Stepping Stone Ranch
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Description
Stepping Stone Ranch is a horse ranch and concert venue in the Escoheag Hill area of West Greenwich, Rhode Island.
Stepping Stone Ranch is a western-town-style ranch established by Rhode Island-native Henry V. Davis.<ref name=":0">"Henry Davis may not have made millions, but, he says, 'I know I made my mark'." Providence Journal (RI), WEST BAY ed., sec. NEWS, 19 Mar. 1984, pp. B-01. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1525C1B8AE946488. Accessed 15 Feb. 2020.</ref> Prior to that, it was a family farm. It is known for being a major concert venue in Rhode Island, particularly in the 1970s. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ricentral.com/coventry_courier/news/local_news/stepping-stone-ranch-putting-on-music-festivals-this-summer/article_979577ca-82f0-11e9-ab31-9353b7f26fa3.html|title=Stepping Stone Ranch putting on music festivals this summer|last=TRUBIA|first=ALEX|website=RICentral.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref> Musicians who have performed at the ranch include B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Merle Haggard, Aerosmith, Sha Na Na and Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=July 4, 1970|title=Country Festival Will Feature 14 Top Nashville Acts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cCkEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA53&ots=x9U5LMJ-FR&dq=Faron%20Young%20Stepping%20Stone%20Ranch&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q=Faron%20Young%20Stepping%20Stone%20Ranch&f=false|journal=Billboard Magazine|volume=|pages=53|via=}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> It was the site for Rhode Island's annual Cajun & Bluegrass Festival (now known as Rhythm and Roots).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/19980903/News/309039924|title=Setting down new 'Roots' at Escoheag|last=Service|first=Andy Smith, New England Wire|website=southcoasttoday.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-15}}</ref>
The ranch continues to be a host venue, and also runs as a horse ranch with trails and riding lessons. It hosts the annual Cowboy Rendezvous Festival, featuring country music, competitions and cowboy-themed trail rides. It was also the site of the NATC Trials Championship|National Mototrial Championship in 2012.<ref>"Watch the dirt fly at Stepping Stone Ranch." Providence Journal (RI), 1 ed., sec. projoCars, 20 June 2012, p. D2. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/152421F018707840. Accessed 15 Feb. 2020.</ref>