cream maker for children. The “Back Porch” within reach of holes 12 and 16 is a full restaurant. It features a much-loved margarita machine and an ever-changing menu that runs the gourmet gamut from amuse-bouches to premium comfort foods. Not only do people stop here midgame; they visit without playing at all. It’s far more relaxed than one could imagine for a place serving meticulously portioned caviar and uni atop oysters. Paddleboarding & Fishing In the center of the community’s neighborhoods, several amenities activate during the warmer months. A 150-foot waterslide splashes into the compound’s pristine pool, while a sandy beach along the recreational lake resembles the Amalfi coast with its colorful umbrellas and Adirondack chairs. A water trampoline floats in the center of it all, surrounded by families paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. All the watercrafts are supplied. A remnant of an old iron-ore mine in the crystalline lake has depths of 90 feet, so Silo Ridge made the most of it by installing a cliff jump and floating dock. All the while, lifeguards circulate. Nothing epitomizes the Rockwellian attributes of Silo Ridge quite like the bait shop. There, members can grab fishing line, tackle, worms, and ice cream sandwiches. “A lot of people in our demographic are type A,” Meldman explains. “They’ve worked very hard. At Silo Ridge and other Discovery Land Club properties, you feel like you’ve escaped to simpler times. I wanted to bring back good memories, childhood memories. No matter who you are as an adult, life is simpler as a kid.” Two openings this summer underscore Silo Ridge’s commitment to its club members. First, an 11,000-square-foot Family Barn will serve as a living room for the entire community. A game room and activity center for children on the main level exudes coziness. One floor below, there is a two-lane bowling alley, an arcade, and a private movie theater that seats 20 to 30 people. Second, 400 acres of equestrian farm will open, along with a training program run by international Grand Prix rider Judy Garofalo, who happens to be Torres’s wife. The site was an old stud farm purchased by Silo Ridge. Members are already boarding horses. Members can board their horses From the equestrian farm, one can take in another stunning view of Silo Ridge’s rolling hills. Down the line, a spa will join the amenities. A new fitness center will replace the current one; members will also be able to enjoy tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a fantastical baseball field surrounded by corn stalks as a nod to the film Field of Dreams . Jonathan Wright, Discovery Land Company, VP of culinary operations Another aspect of the club’s bucolic lifestyle is the farm at Silo Ridge, which not only provides produce for the restaurants in the club, but also offers plots for owners to cultivate for themselves or to have managed and to pluck from as they wish. More than 50 chickens, a Flemish Giant rabbit, a Mini Rex rabbit, and a pair of Nigerian Dwarf goats roam near strawberries, tomatoes, and onions. Bees are tended, and their honey goes into Silo Ridge products. “With all the growth and expansion, something that will never change, and what I am most proud of, is the way our clubs bring families together,” says Meldman. Silo Ridge will comprise 245 residences, from condominiums and developer-built homes to estate plots for custom-built construction. Homes are arranged in neighborhoods, with some close to the amenities and others more secluded for members who crave privacy. Residences can have their own pool, hot tub, and outdoor fireplace. “With all the growth and expansion, something that will never change, and what I am most proud of, is the way our clubs bring families together,” says Meldman. “What we provide is the opportunity to spend priceless time with family and friends—and the joy of experiencing and being part of a community where you make lifelong memories with them.” —by David Graver To find out more, visit siloridige.com