Oheka Castle
Almost a century ago, financier and philanthropist Otto
Hermann Kahn built Oheka Castle in the middle of a 443 acre plot on the highest
point on Long Island in Cold Spring Harbor, for an estimated cost of $11
million dollars ($110 million dollars in today’s currency). At the time of its
construction, the French-style chateau was, and still is today, the
second-largest private residence ever built in America. During the Gilded Age
of the 1920’s, Kahn used the 109,000 square foot, 127 room estate as a summer
home where he hosted lavish parties and regularly entertained royalty, heads of
state, and Hollywood stars.
After Otto Kahn died in 1934, the estate changed hands
several times, serving as a retreat for New York sanitation workers, and a
government training school for Merchant Marine radio operators. In 1948, the
Eastern Military Academy bought Oheka, bulldozed the gardens, subdivided the rooms
and painted over the walls. After the school went bankrupt 30 years later,
Oheka stood abandoned, except by vandals who set numerous fires over 5 years.
In 1984, developer Gary Melius purchased Oheka and the
remaining 23 acres which surrounded the estate and began the painstaking
challenge of restoring the Castle to its original grandeur.
Today, Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and is admired as a premier venue to host society weddings, gala
celebrations, and corporate retreats. Oheka is also an historic hotel with 32
luxury guestrooms and suites on the upper floors of the estate and has been the
backdrop to many famous music, television, film and photo productions since the
making of the classic film, "Citizen Kane", to the present day TV
series, "Royal Pains". Mansion Tours of the estate and gardens offer
guests the unique opportunity to learn about Oheka's rich history and
experience the grandeur of this magnificent estate.
Camera Data
Canon
Canon EOS 5D
1/256 second
F/7.1
105 mm
50
Jan 10, 2013, 4:42:09 PM
Adobe Photoshop 7.0
29mm
Canon EOS 5D
1/256 second
F/7.1
105 mm
50
Jan 10, 2013, 4:42:09 PM
Adobe Photoshop 7.0
29mm
