Whether the natural world is a favorite escape or you’re just up for a seasonal adventure, a daytrip to Orvis’s annual Game Fair at Sandanona in Millbrook, New York, is the perfect way to experience the best late September has to offer in the great outdoors.
Held on what is the oldest licensed public shooting and fly-fishing preserve in the United States, Game Fair makes a great day trip from Fairfield County for anyone who wants to up their skills fly fishing or upland game shooting or just immerse themselves in nature’s bounty on Sandanona’s 400 breathtaking acres of fields and forests punctuated by streams and ponds.
For some insider tips on how to make most of the Game Fair experience –set to take place Sept. 20 and 21–we checked in with Andrew Johnson, General Manager of Orvis Sandanona.
Moffly Media: The Game Fair keeps growing, with record attendance last year! What’s behind its expansive appeal?
Andrew Johnson: There’s been a lot of emphasis placed on getting the details right. We’ve been thoughtful about cultivating the right mix of experiences, vendors, food and music. There’s also the draw of being able to engage in the timeless traditions of world-class sporting pursuits in a setting that is the epitome of countryside elegance. And you can’t beat coming to Sandanona in late September: It feels like you’re stepping back in time with the rolling fields, historic stone buildings, and crisp autumn air. It’s the perfect venue for all the camaraderie of outdoor sports to come alive! As a result, guests who have visited the fair and loved the experience have helped it grow through their enthusiastic word of mouth reviews to friends, family and fellow outdoor sporting enthusiasts.
MM: We understand that Land Rover’s off-road driving adventure has been a huge hit with your guests. Tells us more about the behind-the-wheel experience.
AJ: The chance to get behind the wheel of a Range Rover, Defender or Discovery in an off-road setting and put it through its paces is a dream for any driving enthusiast with a sense of adventure. It offers that rare chance to navigate vehicles that handle incredibly comfortable and luxurious vehicles, that take on challenging terrain in a way most of us have never experienced. The program takes drivers through steep ascents and descents, rock crawls, water crossings, and mud tracks, using the vehicles’ advanced Hill Descent Control and Terrain Response systems. The experience is an immersive way for both owners and enthusiasts to gain driving confidence and have some fun, while they gain a deeper appreciation for Land Rover’s masterful engineering and capabilities. Pair that with Sandanona’s scenery and best-in-class hospitality we offer at the venue and it just makes the experience that much better.
MM: There are so many opportunities to try out engaging outdoor pursuits throughout the day. Are there things for novices to try? And are there ways for experienced enthusiasts to skill up, too?
AJ: Engaging beginners as well as experienced outdoorsmen is really at the heart of this event. That’s also what’s at the core of Orvis as a company. Our goal every year is for our guests to come away with some skills and knowledge to get even better at what they love doing.
Our experts take great pride in helping novices get better at pursuits such as sport shooting or fly fishing, but also enjoy helping really experienced people take things to the next level.
So, for example, an aspiring angle can take their first cast with one of our highly-talented Orvis endorsed fishing guides. First-time guests can take their “first shots” with one of our seasoned instructors.
Meanwhile, experienced shooters get the chance to compete in the America’s Cup or Orvis Cup in a variety of categories against people at the top of their game on courses that have been set and tested by some of the best sport shooters in the world.
MM: And how about the folks who come as plus-ones. If fly fishing or clay shooting just isn’t their thing but they want to tag along, what might pique their interest?
AJ: Walking the grounds and taking in the beautiful autumn scenery is just the start. You can stroll through the heart of our curated midway and shop to your hearts content. We bring in a wide variety of vendors who sell items ranging from luxe outdoor apparel to beautiful jewelry. You can enjoy a craft cocktail, sample spirits from local distilleries, order an excellent lobster roll and listen to some great music. You can sit back and relax in an Adirondack chair on the expansive clubhouse deck and take in the glorious scenery. It’s also a great spot to people watch.
If you want to enhance your appreciation for our natural world, I recommend a visit to the internationally-renowned Cary Institute for Ecological Research. There you can speak with the staff about local ecological systems and their importance. Cary’s scientists strive to nourish and sustain our planet with scientific expertise that improves personal health and the wellbeing of our natural world.
Another tip: Ask one of our Sandanona associates about our historic clubhouse, developed over the course of three generations by the Wing family. It is the home of the first licensed game preserve in the country. You can shop Orvis offerings and also explore the northeast’s largest sporting themed art gallery, which features paintings in oil and watercolor created by a who’s who of “plein air” artists.
MM: Kids love the up-close encounters your offers with birds of prey. What are some other things that will keep them engaged and make them more curious about outdoor pursuits?
AJ: I suggest taking them down to Wappinger’s Creek (its eastern branch is part of the property) and let them learn the art of fly-fishing by trying a first cast with a seasoned guide as their mentor.
We also have an arts and crafts area where they can get creative in a setting that’s natural for inspiration.
And they will really have some fun if you bring the family dog along. The kids love to see them engage in some friendly competition at our dog scurry or in-water challenges.
And they have to take a test drive on the controlled Land Rover mini-course designed for youngsters that lets them test their skills while navigating around some hay bales. The best part is they don’t need a license to do it!
MM: We would be remiss not to talk more about retail adventures. You partner with Barbour and other brands to bring their wares to the venue. What can your guests try and buy?
AJ: We’re thrilled that Barbour, the British clothing company best known for its durable waxed cotton jackets, will be returning this year providing an assortment of outdoor and sportswear that appeals to a variety of lifestyles. Barbour remains a family-owned company and we admire the way they continue to represent quality British craftsmanship while enjoying a global reputation for their style and quality. We’re also hosting Ball and Buck, a heritage-inspired brand that crafts purpose-driven outdoor gear designed to last for generations. Their style is rugged, but functional, honoring sporting traditions but suitable for everyday adventures.
We’ll also be showcasing apparel by BRÃEVAL, hats and headwear by milliner Dana Estelle’s BKMC line, and premium British footwear and accessories by Fairfax and Favor.
If you shop the many other terrific vendors we’ll be showcasing, you could leave impeccably styled from head to toe.
Make a Day of It
If you’ve never been to Orvis’s Game Fair at Sandanona, here’s a sample itinerary conceived by Johnson to make the most of the experience.
- Arrive early and park in the front field before it fills up. Catch a shuttle that takes you over the scenic bridge spanning Wappinger’s Creeks’ eastern tributary.
- Grab a complimentary coffee at Mason’s Tent
- Learn the art wing shooting by shooting at clay pigeons at the “First Shots” exhibit.
- Take the steps up to the historic Sandanona clubhouse and explore the art gallery and Orvis’s retail offerings.
- Then, head through the building towards the expansive lawn to enter the Demonstration Zone. Visit with birds of prey and then stop by to see staff from Purina and Wildrose Kennels host dog agility and intelligence demonstrations on land and water.
- Follow the sounds of live music to take a lunch break with food vendors serving up homemade milkshakes, oversized sandwiches, sumptuous lobster rolls and some award-winning barbecue.
- After lunch, check out the dog scurry where pets can test their agility and speed and jump hay bales. Spectators love it, but so will your family’s pet when they get in a workout here.
- Follow your nose to the site where Weber Grills has gathered experts from the renowned Culinary Institute of America to demonstrate how to prepare and cook upland game to perfection.
- Next, stop by the Theatre Tent to take in a variety of guest speakers and listen to live tapings of the Orvis podcast on hunting and shooting hosted by Reid Bryant. Entertainment happens throughout the day. You can also see some interactive magic and learn the art of making craft cocktails!
- Speaking of cocktails, you can taste some offerings from local distilleries while kicking back in the Ashton Cigars’
- Before making your way back over the bridge to begin the trek home, make a final stop to see one of the fishing guides to make a first fly fishing cast.