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Oheka Castle
Oheka Castle - Logo
New York - USA
6 Stars & 6 Stripes
Society
June - 2009
6 Stars & 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service'
The Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and Stripes®
Golden rays of spring sunshine filled my bedroom and although it was 5 AM I was filled with excitement, energy and expectation for another amazing Seven Stars and Stripes review. Our team would be meeting at one of the grandest and most iconic estate mansions in the U.S. - The OHEKA Castle. This 18th century jewel is located in Huntington, 45 minutes from New York City on Long Island's famed Gold Coast. We arrived at the upscale community of Cold Spring Hills and drove slowly up the gently ascending road to the OHEKA Castle. At the guardhouse by the entrance to the Castle grounds our credentials were checked and approved. Within minutes an electrically operated heavy metal gate opened to grant us access to another world and era in Long Island's History. As we drove up the beautifully maintained gravel road to the castle we were transported back in time, to the opulent world of Otto Kahn, financier and philanthropist of the early 1900’s. Upon entering the cobble-stoned courtyard in our large stretch limo, white-gloved staff members greeted us and welcomed us to the castle.
Oheka Castle: Arrival: Nancy Melius & Barry Kay
Oheka Castle - Arrival: GM Nancy Melius & Barry Kay
“Arriving at Oheka Castle was like stepping back in time to an era of grandeur and prosperity.” ~ BK
The staff took our golden Rimowa luggage through enormous wooden doors while the concierge greeted us graciously in the dramatic and spacious entrance hall adjacent to a magnificent curved staircase. After walking up the staircase to the first floor, we were in awe of the old world grandeur that OHEKA conveyed. The ornate marble and granite floors, the elegant brass and crystal chandeliers, the fine art and beautiful floral arrangements, as well as the wooden furniture, oriental rugs and tapestries conveyed a feeling of authenticity. OHEKA is a multi-functional facility that offers a venue for events, weddings, movie productions and corporate retreats all within the framework of a luxury hotel. Nancy Murton, a charming member of the Melius family and driving force behind Oheka’s marketing and publicity, greeted us and invited us to an informative tour of the castle's facilities and its history. In 1914, Otto Kahn, turned his grandiose dreams into reality when he built OHEKA Castle on 443 acres of land in Cold Spring Harbor.
Oheka Castle - Area View
Oheka Castle - Area View - CLICK HERE for a closer look
He hired the prestigious architectural firm of Delano and Aldrich to make the Castle into one of the most fabulous estates in U.S. They, in turn, took their inspiration from the beautiful classicism of the French Chateaux of the Loire valley in France. Kahn had a limitless budget and insisted that his estate be built on the highest point on Long Island. Upon completion in 1919, the 127 room estate encompassed 109,000 square feet. The Castle incorporated magnificent gardens and reflecting pools reminiscent of "Versailles", as well as fountains, and fabulous greenhouses. The Kahn family had four teenage children at the time of the castle's completion. To accommodate the needs of his vibrant and active young family, the Castle grounds also included stables, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and an 18 hole championship golf course.
After being denied membership in a prestigious private golf club (because of his religion), Kahn decided to hire famed course designer Seth Raynor to build a world class golf course on the grounds of OHEKA. Upon its completion, OHEKA Castle, was more than twice the size of the White House, and became the second largest private residence ever built in the U.S., after George W. Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in Asheville North Carolina. Otto Kahn and his wife Addie played host to heads of state, royalty, and Hollywood stars during the "roaring 20's" in a "true castle" constructed of the finest materials...imported marble, stone, fine woods.
Grand Staircase
Grand Staircase
Their home was decorated by the foremost interior designers of their time and filled with art treasures, tapestries, wall coverings, and antiques from around the world. The "high life" at Oheka lasted for fifteen years until Otto Kahn died in 1934. In the years that ensued after his death, OHEKA changed hands many times, serving as a retreat for sanitation workers and a government training school for the Merchant Marine radio operators. In 1948, the Eastern Military Academy purchased OHEKA and laid waste to the great castle. The gardens were bulldozed and turned into a parade ground while the priceless walls were painted over with blue paint. 30 years later the school went bankrupt and OHEKA was abandoned. The great mansion became a shell, and a home for vandals, vagrants, and various woodland creatures. OHEKA was on the path to demolition because of the enormous costs of maintenance, taxes and security.
Oheka Castle - Terrace Room
Oheka Castle - Terrace Room
The residents of Cold Spring Hills realized that OHEKA had to be saved because of its unique place in Long Island History. They sought out and found a "White Knight" in Gary Melius, a modern day visionary who purchased OHEKA and the surrounding property for $1.5 million in 1984. Since that time, Gary and the Melius family have spent over $30 Million dollars and 25 years bringing back OHEKA to its original glory. Gary called in architects, historians and researchers to painstakingly recreate and preserve the authenticity of OHEKA. Faux specialists were brought in to restore the defaced walls in the library, and rubber casters were hired to restore the beautiful plaster moldings in the ballroom and library. The formal gardens were recreated using the original drawings to help resurrect the eight reflecting pools and 3 fountains. Today, OHEKA is a member of the "Small Luxury Hotels of the World" and accommodates discriminating guests who crave exclusivity and excellence!
Oheka Castle Bath Room
Oheka Castle Bath Room
After our tour of the castle, its grounds, and its spectacular kitchen facility, we took an elevator up to the second floor and went back to our rooms to freshen up. Our room was painted a subtle and warm golden yellow, earth tone and superbly decorated with fine art, wall coverings and an antique rug. Our Queen size bed was covered with a luxurious white tapestry bed spread with Egyptian cotton linens and pillowcases with a high thread count. A large flat screen TV, and marble bathroom with glass enclosed shower and a bathroom filled with fine upscale L'Occitane toiletries, hair blower, and special shaving mirror, all added to the room's beauty and charm.
Oheka Castle Bath Room - Detail
Oheka Castle Bath Room Detail
Our room's large windows opened to a spectacular view of the gardens, pools, and fountains, as well as the peaceful waters of the Long Island Sound. OHEKA offers its guests use of the public rooms, library, pool table, fitness center, as well tours of the castle and access to the spectacular grounds. An additional benefit to staying at OHEKA is its location, minutes away from major dining and high end shopping in Woodbury, Syosset, and Manhasset.
We visited the Cold Spring Golf Club, one of Long Island's elite golf clubs, at around 1PM that day. It is on the original 18-hole golf course built by Otto Kahn and is literally walking distance from the hotel. Oheka and Cold Spring Country Club have just recently formalized a partnership whereby guests staying at Oheka can now play golf and enjoy the clubs facilities. According to Gary Melius, Oheka's owner/developer, "it's a great marriage".
Oheka Castle - Golf
Oheka Castle - Golf
To expand Oheka's appeal, Gary, a member of the Cold Spring Club finalized a business alliance between Oheka and the private golf club to allow tee times to hotel guests for a fee, plus cart and caddie fees. This new addition will help broaden Oheka's appeal as a boutique resort hotel on a year round basis. We thoroughly enjoyed a golf cart tour of the club grounds with Jimmy Weiss, the Head Pro and an elaborate lunch buffet with hot and cold carving stations. After lunch we toured the clubhouse facilities, locker room and gym. The facility and it classic design and decor is an excellent fit for the luxurious Oheka Castle.
Oheka Castle - Award
2009 Seven Stars and Stripers® Award-Hand-Out at the Oheka Castle
“Congratulations to Nancy, and The Melius Family for saving Oheka Castle
and restoring its beauty and elegance for all the world to see!.” ~ BK
by Barry & Rita Kay and John Lomitola

Editor: Barry Kay

Editor-in-Chief: Ingrid Lemme
© 2009 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc.


 
 
 
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Disclaimer:

Although the above information was accurate at the time of publication, it can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all pertinent information with the companies in question before planning your trip.


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