(Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News). Melius bought Oheka Castle in 1984 and soon began restoring it. This is the library at Oheka Castle which includes a secret passageway behind one of the bookshelves. The moment the Oheka Castle's owner was shot in his Mercedes February 25, 2016 | 3:25pm. The cold-blooded shooter aimed several times at the wounded Melius and pulled the trigger, according to Newsday's sources. Detectives were scanning hours of surveillance video and visitor logs. 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. Newsday reporter discusses assassination attempt of Oheka Castle owner 4 years later. Authorities on Thursday released surveillance video showing the man who shot the owner of Long Island's . (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P. Coughlin/Flying Dog Pho), Frank Mackay, chairman of Suffolk's Independence Party, called the shooting "gutless.". Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for AUCHAN RETAIL INTERNATIONAL of CROIX, HAUTS DE FRANCE. "I am disappointed and surprised, and I disagree vehemently," he fumed then. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Long Island, was shot on Monday by a masked shooter. Gary Melius, 70, is reportedly adamant that his son had nothing to do with it. It's believed that during this time Oheka Castle provided inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald's famed novel The Great Gatsby which depicts opulent parties at an estate very similar to Kahn's summer home. The Gatsby Suite, pictured here, is a nod to the hotel's alleged ties to, Kahn famously hosted extravagant parties at his summer estate. Police found two full rounds at the scene, Newsday said. He once owed close to $6m in debts - including $100,000 to Donald Trump's Taj . Inside Oheka Castle, The Real-Life 'Gatsby' Mansion - All That's Originally built for financier Otto Kahn in 1921, the 126-room Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 25 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Oheka Castle, The Real Gatsby Mansion On Long Island. "He said he had evidence of witness tampering and other crimes," the source said. I think hes going to make it! he told the Press when he was reached. (Paul Prince/AP). They said they will have an investigator with intricate knowledge of the case handling the calls. 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. A look at the beautiful reflective pools inside the formal garden. Now, Oheka Castle is once again among the most famous estates in all of Long Island. 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. The property cost owner Otto Hermann Kahn a total of $11 million. Oheka Castle's splendor was immediately visible upon entrance. On Tuesday, Melius released a video to the media announcing the reward and thanking the Suffolk County Police Department for its work. The kickback from the shot caused the gun to malfunction and likely saved his life, 1010 WINS News Director Ben Mevorach reported. The famous Gatsby mansion has also hosted 1920s-style parties, where the wealthy once again sip champagne while dressed in period-garb. Today, Oheka Castle is a luxury hotel located at the highest point of Long Island. / CBS/AP. Otto Hermann Kahn was a German Jewish immigrant who made his name as a financier and businessman after coming to the U.S. in 1893. As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, Melius had raised the stakes for solving the crime a year after he was wounded. (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P.. Suffolk County Police declined to comment on the video surveillance Thursday. Melius, who was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, has long been involved with the Democratic, Republican and Independence parties, contributing more than $800,000 total to the three parties since 1999, according to state records. / CBS New York. Last year, 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. Visitors to the estate must pass by its long driveway which is lined with manicured red cedar trees. 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. Melius remains concerned for his welfare and that of his family, telling investigators he has no idea who is behind the hit. Celebrities who have been married there include Curtis Martin, Kevin Jonas,[10][11] Megyn Kelly,[12] Joey Fatone,[13] Brian McKnight, former U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner,[14] and comedian Yannis Pappas. This case is the biggest whodunit to hit Long Island in recent memory. Our Fabulous Variety Show Open Level Tween + Adult Tap Dance for Ages 11+ at Project Most! Footage shows 2 cars approaching scene where Oheka Castle owner Gary Following a 911 call to police, officers, dogs and a police helicopter descended on the estate. Okeha Castle Owner Speaks About Shooting Incident - YouTube Christopher Twarowski is editor in chief of the Long Island Press and its chief of investigations. Fifty years after Kahn's death, in 1984, current owner Gary Melius purchased Oheka Castle and began the arduous process of restoring the castle to its former glory. During World War II, Oheka Castle became a radio operator's school for the Merchant Marines. For the next four years, the building remained empty, during which time over 100 documented arson attempts occurred, all of which the building survived, demonstrating Kahn's success in building a fireproof building. Surveillance video of the attempted murder of Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius shows two cars without license plates driving into his parking lot moments before a hooded, masked gunman started firing at him, Newsday reported Thursday. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. These days, Oheka Castle hosts daily tours of its gorgeous property. The construction of Oheka Castle began in 1917 and was completed two years later. Restorations of Oheka Castle have cost $37 million over the last 20 years. It has since been converted into a 32-bedroom luxury hotel featuring a grand ballroom, restaurant and bar, a swimming pool, and more. Was the hit related to the castles multi-layered financing? 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. "Did you ever directly ask your son if he had any involvement?" If this near death experience has done anything, is a reminder to live each day, celebrate life and embrace your family.". That's the bullet investigators say hit the 69-year-old in the head, sources told Newsday. He said he is recovering. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its later years were, unfortunately, less glamourous. A look at the swimming pool at Oheka Castle. 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. In 2016, then-Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini released. In 1948, Eastern Military Academy purchased the castle and 23 acres (9.3ha) of its property, bulldozed the gardens and subdivided the rooms. 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. 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. The who's who of high-society, international politicians, and, of course, famous Hollywood movie stars were regularly spotted at the residence. He named political foes, and suspects the shooter was a paid hit man, but admitted it is still a mystery. 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. Melius myriad business dealings? Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. 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. In 1939, the family sold the sprawling property to the Welfare Fund of the Sanitation Workers and Oheka Castle became a retirement home for the sanitation workers of New York City. The shooter fled and has not been captured. The shooting was captured on surveillance video, which has not been released. He was most famous for reorganizing the Union Pacific Railroad alongside railroad tycoon E. H. Harriman. 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. 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. Thomas Melius is the biological son of Gary Melius' wife. 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. Police stand in front of Oheka castle on Long Island after the owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises. Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. Trump fatigue, Missing teens may be among 7 found dead in Oklahoma, authorities say, Gordon Lightfoot, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" singer, dies at age 84, Bob Lee died from three stab wounds, medical examiner says, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes massive pile-up on Illinois highway, Oklahoma governor signs gender-affirming care ban for kids, U.S. tracking high-altitude balloon first spotted off Hawaii, DNA solves "decades-old mystery" after woman's remains found in 1995, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell case: A timeline of events, $3 million fentanyl shipment to Maine restaurant prompts arrest, The politically connected owner of a storied mansion-turned-wedding palace who survived being shot in the head. Gary Melius adopted him. 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. The 109,000-square-foot castle hosted the 2010 wedding of then-Congressman Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin. "They have not one thing to physically connect him to this. A family member drove Melius to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for a bullet wound to his forehead. ", Melius bought the Oheka Castle in 1984 for $1.5 million after it had fallen into disrepair. . Paying per signature is illegal. The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. Police interviewed Melius at his hospital bed for the first time Tuesday. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. By 2003 he was its rightful owner again, having bought it back for $30 million and spending almost an equal amount over the years on its upkeep and restoration. It has been used to film popular shows like. "He said he had enough to put people in federal prison.". Toute l'actualit et les dernires informations sur la rgion Hauts-de-France, qui a t cre suite la rforme territoriale de 2015. [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! MacKidNPascack/TwitterThe castle was allegedly the inspiration behind the 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. David Winzelberg // January 15, 2019. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Gary Melius, a well-known Long Island developer and prominent political patron, was shot in the head by a masked gunman on Monday in the parking lot of his opulent Gold Coast estate . (Bobby Bank/WireImage). Son of Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius probed in father's shooting 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. 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. 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 shooting: Complete coverage - Newsday Long Island Suffolk Oheka Castle shooting: Complete coverage A Suffolk County police patrol car in front of the entrance to Oheka. Who Makes The Best Margarita on Long Island? Melius offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. 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. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. Rice's decision drew the ire of her one-time political ally, Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. "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. He told them he has no idea who tried to kill him, and there are no known witnesses. Melius has clearly gambled his life on Oheka Castle. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Not bad for a guy whod bankrolled the entire losing campaign of Manganos supposed opponent, Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick, for $23,000. He sold it a few years later, then regained ownership in 2003. What is permanently damaged is his reputation, after what he called a character assassination in the press that hurt more than the shooting. The 70-year-old developer and major political donor. Politicians from both parties have sent well-wishes to the wounded power broker, including those whove clashed with him, like Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs. Gary Melius shooting still shrouded in mystery 4 years later Melius, 69, was struck down about 12:30 p.m. as he climbed into his Mercedes in the valet parking lot of the Huntington castle he calls home, Suffolk County police said. After the shooting, Rosenberg says, he managed to stagger back to the castle and call for help. "It leaves me under a cloud that, 'Why did this guy get shot?'". There is plenty to do during your visit to Long Island. Castle Owner's Connections Investigated in Shooting - WSJ Castle owner Melius survived the shooting by a masked gunman in the . After Otto Hermann Kahn's death in 1934, Oheka Castle moved between multiple ownerships. Police said Melius had made it out of surgery by Monday evening and was alert and in stable condition. "But I saw what it needed, that it could become something great.". "I not only don't know -- I can't think of why anybody who would kill me," Melius said. 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. No license plates were visible on either vehicle, Newsday reported. 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. In 1905, his country home burned to the ground in a devastating fire. . Inside new mortgage fee rules, Retaining wall collapses in the Bronx due to severe weather, Karl Lagerfeld legacy showcased in Met exhibit, Tips for dealing with flood-related losses after the storm, Manhunt enters 3rd day for alleged Texas mass killer, New Yonkers center aims to help day laborers get more than just jobs, Bride killed in Folly Beach golf cart DUI crash, ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. Was Typhoid Mary A Reckless Superspreader Or A Tragic Victim? 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. Then, read about the European fugitive who faked his own death and was found living in his lavish French castle. bucketlistli/TwitterOheka Castle's construction began in 1917 and was completed two years later. Not one phone call, not anything," Gary Melius said, according to the paper. "There is a reward for $100,000 leading to the arrest and conviction," Melius said. Proposed condo projects pit neighbor against neighbor as court fights Who Makes The Best Grilled Cheese on Long Island? It is now a popular wedding venue. #TheFBIs In 1988, unable to continue financing the massive project, Melius sold the property to Hideki Yokoi for $22.5 million. Independence Party Chairman Frank Mackay, a close confidante of Melius, was in Louisiana with his family when the shooting occurred and was almost overcome with worry. Three days later, White was arrested on an outstanding warrant over an unrelated $250 fine he hadn't paid. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my home. "Are you any closer today, Gary, to knowing who did this to you?" It doesn't appear to be an accidental shooting at this time.". It was completed in 1919 for financier Otto Kahn and then restored by Melius as a luxury hotel, catering hall, and conference center. 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. 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. On February 24, 2014, Melius survived a gunshot to the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of the 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. Gary Melius shooting still shrouded in mystery 4 years later. Suffolk County district attorney visits Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius According to Newsday, Suffolk Deputy Chief Kevin Fallon said the sources' account cited by the paper was incorrect. Several years after Kahn's death in 1934, the estate was sold. The castle, built in 1919 by financier Otto Kahn, was used as a setting in the classic 1941 film "Citizen Kane.". The mansion, built by Kahn between 1914 and 1919, is the largest private home in New York, and the second largest in the United States, comprising 127 rooms and over 109,000sqft (10,100m2), as originally configured. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after visiting shooting victim and Oheka Castle Owner Gary Melius at North Shore University Hospital on Wednesday. Receiver appointed in Oheka foreclosure case - Long Island Business News Please enter valid email address to continue. Oheka is the second largest private residence in America with 109,000 square feet. OHEKA CASTLE | Reception Venues - The Knot Its been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still shrouded in mystery. The whole thing is awful, Jacobs told the Press shortly after the shooting. Melius, who was born in Jackson Heights, Queens, has long been involved with the Democratic, Republican and Independence parties, contributing more than $800,000 total to the three parties since 1999, according to state records. AUCHAN RETAIL INTERNATIONAL - Dun & Bradstreet Did a Long Island wedding lead to an attempted murder in Florida? Melius is a prominent developer and political contributor and is well-known and well-liked. Tuesday, Melius gave a statement to Eyewitness News saying; "I look forward to coming home. Oheka Castle, built by the industrialist Otto Herman Kahn (l. 1867-1934), is one of the best-known luxury hotels of Long Island, NY, USA today. August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius (right) with his son, Thomas. The columns of Oheka Castle show the architecture's European influences. Oheka Castle Owner Says Shooting That Wounded Him Remains Mystery One "As best as we can determine, (Melius) was entering his vehicle," Suffolk Police Detective Sgt. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. While Melius was well known in the community and respected for his charitable donations, he was also involved in a local controversy last year, playing a role in the political scandal that led to the ouster of Nassau County's police commissioner at the time. 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. The shooting was captured on surveillance. Melius undertook the largest private residential renovation project in the United States to restore the house, which was in a state of almost total disrepair, and recreate the gardens from the original Olmsted plans. 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. The kickback must have caused the weapon to jam, because the shooter was seen on the video trying to fix the gun, Newsday reported. A year earlier, Melius had defaulted on the loan. Kevin Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, married Danielle Deleasa there in 2009. Thomas Melius' attorney, Dennis Lemke, told Newsday that his client was in an inpatient drug program at the time of the crime. Oheka Castle's construction began in 1917 and was completed two years later. Its original 443-acre plot has shrunk to 23 acres over the last century. Melius said he has recovered from his injuries. One person of interest early on in the investigation was his son, Thomas Melius -- a young man with a troubled past. Oheka Castle - World History Encyclopedia 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. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. Sources told Newsday the suspect pressed a gun against Melius' closed window, then fired a round. Was it related to politics, as one source with close ties to Melius who did not want his name used adamantly tells the Press? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Who Makes The Best Cookies on Long Island? "When I first bought the property, it looked like something from a horror movie," Melius said. 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