Oheka Castle: Everything You Need to Know About the Long Island Mansion
By Megan Johnson
The historic French-style château has played host to many elite weddings and even a Taylor Swift music video.
If lush formal gardens and Gilded Age glamour are your idea of a good time, Oheka Castle Hotel and Estate might be the mansion getaway of your dreams. The second largest private home in America, the Long Island castle is tucked away on the famed Gold Coast between New York City and The Hamptons in the peaceful town of Huntington. One of the most famous Gold Coast mansions, Oheka Castle in Huntington, NY, is a beacon of both historic preservation and luxury style. The perfect spot for history buffs and high-end travelers, it is now a member of Historic Hotels of America and welcomes guests to enjoy the historic site, whether as a wedding venue or a mansion tour.
So what exactly makes Oheka Castle so special? Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the grandeur of the New York estate is informed by endless unique features. “There are several factors that lend to the castle’s popularity,” says Nancy Melius, director of marketing and interior design at Oheka Castle, who mentions the property’s rich history and thriving existence in the present day. “It underwent one of the most expensive restorations in the country and is the second largest private residence in the country. The estate is palatial and awe-inspiring and it’s unusual to find a historic castle of this size and beauty in America.”
History
The fascinating history of Oheka Castle is a story that has carried on throughout the ages. Financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn first purchased 443 acres in Cold Spring Harbor, which is part of the town of Huntington, New York, in 1914 for $1 million. After two years of construction atop a hill, making it the highest point on Long Island, the French-style château served as the private summer home for the Kahn family. It became known for its luxurious private events and celebrations, a prime example of 1920s Gilded Age glamour. The Kahns welcomed some of the biggest names of the era, from Hollywood legends to politicians, to the sprawling mansion for lively parties.
However, things began to fall apart after 1934, when Otto Kahn died of a heart attack. The property was bought and sold several times, serving as everything from a retreat for New York sanitation workers to a government training school for Merchant Marine radio operators. In 1948, the Eastern Military Academy purchased Oheka Castle. After removing the lush gardens, subdividing the rooms, and changing the interior, the school went bankrupt in the 1980s. It was at that point that the property fell into dilapidation, with numerous fires set inside in just five years. Abandoned for more than 10 years, the estate suffered from significant neglect. Developer Gary Melius purchased it for $1.5 million in 1984, investing $40 million into restoring the palatial estate to its former glory.
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