Tennis courts, stables, orchards, a landing strip, and a large private greenhouse were also on the property. Officials from both sides of the political aisle have often been his guests. While no one saw an actual ghost, some of our #FBIMostWanted cast and crew mentioned an uneasy feeling on the top floor near the green rooms! The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. Police found two full rounds at the scene, Newsday said. Visitors can tour other Historic Gold Coast Mansions, such as the Vanderbilt Museum, Old Westbury Gardens, Mill Neck Manor, and Coe Hall, which collectively were the inspiration for the classic novel, "The Great Gatsby"; relax on one of Long Island's beautiful sandy beaches; enjoy a classical music concert by the LI Philharmonic at the Tilles Center; or indulge in a wine tasting in Long Island's Wine Country on the North Fork. The name "Oheka" is a play on the original owner's full name, Otto Hermann Kahn, who modeled the estate on the stylish chateaus of France. Sources told Newsday the suspect pressed a gun against Melius' closed window, then fired a round. Gary Melius has a vast and complicated business enterprise, so that means there are a lot of places to look. Melius is a prominent developer and political contributor and is well-known and well-liked. He rebounded and bought it back for $30 million in 1998. The who's who of high-society, international politicians, and, of course, famous Hollywood movie stars were regularly spotted at the residence. He told them he has no idea who tried to kill him, and there are no known witnesses. [8] They were unable to sustain the property themselves, so Melius reacquired it under a long-term lease and later re-purchased the estate, operating it as a weddings and events venue, luxury hotel and conference center.[9]. Newsday will include its entire Melius investigation in Sunday's print edition. Visitors were greeted by a long driveway lined with manicured red cedar trees that led you into the property. Roughly 222 new windows and doors as well as 4,000 new roof slates were purchased during the first years of Oheka Castle's renovations. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after visiting shooting victim and Oheka Castle Owner Gary Melius at North Shore University Hospital on Wednesday. Oheka Castle, also known as the Otto Kahn Estate, is a hotel located on the North Shore of Long Island, in West Hills, New York, also known as the "Gold Coast," a hamlet in the town of Huntington. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Now, Oheka Castle is once again among the most famous estates in all of Long Island. But something about the castle must have had a deep hold on him because he could not walk away from it. In 1988, unable to continue financing the massive project, Melius sold the property to Hideki Yokoi for $22.5 million. Suffolk County Police officers surround the car belonging to Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle, who brought to Syosset Hospital with a gunshot wound on Monday. High-powered developer Gary Melius a heavy hitter in the blood sport of Long Island politics was shot in the head by a masked gunman in an apparent assassination attempt Monday outside his tony Oheka Castle, police said. / CBS/AP. Who Makes The Best Margarita on Long Island? It also offers a bar, restaurant, and mansion tours of the estate and gardens. In 2004, Oheka was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. document.write(new Date().getFullYear());. Oheka is the second largest private residence in America with 109,000 square feet. Gary Melius, the owner of Suffolk County's Oheka Castle who was shot in the head in February, has released his first comments on the incident in a video statement. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But he declined to give them specific details, Newsday said. ", "MrBeast Reveals Why He Spent $1 Million for One Night in a Hotel", Gold Coast Mansions Historic Long Island Home, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oheka_Castle&oldid=1147042569. CBS New York reported the video shows the suspect's weapon getting jammed before the suspect then flees in a vehicle. Three days later, White was arrested on an outstanding warrant over an unrelated $250 fine he hadn't paid. Other features of the 443-acre (179ha) complex included an 18-hole golf course designed by golf architect Seth Raynor, one of the largest private greenhouse complexes in America, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, a landing strip, orchards, and stables. Then, 222 new windows and doors were purchased to reseal the property as well as 4,000 new roof slates to fix the damaged roof. In December, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat, found no criminality in White's arrest. On February 24, 2014, Melius survived a gunshot to the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of the castle. David Winzelberg // January 15, 2019. Orson Welles used its exterior to shoot some scenes there in 1940 for his American classic Citizen Kane. In addition to weddings, the castle hosts fundraisers, galas and numerous other high-profile events. It reportedly led to a secret chamber known as Kahn's secretary office. Kahn's dream house was a 109,000-square-foot French-style mansion with a grand staircase in the entryway foyer modeled after the Chateau de Fontainebleau in France. But even Ohekawhich borrows from the name of its originator, Otto Herman Kahnhas had some interesting reincarnations, too. Tuesday, Melius gave a statement to Eyewitness News saying; "I look forward to coming home. But the estate was no longer the playground for the rich and famous it once was. "As best as we can determine, (Melius) was entering his vehicle," Suffolk Police Detective Sgt. On Tuesday, Melius released a video to the media announcing the reward and thanking the Suffolk County Police Department for its work. It was about 12:30 p.m., a Monday, and the developer-turned-owner of Oheka Castlea historic 127-room French-style chateau tucked behind rolling hills and residential homes in Huntingtonwas reportedly about to meet his pal, former U.S. Sen. Al DAmato, for lunch. Suffolk County Police officers surround the car belonging to Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle, who brought to Syosset Hospital with a gunshot wound on Monday. And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts: Thirty-four miles outside of bustling New York City stands the luxurious Oheka Castle, a century-old mansion that was once the second-largest private residence in the United States. He stuck with it but the costs of renovation were steep, and so in 1988 he sold Oheka to a Japanese businessman for $22 million. Melius was hospitalized for more than week, Police have had little to go on in the case, a Jeep Cherokee spotted driving away from the scene. In 1948, Eastern Military Academy purchased the castle and 23 acres (9.3ha) of its property, bulldozed the gardens and subdivided the rooms. Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. Otto Hermann Kahn used Oheka Castle as his family's summer home where they famously threw the most extravagant parties on the East Coast. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. But the owner of the mansion, Gary Melius, lived through a much darker experience. The owner of Oheka Castle, Gary Melius, was gunned down in his car, authorities said, by a suspect who may have been wearing a mask. The construction of Oheka Castle began in 1917 and was completed two years later. This case is the biggest whodunit to hit Long Island in recent memory. The whole thing is awful, Jacobs told the Press shortly after the shooting. Newsday reporter discusses assassination attempt of Oheka Castle owner 4 years later. Please enter valid email address to continue. [2], Kahn built Oheka in response to Jews being forbidden entry to clubs and golf courses in Morristown, New Jersey and because in 1905, a previous country home of Kahn's, Cedar Court, was virtually destroyed by fire. The 69-year-old went into shock immediately after he was shot and his recollection of the shooting are hazy, police say. Oheka Castle, which is also a hotel offering $1,095-a-night . In 1914, he purchased 443 acres of land in Cold Spring Harbor, which is the highest point in Long Island, for a cool $1 million. John O'Sullivan said. Throughout the years Melius has been impartial in his campaign contributions, doling out hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians without party preference, according to state finance records. An investigation by the Nassau County district attorney found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing but raised questions about the ethics of Dale's actions, leading to his resignation. Christopher Twarowski is editor in chief of the Long Island Press and its chief of investigations. If you look closely, the estate is peppered with the symbol of the Linden tree. Police said they don't know if the gunman and Melius exchanged any words before the shooting. And perhaps upon your visit one of my family members or even myself will have the privilege of meeting you. All rights reserved. (Paul Prince) Spota exited about an hour after his 11 a.m. arrival to see Melius, a poker buddy. No license plates were visible on either vehicle, Newsday reported. It was the country home of investment financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family. In recent weeks, Melius spoke with law enforcement authorities investigating political corruption, the source said. Melius, who poured $23,000 into Hardwick's campaign coffers, was accused of backing the candidate as a favor to his Republican pal, County Executive Ed Mangano, in an effort to siphon votes from the Democratic candidate, Tom Suozzi. "Did you ever directly ask your son if he had any involvement?" Gary Melius told the paper that he believes police spent several months looking into his son, 34-year-old Thomas Melius, because of his problems with drugs, but could not connect him to the crime. A look at the swimming pool at Oheka Castle. It has since been converted into a 32-bedroom luxury hotel featuring a grand ballroom, restaurant and bar, a swimming pool, and more. LaHilden/TwitterRestoration efforts to restore Oheka Castle to its former glory and upgrade amenities cost $37 million over 20 years. Former President Bill Clinton presided over the wedding of then-Rep. Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin, a close aide to then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in 2010. Gary Melius, 70, is reportedly adamant that his son had nothing to do with it. According to Newsday, Suffolk Deputy Chief Kevin Fallon said the sources' account cited by the paper was incorrect. Who shot Melius and why? It is supposedly the largest restoration in the U.S. to date. "I feel good we're going to catch him, and hopefully, he'll get what's coming to him," Melius said. Link to logo, AAA Four Diamond Award Logo, Link to logo, Historic Hotels Worldwide Logo. Kahn commissioned the Olmsted Brothers to design the estate's grounds, centered on a formal axial sunken garden in the French manner, of clipped greens and gravel in parterres and water terraces, screened by high clipped hedging from the entrance drive that runs parallel to the main axis. "I am disappointed and surprised, and I disagree vehemently," he fumed then. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. The campaign irregularities eventually got Hardwick sacked from the ballot. The sprawling mansion estate-turned-luxury hotel and wedding hall Oheka Castle in Huntington was the scene of a botched hit Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, when its owner, Gary Melius, was shot in the. A year earlier, Melius had defaulted on the loan. I happen to be blessed with a very very large extended family who rallied to my side during the past 24 hours. In the hallowed halls of this ornately refurbished mansion-turned-luxury hotel, catering and wedding hall, Melius would often be spotted without a tie and wearing blue jeans. In shock," she said. Restorations of Oheka Castle have cost $37 million over the last 20 years. Feb. 24, 2014. What is permanently damaged is his reputation, after what he called a character assassination in the press that hurt more than the shooting. August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM Suffolk County police would not comment on the status of the investigation Tuesday, but they did say there is no harm in Melius having his own tip line. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Long Island, was shot Monday by a masked gunman, police said. "To realize that he was able to recover from the shot, go back into Oheka, call the police," Rosenberg said. Following a 911 call to police, officers, dogs and a police helicopter descended on the estate. Gary Melius criticizes the former district attorney for not releasing the video immediately, says Peddie. The 70-year-old developer and major political donor was getting into his Mercedes Benz in the estate's parking lot when the gunman fired a shot into his driver's side window. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. It's especially popular as a wedding venue and a filming location for a number of movies and TV shows including the hit HBO series Succession. Oheka Castle's splendor was immediately visible upon entrance. Bleeding profusely, Melius stumbled back toward the castle. They have reviewed the castles video surveillance footage, but it reportedly did not catch the face of the would-be killer. Infamous (and possibly haunted) Long Island home. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. An outdoor lounge at Oheka Castle which is part of the hotel's restaurant and bar. After surgery, he was alert and chatty in visits with family, friends and political bigwigs at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. Devils shutout rival Rangers in Game 7 for 1st series win since 2012, Manhattan subway argument turns deadly: NYPD, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot dies at age 84, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He was most famous for reorganizing the Union Pacific Railroad alongside railroad tycoon E. H. Harriman. But at Manganos second inauguration, Melius was basking on stage as one of the honored guests seated in rows behind the podium, where he chatted with Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington). After Otto Hermann Kahn's death in 1934, Oheka Castle moved between multiple ownerships. Everyone thought I was crazy to purchase the dilapidated estate but I saw the potential and also recognized the importance of OHEKA and its historic significance to America and the Gold Coast of Long Island. "Somebody was watching over him. It was the largest private residence in the U.S., second only to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. What to Know About Tick, Lyme Season Following a Mild Winter, Former State Sen. Anna Kaplan Files to Run for George Santos, Rise in Minimum Wage Comes for New Yorkers, But Some Chafe at Compromise, National Grid Plans to Hike Gas Bills By 17%, Files Plan With Regulators, Shinnecock Voices: 6 Shinnecock Women Grow Kelp to Fight Climate Change & Save, Devils win first playoff series in 11 years triumph over Rangers in Game, Hispano borracho estrella su auto contra patrullero policial, Once Complete, This $16M Home Will Be One of Amagansetts. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The district attorney found that Dale had instructed officers to arrest a 29-year-old Roosevelt man, who had testified in an unrelated case that he had been paid to collect signatures for a third-party candidate. "It was not a robbery," D'Amato told Newsday after leaving his pal's hospital room, where cops were posted outside. (Credit: Melius Family). The school occupied the house until it closed in 1979. "I have never thought five minutes about it, I have not had five minutes of fear," Melius said. Gary Melius exited a side door of his palatial mansion estate and entered his Mercedes-Benz parked in its back courtyard. Melius, who is as comfortable rubbing elbows with celebrities and former Presidents as he is with throwing elbows in rough-and-tumble Long Island politics, turned Oheka Castle from a decaying estate into a luxury hotel and events space. Visitors to the estate must pass by its long driveway which is lined with manicured red cedar trees. State Supreme . The kickback from the shot caused the gun to malfunction and likely saved his life, 1010 WINS News Director Ben Mevorach reported. Whatever precipitated the shooting, it was likely connected to business not politics, Jacobs said Monday. (Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News). Melius, a supporter of the third-party candidate, then contacted Dale seeking to have the young man investigated. Not one phone call, not anything," Gary Melius said, according to the paper. Once Melius was in stable condition, a whos-who of local politics have been visiting him in the hospital in a show of supportDAmato, of course, plus former Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, among others. image: coldwell banker harbor light. Oheka Castle has become a popular location to shoot TV shows and movies. Pathway to power: Gary Melius' rise through Long Island's cozy political system. The grounds of Oheka Castle include a beautiful formal garden with a reflective pool amongst its trimmed bushes. "When I first bought the property, it looked like something from a horror movie," Melius said. That's the bullet investigators say hit the 69-year-old in the head, sources told Newsday. Two years were spent building an artificial hill on which to place the home, giving it views of Cold Spring Hills and Cold Spring Harbor.[4]. An investigation by the Nassau County district attorney found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing but raised questions about the ethics of Dale's actions, leading to his resignation. (Christie M. Farriella for New. Detectives were scanning hours of surveillance video and visitor logs. Views of the garden from the hotel's restaurant. It was Melius call to former Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale requesting Randy White, a Roosevelt resident, be charged with perjury in an election lawsuit that made headlines last Decemberresulting in Whites arrest and Dales resignation following a Nassau County District Attorney probe that ultimately cleared the developer, Dale and Mangano of criminality, but infuriated Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs for giving the Mangano administration a pass. Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Oheka served as partial inspiration for Gatsby's estate in, It served as the mansion "Shadow Pond" in the television show, Oheka was the set of the fictional Avalon Castle in the 2010, It was the location of a charity event in the television show, The castle was the primary filming location of the music video for, The castle was also used in the music video "Cookie" by recording artist, The castle appeared briefly as the location of an economic summit in the 19th episode of the first season of American political drama, The castle was featured on Travel Channel's "Mega Mansions" that also streams on Netflix.