The Coaches Are Coming!
Friday, August 19 - Sunday, August 21, 2022
A Weekend of Coaching returns to Newport with coaching drives each day, an exhibition on the grounds at The Elms and a dinner dance in honor of the Whips at The Breakers. In addition, the public can enjoy free viewing of the colorful and historic coaches every day, as they drive through the streets of Newport and the grounds of the Newport Mansions, celebrating and preserving a century-old sporting tradition. Authentic 19th-century coaches drawn by matched and highly-trained teams of horses visit Newport every three years for a Weekend of Coaching, hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County.
The Elms Driving Exhibition - Saturday, August 20, 2022
The public is welcome to this free driving exhibition on the grounds of The Elms, beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. This is an opportunity to get a close up, extended look at each of the teams, and to hear details about the horses and the history of each coach as their whips guide them around the back lawn
There will be no parking at The Elms during the exhibition. Dogs are not permitted on the grounds, except for certified service animals.
Public Drives • Friday, August 19 - Sunday, August 21, 2022
Watch as beautiful horse-drawn coaches make daily drives through the streets if Newport and the grounds of the Newport Mansions.
Daily Drives & Routes
Routes and schedules are subject to change without notice, although every effort will be made to stay with the published drive routes.
Friday morning, August 19
Start time: 10 am
Coaches leave Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave., right onto Bellevue Avenue, right onto Memorial Boulevard.
10:20 am Pass Easton’s Beach, Memorial Boulevard.
11:15 am Coaches drive along Purgatory Road.
11:20 am Pass Hanging Rock and Second Beach.
11:40 a.m. Break (private location)
Drive ends at 12:45 pm at Greenvale Vineyards on Wapping Road for a private event.
Friday evening, August 19
Start time: 5 pm
Coaches leave Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave., left onto Bellevue Avenue, right onto Ruggles Avenue, transition to Wickham Road, then Harrison Avenue.
5:30 pm Break at private club on Harrison Avenue (private).
6:10 pm Pass Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Avenue.
7:30 pm Arrive at Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave., via Ocean Avenue and Bellevue Avenue.
Saturday morning, August 20
Start time: 10 am
Coaches leave Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave.
10:30 am Free Public Coaching Skills Exhibition at The Elms, 367 Bellevue Ave.
11:30 am Leave The Elms.
11:35 am Pass Narragansett Avenue/ Spencer Park area/ Wellington Avenue.
11:45 am Pass entrance to Fort Adams.
12 pm Break at private residence (private).
12:25 pm Pass Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Avenue, left onto Hazard Road, then left onto Harrison Avenue.
Drive ends at 12:45 p.m. on Beacon Hill Road for a private event.
Sunday morning, August 21
Start time: 10:45 am
Coaches leave Chateau-sur-Mer, 474 Bellevue Ave., left onto Bellevue Avenue, left onto Shepard Avenue.
10:50 am Stop at The Breakers, 44 Ochre Point Ave. After The Breakers, coaches travel down Ruggles Avenue to Wickham Road to Brenton Road.
11:50 am Break on Commonwealth Avenue (private).
12:15 pm Pass Brenton Point State Park and continue along Ocean Avenue to Bellevue Avenue.
1 pm Coaches arrive at Marble House, 596 Bellevue Ave., for a private event.
Coaching Weekend Dinner Dance in Honor of the Whips - Saturday, August 20, 2022
The Breakers – 7 pm – 12 am
Enjoy cocktails, dinner and dancing in Newport’s grandest Gilded Age Mansion. Music provided by Bob Hardwick Sound. This is a Black Tie evening.
- Reservations currently available for Benefactor and Patron level purchases only.
- Reservations for Preservation Society Members at all ticket levels will be available in early May 2022.
• Benefactor Tables $25,000 table of 10 guests • Benefactor Tickets $2,500 per person
• Patron Tables $15,000 table of 10 guests • Patron Tickets $1,500 per person
• Standard Tables $7,500 table for 10 guests • Standard Tickets $750 per person
Contact the Special Events Office events@NewportMansions.org with questions or to inquire about reservations for the Coaching Weekend Dinner Dance.
History of Coaching
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The tradition of coaching grew out of the 18th and 19th century mail runs in England, which later made their way across the Atlantic to the United States. The horse-drawn mail coaches were eventually replaced by railroads, but nostalgia led to the development of coaching as a sport. The Coaching Club of New York was formed in the latter part of the 19th century, eventually becoming part of the social fabric of Newport in the summer. The Wetmores, the Bells, the Vanderbilts and the Belmonts were all active members, bringing their coaches together to go to the races, the polo games, and the Casino.
The two types of open-air vehicles used in the sport of coaching—a Road Coach and the slightly smaller Park Drag—employ a team of four horses. All seating is outside, with the driver, known as a "whip," sitting in the slightly elevated right front seat, and the whip’s wife or female relative taking up the “box seat” on the left. The rear bench of the coach holds at least two specialized footmen called grooms. Two center benches can hold up to 10 passengers.