Stout Stables

Premier Equestrian Estate & Operating Boarding Facility

$3,775,000 Columbus, North Carolina 27.03 Acres
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Property Overview

An operating equestrian estate in Hughes Creek Preserve — 27 acres, 60×144 indoor arena, three rental units with tenants, and infrastructure built to run without compromise.

27.03 Acres
8 Bedrooms
5 Lodge · 3 Guest House
10 Bathrooms
8 full · 2 half
8,159 Total Sq Ft
12 Horse Stalls
60×144 Indoor Arena

Hughes Creek Preserve

Stout Stables sits inside the gated community of Hughes Creek Preserve in Columbus, NC — two miles from the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The property is fully operational: three rental units with tenants, an active boarding business, and infrastructure that took years and real money to build correctly. A buyer inherits it all.

MLS #4223854

Listed by James Wilson, Broker, Pulliam Properties

Gated Community

Exclusive Hughes Creek Preserve with code-controlled security gate

Trail Access

Foothills Equestrian Trail Association (FETA) trails accessible from the property

Operating Business

Established Stout Stables boarding facility

The Lodge

822 Preservation Trail — 6,438 sq ft across three levels. Built 2018–2019. Three independent living units, each with its own kitchen, laundry, and entrance.

5 Bedrooms — 6 Full + 1 Half Bath

Septic licensed for 5 bedrooms. Two additional ground-floor offices not counted in the bedroom total.

Three Independent Units

Each floor has its own kitchen, laundry, and private entrance. No shared access required between units.

Top Floor: 1BR or 2BR

Studio + adjacent bedroom separated by fire door/deadbolt. Rents as 1BR or 2BR — owner decides with a key, no renovation required.

Main Floor Master

Steam shower, custom walk-in closet, plus a guest suite with private bath, coffee station, and deck access.

By Floor

  • Top floor: Studio apartment (full kitchen, bath, laundry, dining) above the 3-car garage. Adjacent second bedroom with walk-in closet and private bath — fire door/deadbolt between the two spaces. Configures as 1BR or 2BR without a contractor.
  • Main floor: Primary master with steam shower and custom walk-in closet. Guest suite with closet, full bath with tub, coffee station, sitting area, and private deck. Half bath at entry. Open main living and kitchen.
  • Ground floor: Second master suite with large full bath. Second full bath with tub. Two private offices or flex rooms. Separate entrance — currently rented as independent unit.
  • Throughout: Mountain views, professional kitchen appliances, EV charging (110V + 220V), 19.84 kW solar + 20 kW battery storage, Ubiquiti networking, Ecobee thermostats
The Lodge at Stout Stables - twilight view

The Barn & Arena

920 Preservation Trail — 19,296 sq ft. Twelve stalls, a 60×144 indoor arena, a climate-controlled rider wing, and a 3BR guest house. Built for horses and the people who work with them.

The Barn and Arena at Stout Stables - aerial view
19,296 Total Barn Sq Ft
60×144 Indoor Arena
12 Horse Stalls

Arena & Stalls

  • 60×144 ft indoor arena — rainwater dust control, 8 LED downlights, year-round use
  • 12 stalls (12×12) — StallSaver rubber mats, LED lighting, oscillation fans, auto waterers, hay mangers, sliding doors, 2×6 construction
  • 10 southern stalls with 12×24 walk-out paddocks
  • Individual security camera in every stall — remote monitoring from any device

Climate-Controlled Rider Wing

~888 sq ft of finished, air-conditioned space — where riders and staff actually spend time

  • Viewing Room (12×12) — arena overlook with full sightlines; doubles as overnight room for foaling watch or sick horse care
  • Custom Tack Room (24×12) — 10 furniture-grade locked lockers, each with dual saddle stands, boot/helmet storage, slide-out cubbies, bridle hangers. Individual rider storage, not shared space.
  • Break Room / Kitchen (12×12) — full kitchen: sink, hot water, refrigerator, washer & dryer, coffee station. Riders eat, change, and decompress here.
  • Full Bathroom (12×12) — shower, toilet, sink. Riders shower and change on-site. Medical storage included.
  • Office (12×12) — dedicated entrance, video surveillance console (25 cameras, UniFi Protect), thermostat, ceiling fan

Utility Rooms

  • Feed Room (24×12) — anti-mouse insulated walls, feed & grain storage
  • Staff Tack Room (12×12) — saddle/bridle racks, blanket storage, rack-mount Ubiquiti network switches

The Guest House

3 Bedrooms — 2.5 Bathrooms — 1,721 sq ft

A full-size independent home at the barn complex. Master en suite with dual sinks, full bath upstairs, half bath on main floor. Full kitchen, media room, separate entrance and septic. Currently rented — works as farm manager housing, trainer quarters, or straight rental income.

The Land

27.03 acres of pristine North Carolina countryside

Main Property

Thoughtfully developed with the Lodge, Barn, and manicured grounds. Rolling terrain with mountain views and carefully planned drainage systems.

5-Acre Overflow Parcel

  • Fully fenced for additional turnout
  • Electrical service installed
  • Ready for future development
  • Perfect for additional barns or arenas

Natural Features

  • Rolling topography with mature trees
  • Seasonal creek running through property
  • Multiple pasture areas with board fencing
  • Professional landscaping around buildings
  • Panoramic mountain views
  • Private setting within gated community
Aerial view of Stout Stables equestrian estate

Stout Stables Boarding

Operating boarding facility with established clientele

Full-Service Boarding

Stout Stables has been operating as a premier boarding facility, providing exceptional care for horses and convenience for their owners. The facility maintains a strong reputation in the local equestrian community.

Services & Amenities

Daily Turnout

Individual and group turnout in well-maintained pastures

Feed Program

Customized feeding schedules and premium hay

Arena Access

24/7 access to the indoor arena and outdoor spaces

Professional Care

Experienced staff providing daily horse care

Income From Day One

Three residential units are currently occupied — the top-floor Studio, the ground-floor Lodge unit, and the Guest House at the barn. Combined with boarding revenue, a new owner inherits multiple income streams at closing. Full financials available under NDA. See the income and upside breakdown →

Current Boarding Information:

Phone: (828) 676-4723

Facebook: Stout Stables (180+ followers)

Location

Columbus, NC — two miles from TIEC, inside Hughes Creek Preserve, with trail access and an hour from Asheville.

Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC)

TIEC is two miles from the gate. It runs competitions April through October and draws competitors and trainers from across the country. Properties this close and this well-equipped are rare. Serious buyers in the equestrian world already know what this proximity means.

Hughes Creek Preserve

Exclusive gated community offering:

  • Code-controlled security gate (closed by default)
  • Miles of private hiking and riding trails
  • Community amenities and events
  • Like-minded equestrian neighbors
  • Protective covenants maintaining property values

FETA Trail Access

Direct access to the Foothills Equestrian Trail Association (FETA) trail system, providing hundreds of miles of scenic riding trails through the Blue Ridge foothills.

Area Attractions

  • Blue Ridge Mountains recreation
  • Asheville cultural attractions (45 minutes)
  • Charlotte metropolitan area (1.5 hours)
  • Historic Tryon and Columbus downtowns
  • Multiple golf courses and country clubs
  • Excellent schools and medical facilities

Address:
822 & 920 Preservation Trail, Columbus, NC 28722

Distance to TIEC: Approximately 10 minutes

Infrastructure

Solar + battery storage. Dual-WAN internet. Private well. Dual septic. 25-camera surveillance. Not a farmhouse that was upgraded — built with these systems in from the start.

☀️

Solar Power & Battery Storage

19.84 kW solar array with 62 premium panels and SolarEdge inverter system. Paired with 20 kW LG Chem battery storage for near off-grid capability.

  • ⚡ 28,225 kWh annual production
  • ⚡ 30-year panel warranty
  • ⚡ $70,000 installed value (2018)
💧

Private Well & Water Systems

Single private well with dedicated utility room housing all critical systems — well controls, water filtration, solar management, and battery storage.

  • 💧 Whole-property water filtration
  • 💧 Centralized utility management
  • 💧 No municipal water dependency
🏇

Rainwater Arena Dust Control

Self-sustaining sprinkler system powered entirely by harvested rainwater. Four 1,500-gallon in-ground tanks collect from barn roof gutters — gravity-fed cascade with pump-driven distribution. The 6,000-gallon on-site water reserve also serves as a recognized fire suppression resource, contributing to a favorable ISO Public Protection Classification and documented insurance premium reductions for the property.

  • 🏇 6,000 gallons total rainwater storage
  • 🏇 8 commercial Rainbird sprinkler heads
  • 🏇 3 HP pump for downhill distribution
  • 🏇 Zero water cost for arena maintenance
💡

LED & Low-Voltage Lighting

Entire property utilizes energy-efficient low-voltage lighting. Indoor arena features 8 high-output LED fixtures providing optimal riding illumination with minimal power draw.

  • 💡 Full property low-voltage system
  • 💡 8 LED arena downlights
  • 💡 Landscape lighting throughout
  • 💡 Minimal energy footprint
🔧

Dual Septic & RV Hookups

Two independent septic systems allow the Lodge and Barn complex to operate autonomously. Dual RV hookups accommodate trainers and visitors with live-in horse trailers.

  • 🔧 Lodge septic (main home + guest apartment)
  • 🔧 Barn septic (barn, guest house, RV)
  • 🔧 RV Site 1: 30/50 amp, water, and full septic hookup (large rigs welcome)
  • 🔧 RV Site 2: 30/50 amp and water (self-contained rigs)
  • 🔧 Ideal for short-term trainer or clinic participant accommodations
🔒

Premium Fencing & Shop Systems

RAM Fencing "White Lightning" electric high-tensile, PVC-wrapped fencing on 6-inch round posts — the gold standard in equestrian fencing. Shop equipped with 120 PSI compressed air system.

  • 🔒 Horse-safe electric high-tensile fencing
  • 🔒 PVC-wrapped on insulators
  • 🔒 120 PSI air with 4 quick-disconnects
  • 🔒 Gated community (Hughes Creek Preserve)
📡

Smart Farm Technology

Enterprise-grade Ubiquiti UniFi network managed by Dream Machine Pro. Starlink primary internet with Verizon 5G as automatic failover — dual-WAN redundancy managed at the gateway. ~10 PoE access points deliver full-property WiFi across lodge, barn, pastures, and both RV sites. 25 PoE security cameras covering every stall, aisle, arena, and entry point.

  • 📡 25 security cameras (stalls, aisles, arena, lodge)
  • 📡 ~10 WiFi access points — full property coverage
  • 📡 Alexa smart home integration
  • 📡 Ecobee smart thermostats
  • 📡 Centralized IT rack in lodge
⚙️

Professional Shop & Electrical

Fully equipped shop with welding station, commercial slat wall, high bay LED lighting, and integrated sound system. Strategic 220V outlets throughout the barn for veterinary and farrier equipment.

  • ⚙️ Welding station (dedicated 220V)
  • ⚙️ 220V barn outlets for vet/farrier
  • ⚙️ Commercial slat wall organization
  • ⚙️ High bay LED lighting & sound system
  • ⚙️ EV charging capability

📋 Detailed Infrastructure Specification Sheet Available

Request our comprehensive technical documentation including equipment models, warranty details, and maintenance records.

Request Specification Sheet

Schedule Your Private Tour

Experience this exceptional equestrian estate in person

Send Us a Message

Listing Agent

James Wilson

Broker, Pulliam Properties

📞 (828) 768-7098
📧 helo@stoutstables.com
🏠 MLS #4223854

Property Details

💰 $3,775,000
📍 822 & 920 Preservation Trail
📍 Columbus, NC 28722
📐 27.03 Acres + 5-Acre Overflow
🏡 Hughes Creek Preserve (Gated)