And perhaps upon your visit one of my family members or even myself will have the privilege of meeting you. "I not only don't know -- I can't think of why anybody who would kill me," Melius said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Police believe the Jeep carried the masked, hooded shooter who climbed out of the car and walked straight to Melius. The employees entrance at the rear of the property, however, has no such securityand provides a quicker exit. "I cannot believe this; you are not safe anywhere," said Natasha Silne, a newlywed who was supposed to check into the hotel with her husband for their honeymoon. What is known, is that the king and his castle will never be the same. He named political foes, and suspects the shooter was a paid hit man, but admitted it is still a mystery. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. Thomas Melius' attorney, Dennis Lemke, told Newsday that his client was in an inpatient drug program at the time of the crime. "He said he had enough to put people in federal prison.". The financier had created the 109,000-square-foot manor in 1919. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Long Island, was shot Monday by a masked gunman, police said. He was rushed by a family member to nearby Syosset Hospital and was said to be alert and conscious after being transferred to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. It was a big gamble, but it paid off. Restoration efforts to restore Oheka Castle to its former glory and upgrade amenities cost $37 million over 20 years. CBS New York reported the video shows the suspect's weapon getting jammed before the suspect then flees in a vehicle. He was most famous for reorganizing the Union Pacific Railroad alongside railroad tycoon E. H. Harriman. Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. Tuesday, Melius gave a statement to Eyewitness News saying; "I look forward to coming home. Gary Melius has a vast and complicated business enterprise, so that means there are a lot of places to look. The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. / CBS New York. The property cost owner Otto Hermann Kahn a total of $11 million. When I first saw OHEKA back in 1984, even in its devastated state, I fell in love. The Gatsby Suite, pictured here, is a nod to the hotel's alleged ties to, Kahn famously hosted extravagant parties at his summer estate. Restoring Oheka Castle was a huge investment. One things for sure: Someone wants Gary Melius dead. Oheka Castle's entirety was kept in tip-top shape by a team of 126 full-time servants. In 2016, then-Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini released. Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt; Hunt for gunman continues By ABC13 Tuesday, February 25, 2014 HUNTINGTON, NY It happened on the mansion's lavish grounds in broad. [15], Interactive map showing Oheka Castles location, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "Oheka Castle, a Historic Hotels of America member", "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Oheka", New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, "Guest Services at Oheka Luxury Amenities in Long Island", "Weiner weds Clinton aide at Oheka Castle", "Developer Is Shot in the Head Outside His Long Island Castle", "That mega house in Liam Payne's new music video may look familiar", "Jennifer Lopez & Maluma Get Steamy in Sexy Two-Part Music Video! Infamous (and possibly haunted) Long Island home. If you look closely, the estate is peppered with the symbol of the Linden tree. The famous Gatsby mansion has also hosted 1920s-style parties, where the wealthy once again sip champagne while dressed in period-garb. Peddie and a team of reporters at Newsday worked extensively to report on the life and times of Melius, a political power broker who hosted lavish fundraisers and poker nights with elected officials at his vintage castle. Eventually, the historic property was bought by a local developer who invested millions of dollars to return it to its once-lavish state and convert it into a hotel. They said they will have an investigator with intricate knowledge of the case handling the calls. 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. [1] It is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. in Journalism with a specialization in investigative journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and was an inaugural member of the schools Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism. Later he was transferred to North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset, where Melius underwent surgery for what police described as a penetrating head wound.. bucketlistli/TwitterOheka Castle's construction began in 1917 and was completed two years later. 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. ", "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. Its original 443-acre plot has shrunk to 23 acres over the last century. Three days later, White was arrested on an outstanding warrant over an unrelated $250 fine he hadn't paid. The 69-year-old went into shock immediately after he was shot and his recollection of the shooting are hazy, police say. HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The victim of an assassination attempt on Long Island spoke out Tuesday, a year after he was shot in front of the historic mansion he owns. "Yeah, I asked him, I asked him very strong and there's nothing," Melius said. But no one has been able to answer who shot Gary Melius. The Gold Coast estate routinely hosts celebrity events, including a May 2012 benefit for pop star Debbie Gibson's charitable foundation. The campaign irregularities eventually got Hardwick sacked from the ballot. DAmato told reporters gathered at the hospital that the shooting was an assassination attempt. These days, Oheka Castle hosts daily tours of its gorgeous property. After Otto Hermann Kahn's death in 1934, Oheka Castle moved between multiple ownerships. Mevorach asked. He renovated the building and grounds to the tune of $30 million. Who Makes The Best Margarita on Long Island? He holds an M.S. 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. Police stand in front of Oheka castle on Long Island after the owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises. State Supreme . As of press time, there had been no suspects named nor arrests made in the case. ", Oheka serves as a stand-in for a French mansion in Season 3 of the Hulu TV series, Oheka was used as the setting for a castle in, Oheka was used as the setting for the "Mr. Julius Caesar" rematch in the film, The castle was featured in Season 2 Episode 4 of the Hulu show, The castle was used as the setting for the, The castle was featured in the music video for, This page was last edited on 28 March 2023, at 14:12. It has been two years since Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius was shot in the head and the FBI now says it is getting involved. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. "As best as we can determine, (Melius) was entering his vehicle," Suffolk Police Detective Sgt. That's the bullet investigators say hit the 69-year-old in the head, sources told Newsday. Melius may be the proprietor of one of Long Islands glitziest estates from the Gold Coast era, but in dress and demeanor he always strikes a very down-to-Earth pose as befits his roots as a kid from Queens. It is a nod to Kahn's hometown in Germany. Oheka Castle was bought up in 1984 by developer Gary Melius who purchased the destroyed property and its remaining 23-acre plot for $1.5 million. He rebounded and bought it back for $30 million in 1998. Inside the "house" were 127 rooms, a grand library housing a secret passageway behind one of the bookcases, and 39 working fireplaces. (Paul Prince/AP). Please enter valid email address to continue. "I am disappointed and surprised, and I disagree vehemently," he fumed then. [3] He was determined to build a fireproof building, so he had his architects, Delano and Aldrich, design it in steel and concrete, making it one of the first totally fireproof residential buildings. After the sale, it was used for several purposes, including as a retreat for New York City sanitation workers. "You know, I wasn't really in favor of doing this, felt the police do their job like everybody else," Melius said. Hed make his case that the two major parties had failed the republic and then move on. Oheka Castle is said to be the inspiration behind Scott F. Fitzgerald's 1925 book. Suffolk County investigators poring over the surveillance footage believe the two cars might have been involved in what appears to be a botched hit, Newsday said, citing law enforcement and Nassau government sources. Suffolk County Police declined to comment on the video surveillance Thursday. With all his success, Kahn had some hard times too. A lone masked shooter blasted through the car window and struck the 69-year-old in the head before speeding away, reportedly in a Jeep Cherokee. The school occupied the house until it closed in 1979. It took another two months for the rails to be refinished to restore the grand staircase to its former glory. 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. Was it related to politics, as one source with close ties to Melius who did not want his name used adamantly tells the Press? Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. #TheFBIs [7] Ten years later, following a lawsuit, the building passed to one of Yokoi's daughters and her husband. Still, Oheka Castle remains an impressive sight. Today, Oheka Castle is a luxury hotel located at the highest point of Long Island. 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. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. Feb. 24, 2014. Its a puzzle, says Newsdays Sandra Peddie. "I have never thought five minutes about it, I have not had five minutes of fear," Melius said. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. We spent dusk til dawn filming at Oheka Castle. 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. It became known as Oheka Castle, an acronym taken from his full name. In December, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat, found no criminality in White's arrest. A view of Oheka Castle from afar. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after visiting shooting victim and Oheka Castle Owner Gary Melius at North Shore University Hospital on Wednesday. "One of the problems in our society is sometimes we try to look for a reason in the victim for the horrible criminal acts of the perpetrators who have no justification and whatever sick motive they may have is not a reflection of the victim," Rosenberg said. / CBS/AP. Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius (right) with his son, Thomas. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for AUCHAN RETAIL INTERNATIONAL of CROIX, HAUTS DE FRANCE. (Christie M. Farriella for New York Daily News). Melius bought Oheka Castle in 1984 and soon began restoring it. MacKidNPascack/TwitterThe castle was allegedly the inspiration behind the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. Oheka Castle was bought up in 1984 by developer Gary Melius who purchased the destroyed property and its remaining 23-acre plot for $1.5 million. ", Rep. Pete King, a Republican and friend of Melius, said he had no idea who would want to harm Melius: "I just hope and pray that he's going to come back. Police have had little to go on in the case, though they have been searching for the suspect's alleged getaway vehicle -- a Jeep Cherokee spotted driving away from the scene. 25 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Oheka Castle, The Real Gatsby Mansion On Long Island. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my home. A look at the beautiful reflective pools inside the formal garden. 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. Originally a 127-room "house," Oheka Castle is now a 32-bedroom hotel. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). I encourage everyone to learn more about OHEKA's rich history by browsing the History pages on our website, reading the OHEKA CASTLE book or by taking an Historic Mansion Tour at the Castle. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Oheka Castle, which is also a hotel offering $1,095-a-night . 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. It was completed in 1919 for financier Otto Kahn and then restored by Melius as a luxury hotel, catering hall, and conference center. In 1946 the golf course and stables became part of the Cold Spring Country Club,[5][6] and the greenhouse complex operated as Otto Keil Florist. (Bobby Bank/WireImage). Melius was hospitalized and was in stable condition at North Shore University Hospital. I look forward to getting back to work. Cops believe the black sedan was the lookout car, Newsday's sources said. During that time, over 100 cases of attempted arson were reported at the mansion, but none ever caught flame thanks to Kahn's fireproof design. The academy bulldozed the mansion's gardens and divided its luxurious rooms into smaller classrooms and dorms. At Melius' insistence, Dale directed cops to arrest a key witness in a case connected to the county executive race. The construction of Oheka Castle began in 1917 and was completed two years later. In addition to weddings, the castle hosts fundraisers, galas and numerous other high-profile events. In 1984, Oheka was purchased by Gary Melius, a Long Island developer. When Melius fell on hard times financially in 1988, he sold the property to a Japanese company. 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. August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM What is The Best Japanese Restaurant on Long Island? 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. from the school with a concentration in business and economics. Unfortunately, the castle fell into disarray after Kahn's death in 1934, changing owners several times before finally standing vacant for over a decade. Gary Melius adopted him. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Visitors to the estate must pass by its long driveway which is lined with manicured red cedar trees. A shooter tried to gun down Gary Melius, the powerful owner of Oheka Castlethe palatial hotel, restaurant, catering hall and frequent film set in Huntingtonbut Melius survived a gunshot wound to the head in broad daylight as he got into his car at the estate on Feb. 24. The castle was allegedly the inspiration behind the 1925 novel, European fugitive who faked his own death and was found living in his lavish French castle. The property was also the site of Kahn's daughter's wedding, which became the first of many wedding ceremonies hosted at Oheka Castle. John O'Sullivan said. It has since been converted into a 32-bedroom luxury hotel featuring a grand ballroom, restaurant and bar, a swimming pool, and more. (Paul Prince) The high-rolling target of a botched hit outside his Long Island. Melius has clearly gambled his life on Oheka Castle. But the owner of the mansion, Gary Melius, lived through a much darker experience. (Paul Prince) Spota exited about an hour after his 11 a.m. arrival to see Melius, a poker buddy. As a family-owned business it is my personal goal to ensure that everyone who enters the gates of OHEKA feels like a welcome guest, whether you are attending a wedding, staying in one of our guest rooms, joining us for dinner, or going on an Historic Mansion Tour. The paper reports records show that Thomas Melius was released from a months-long jail stint just five days before his father was shot. LaHilden/TwitterRestoration efforts to restore Oheka Castle to its former glory and upgrade amenities cost $37 million over 20 years. Melius, a major political donor deeply involved in Long Island politics, was shot in the head Monday around 12:30 p.m. Much of the remainder of the property was developed into single-family homes. Newsday will include its entire Melius investigation in Sunday's print edition. Was the hit related to the castles multi-layered financing? And if there were a pressing problem requiring immediate attention, hed be the first one to be hands-on, as youd expect from a guy who once was a plumber, long before he became the king of the castle. Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. They just shot him. It was the country home of investment financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family. Melius is a prominent developer and political contributor and is well-known and well-liked. It's nothing but a miracle.". Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. He had also faced three criminal convictions as a younger man, according to the paper. Kevin Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, married Danielle Deleasa there in 2009. Otto Kahn bought the land for $1 million $158 million in today's currency. Perhaps Fitzgerald might have described these nostalgic revelers with this fitting passage from Gatsby "boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.". 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. "To realize that he was able to recover from the shot, go back into Oheka, call the police," Rosenberg said. Legends say the castle is haunted. Melius' daughters called 911 but ended up taking him to the hospital themselves, MacKay said. The shooter fled and has not been captured. It took 18 months to scrape off the original paint from the railings during initial repairs. It has been used to film popular shows like. The moment the Oheka Castle's owner was shot in his Mercedes February 25, 2016 | 3:25pm. But Dale resigned immediately after her ruling. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. Oheka Castle, which is also a hotel offering $1,095-a-night suites, says on its website that it can accommodate up to 1,000 wedding guests. Rice's decision drew the ire of her one-time political ally, Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. Instead, he says, authorities should be looking into whether a certain political foe of his was involved. image: coldwell banker harbor light. Oheka Castle has become a popular location to shoot TV shows and movies. MacKay described Melius as alert and even joking on the phone after the shooting, and said "he's the toughest man I've ever met.". Melius myriad business dealings? (Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News). 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. Frank MacKay, a friend of Melius, told NBC 4 New York that Melius was sitting in his car when a man appeared outside and opened fire on him through the glass window. On February 24, 2014, Melius survived a gunshot to the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of the castle. In 1988, unable to continue financing the massive project, Melius sold the property to Hideki Yokoi for $22.5 million. He reportedly renegotiated its $27.9-million mortgage last August and had defaulted on the loan in 2012. As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, Melius had raised the stakes for solving the crime a year after he was wounded. "It leaves me under a cloud that, 'Why did this guy get shot?'". "But I cannot imagine this would have anything to do with political disputes. 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. 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. Our Fabulous Variety Show Open Level Tween + Adult Tap Dance for Ages 11+ at Project Most! 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. In 2013, Melius was part of a controversy that resulted in the ouster of then-Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale over the arrest of a witness in an election lawsuit. It reportedly led to a secret chamber known as Kahn's secretary office. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At the power lunches hed host in the mahogany-paneled dining room with an assortment of Long Island luminaries and wanna-beslike New York Giants football stars showing off their heavy Super Bowl rings to enterprising businesswomen showing off their dcolletageMelius would not put on airs or adopt an attitude. What is The Best Tex-Mex Restaurant on Long Island? "When I first bought the property, it looked like something from a horror movie," Melius said. Owner Gary Melius has spoken of plans to add more renovations and upgrades to Oheka Castle which would cost another $20 million. The FBI has also offered assistance, an agency spokesperson tells the Press. It's been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still . Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt By abc7NY Tuesday, February 25, 2014 HUNTINGTON, New York Investigators say the gunman wore a black mask and ambushed 69-year old Gary Melius. So when he began work on his next palatial dream home, he had his architects design a fire-proof home build entirely of steel and concrete. But the estate was no longer the playground for the rich and famous it once was. a masked gunman drove up to the renowned catering hall and opened fire. Otto Kahn bought 443 acres of land in Cold Spring Harbor to build his family a lavish summer home in 1914. [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. Gary Melius was shot at point blank range while getting into his car in the parking lot of his Long Island venue - Oheka Castle - on February 24. (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P.. On Feb. 24 of last year, a masked gunman drove up to the renowned catering hall and opened fire. Oheka Castle's splendor was immediately visible upon entrance. Otto Hermann Kahn used Oheka Castle as his family's summer home where they famously threw the most extravagant parties on the East Coast. Details of the tapestry and chandeliers that adorn the inside of the estate. No license plates were visible on either vehicle, Newsday reported. Construction began in 1917 and was completed after two years. The columns of Oheka Castle show the architecture's European influences. Paying per signature is illegal. The shooting was captured on surveillance video, which has not been released. During World War II, Oheka Castle became a radio operator's school for the Merchant Marines. Police initially believed Melius was shot was he tried to climb into his car and got a lucky break when two bullets missed. The house was featured in a book by subsequent owners who claimed . Police found two full rounds at the scene, Newsday said. Tennis courts, stables, orchards, a landing strip, and a large private greenhouse were also on the property. "I don't know if you ever can ever get your reputation back," Melius said. A family member drove Melius to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for a bullet wound to his forehead. It is supposedly the largest restoration in the U.S. to date. Or was the gunman simply a disgruntled employee of the Gold Coast castle? Melius, whod worked as a bowling alley pin setter and a plumbers helper before striking it rich in real estate, acquired the property in 1984 for $1.5 million and reportedly contemplated tearing it down because vandals had had the run of the place for several years.
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