"I am disappointed and surprised, and I disagree vehemently," he fumed then. 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. Gary Melius, 70, is reportedly adamant that his son had nothing to do with it. The owner of Oheka Castle, Gary Melius, told NBC 4 New York that his stepson Tommy has been "put through the ringer" by police for the last four months in connection with the Feb. 24 shooting. Was it related to politics, as one source with close ties to Melius who did not want his name used adamantly tells the Press? Oheka Castle has become a popular location to shoot TV shows and movies. Restoring Oheka Castle was a huge investment. The castle's parties were so famous that they allegedly inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, which features opulent ftes at a lavish estate. Melius' daughters called 911 but ended up taking him to the hospital themselves, MacKay said. 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. Oheka Castle is said to be the inspiration behind Scott F. Fitzgerald's 1925 book. Suozzi still lost in November. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. / CBS New York. Castle Owner's Connections Investigated in Shooting - WSJ After surgery, he was alert and chatty in visits with family, friends and political bigwigs at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. 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. Gary Melius adopted him. The 109,000-square-foot castle hosted the 2010 wedding of then-Congressman Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin. 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. Was Typhoid Mary A Reckless Superspreader Or A Tragic Victim? (Christie M. Farriella for New York Daily News). He plays cards with Republican former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato. But he declined to give them specific details, Newsday said. Chief investigative reporter Jonathan Dienst on crime, corruption and terrorism. For years, Oheka Castle was the site of the hottest parties on the East Coast. It has since been converted into a 32-bedroom luxury hotel featuring a grand ballroom, restaurant and bar, a swimming pool, and more. Cops also hadn't determined how many shots were fired and had not interviewed the victim. Police were not aware of any prior threats on Melius' life, O'Sullivan said. 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. 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. Melius was hospitalized for more than week. Footage shows 2 cars approaching scene where Oheka Castle owner Gary Oheka Castle is the United States' second largest private home, and a hot spot for celebrity weddings including Kevin Jonas, Hillary Clinton's aide Huma Abedin, and media personality Megyn Kelly . "Yeah, I asked him, I asked him very strong and there's nothing," Melius said. It also offers a bar, restaurant, and mansion tours of the estate and gardens. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. DAmato told reporters gathered at the hospital that the shooting was an assassination attempt. 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. 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 Gold Coast estate routinely hosts celebrity events, including a May 2012 benefit for pop star Debbie Gibson's charitable foundation. All rights reserved, Muslim Mayor From New Jersey Blocked From White House Eid Celebration, Man Charged With Murder in 31-Year-Old Cold Case Killing Of Queens Teen: DA, Met Gala 2023: Start Time, Theme, Guests & Everything Else to Know, Construction May Make Getting to JFK Airport a Nightmare for 3 Years: What to Know, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day'. Owner Gary Melius has spoken of plans to add more renovations and upgrades to Oheka Castle which would cost another $20 million. In recent weeks, Melius spoke with law enforcement authorities investigating political corruption, the source said. 25 Jaw-Dropping Photos Of Oheka Castle, The Real Gatsby Mansion On Long Island. 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. (Paul Prince/AP). But even Ohekawhich borrows from the name of its originator, Otto Herman Kahnhas had some interesting reincarnations, 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. 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. 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. "I have never thought five minutes about it, I have not had five minutes of fear," Melius said. I look forward to getting back to work. The house was featured in a book by subsequent owners who claimed . After the shooting, Rosenberg says, he managed to stagger back to the castle and call for help. If this near- death experience has done anything it is a reminder to live each day, celebrate life and embrace your family. The paper reports records show that Thomas Melius was released from a months-long jail stint just five days before his father was shot. The historic Oheka Castle in Huntington is brimming with stories that would fill any bride's fantasies. Melius, a supporter of the third-party candidate, then contacted Dale seeking to have the young man investigated. Originally built for financier Otto Kahn in 1921, the 126-room Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Not bad for a guy whod bankrolled the entire losing campaign of Manganos supposed opponent, Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick, for $23,000. He was sitting in his Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot of his sprawling Huntington estate, Newsday said. Hed take a seat at the polished table, hang out and listen, and if the topic could include his pet politics, the Independence Party, hed be grateful and never preach. Think "haunted houses on Long Island" and the "Amityville Horror" house, where Ronald DeFeo Jr. murdered six family members in 1974, is sure to be among the top ones that come to mind. 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. Castle owner Melius survived the shooting by a masked gunman in the . 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. The Suffolk County Police Department declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. Hauts-de-France : dernires actus et infos sur cette rgion - La Croix Feb. 24, 2014. The famous Gatsby mansion has also hosted 1920s-style parties, where the wealthy once again sip champagne while dressed in period-garb. The 69-year-old went into shock immediately after he was shot and his recollection of the shooting are hazy, police say. (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P.. Melius has clearly gambled his life on Oheka Castle. Or was the gunman simply a disgruntled employee of the Gold Coast castle? Son of Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius probed in father's shooting Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. Whatever precipitated the shooting, it was likely connected to business not politics, Jacobs said 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. This is shocking and sickening, he added. The Cold Spring golf course and the property surrounding it that was. It is supposedly the largest restoration in the U.S. to date. The shooting was characterized by police as an assassination attempt but a year later, the case indeed appears to have gone cold, prompting friends and family to up the $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter. 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. 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. As of press time, there had been no suspects named nor arrests made in the case. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. Shock spread among guests at the hotel and banquet hall after the shooting Monday. In 1905, his country home burned to the ground in a devastating fire. 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. 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. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. What is known, is that the king and his castle will never be the same. 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 1948, Eastern Military Academy purchased the castle and 23 acres (9.3ha) of its property, bulldozed the gardens and subdivided the rooms. It doesn't appear to be an accidental shooting at this time.". "Are you any closer today, Gary, to knowing who did this to you?" Otto Hermann Kahn used Oheka Castle as his family's summer home where they famously threw the most extravagant parties on the East Coast. Our Fabulous Variety Show Open Level Tween + Adult Tap Dance for Ages 11+ at Project Most! Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt Now, Oheka Castle is once again among the most famous estates in all of Long Island. Perhaps Fitzgerald might have described these nostalgic revelers with this fitting passage from Gatsby "boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.". 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. Views of the garden from the hotel's restaurant. Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt; Hunt for gunman The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P. Coughlin/Flying Dog Pho), Frank Mackay, chairman of Suffolk's Independence Party, called the shooting "gutless.". Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Much of the remainder of the property was developed into single-family homes. 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. After Otto Hermann Kahn's death in 1934, Oheka Castle moved between multiple ownerships. 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. Now after years of restoration and the support of my family I am proud to say that OHEKA is once again a private home and a great place to throw a party just as Otto Kahn did back in the decadent days of the 1920s. Mevorach asked. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for SYNPSH of CROIX, HAUTS DE FRANCE. Melius bought Oheka Castle in 1984 and soon began restoring it. OHEKA CASTLE | Reception Venues - The Knot The school occupied the house until it closed in 1979. Ron Rosenberg, Melius's close friend and lawyer, is reeling not just at the crime, but also at the fact the his friend is already awake and talking in the hospital and expected to make a full recovery. First published on August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM. Melius, a major political donor deeply involved in Long Island politics, was shot in the head Monday around 12:30 p.m. 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 . Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. It's nothing but a miracle.". Inside Oheka Castle, The Real-Life 'Gatsby' Mansion - All That's In 2016, then-Suffolk Police Commissioner Tim Sini released. "Did you ever directly ask your son if he had any involvement?" 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. 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. What is The Best Tex-Mex Restaurant on Long Island? State Supreme . What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Instead, he says, authorities should be looking into whether a certain political foe of his was involved. 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. Originally a 127-room "house," Oheka Castle is now a 32-bedroom hotel. He sold it a few years later, then regained ownership in 2003. 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. But no one has been able to answer who shot Gary Melius. "First place they look is my family so it was a tough thing to get used to," Melius said. Oheka Castle, which is also a hotel offering $1,095-a-night . One things for sure: Someone wants Gary Melius dead. Police initially believed Melius was shot was he tried to climb into his car and got a lucky break when two bullets missed. 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. 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. Melius offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Christopher Twarowski is editor in chief of the Long Island Press and its chief of investigations. Melius said he has recovered from his injuries. 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. Melius once was nearly $6 million in debt, according to the Daily News, and owed the Trump Taj Mahal some $100,000 in 1992. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. 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. 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. 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. The historic Oheka Castle in Huntington is brimming with stories that would fill any bride's fantasies. 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. 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. Officials from both sides of the political aisle have often been his guests. 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.. It's been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still . One law enforcement official told Newsday last year that, "simply put, there are so many suspects." 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. Gunfire at the Castle: Who Shot Oheka's Owner? And Why? - LI Press Gusoff asked. "But I cannot imagine this would have anything to do with political disputes. Who Makes The Best Cookies on Long Island? 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. It was the country home of investment financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family. It reportedly led to a secret chamber known as Kahn's secretary office. Police stand in front of Oheka castle on Long Island after the owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises. The tip line can be reached at (631) 912-6969. Long Island castle owner who was shot through the eye was $6m in debt The Associated Press contributed to this report. Hed make his case that the two major parties had failed the republic and then move on. Gary Melius exited a side door of his palatial mansion estate and entered his Mercedes-Benz parked in its back courtyard. August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM Meet Donald 'Pee Wee' Gaskins, The Cannibal Serial Killer Who Allegedly Murdered 90 People. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. 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. They said they will have an investigator with intricate knowledge of the case handling the calls. "It was a cowardly act, whoever hired these guys," he said. Visitors were greeted by a long driveway lined with manicured red cedar trees that led you into the property. 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. 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. Then, read about the European fugitive who faked his own death and was found living in his lavish French castle. 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. (Paul Prince) Spota exited about an hour after his 11 a.m. arrival to see Melius, a poker buddy. But something about the castle must have had a deep hold on him because he could not walk away from it. 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. In August, Melius negotiated a modification of Oheka's $27.9-million mortgage loan and got a five-year extension, Newsday reported, citing Trepp, a Manhattan-based company that tracks commercial mortgages. "I don't know if you ever can ever get your reputation back," Melius said. John O'Sullivan said that it does not appear to be an accidental shooting, but that neither the shooter nor a motive has been identified. It began with hauling out 300 trailer trucks worth of trash over the first six months of repairs. It is a popular venue for weddings, parties, and serves as a frequent backdrop for music videos, such as Taylor Swift's "Blank Space," and TV shows like Gossip Girl, Succession, Madam Secretary, and The Americans. He reportedly renegotiated its $27.9-million mortgage last August and had defaulted on the loan in 2012. LaHilden/TwitterRestoration efforts to restore Oheka Castle to its former glory and upgrade amenities cost $37 million over 20 years. The whole thing is awful, Jacobs told the Press shortly after the shooting. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. . HUNTINGTON, N.Y. - The politically connected owner of a storied mansion-turned-wedding palace who survived being shot in the head by a masked assailant earlier this year says his son was being investigated as a person of interest in the shooting, according to Newsday. "It was not a robbery," D'Amato told Newsday after leaving his pal's hospital room, where cops were posted outside. A look at the beautiful reflective pools inside the formal garden. On Tuesday, Melius released a video to the media announcing the reward and thanking the Suffolk County Police Department for its work. Who shot Melius and why? Melius myriad business dealings? Last year, he was at the heart of a political scandal that led to the resignation of Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale. Oheka Castle: A Modern Day "Gatsby" Mansion | The Extravagant But the owner of the mansion, Gary Melius, lived through a much darker experience there. 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. Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius, 69, shot in the head by masked gunman 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. The owner of a prominent wedding venue on Long Island where celebrities and dignitaries have held their lavish nuptials was shot in the head at the sprawling mansion Monday. All Rights Reserved. [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]. Melius's friends are just amazed at his resilience. 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. [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!
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