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. In an exclusive interview Tuesday with WINS, Melius said he is doing "fine" physically and addresses questions about the shooting and the investigation. The 109,000-square-foot castle hosted the 2010 wedding of then-Congressman Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin. But something about the castle must have had a deep hold on him because he could not walk away from it. Receiver appointed in Oheka foreclosure case - Long Island Business News After the shooting, Rosenberg says, he managed to stagger back to the castle and call for help. Oheka is the second largest private residence in America with 109,000 square feet. Gary Melius, owner of Oheka Castle in Long Island, was shot on Monday. Fish contaminated with "forever chemicals" found in nearly every state, CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. 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Authorities set up informational checkpoints, interviewing passing motorists and anyone else who might have seen something useful. Cops also hadn't determined how many shots were fired and had not interviewed the victim. And perhaps upon your visit one of my family members or even myself will have the privilege of meeting you. 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. First published on August 29, 2014 / 11:47 AM. 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. Construction began in 1917 and was completed after two years. Infamous (and possibly haunted) Long Island home. ", Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. In 1984, Oheka was purchased by Gary Melius, a Long Island developer. Former President Bill Clinton officiated the nuptials. The famous Gatsby mansion has also hosted 1920s-style parties, where the wealthy once again sip champagne while dressed in period-garb. "It was a cowardly act, whoever hired these guys," he said. 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. Otto Kahn bought the land for $1 million $158 million in today's currency. It is a popular wedding venue for socialites, celebrities, and dignitaries, as well as the backdrop to many photo shoots, television series and films. 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. 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. Rice's decision drew the ire of her one-time political ally, Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. AUCHAN RETAIL INTERNATIONAL - Dun & Bradstreet When Melius fell on hard times financially in 1988, he sold the property to a Japanese company. Melius, a supporter of the third-party candidate, then contacted Dale seeking to have the young man investigated. Police interviewed Melius at his hospital bed for the first time Tuesday. 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. 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. 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. Melius's friends are just amazed at his resilience. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW. Long Island castle owner who was shot through the eye was $6m in debt He had also faced three criminal convictions as a younger man, according to the paper. Its massive size once made Oheka Castle the second largest private residence in the U.S., behind only the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. 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. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). The premise of the show was to give viewers an "all-access pass inside America's most enormous, opulent and advanced Mega Mansions. Otto Hermann Kahn used Oheka Castle as his family's summer home where they famously threw the most extravagant parties on the East Coast. CBS on Twitter: "RT @WolfEnt: We spent dusk til dawn filming at Oheka Police believe the Jeep carried the masked, hooded shooter who climbed out of the car and walked straight to Melius. The who's who of high-society, international politicians, and, of course, famous Hollywood movie stars were regularly spotted at the residence. Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. Oheka Castle hosted its first wedding after reopening on May 7, 1987. "This is an active, ongoing investigation, we're not going to be commenting," said a Suffolk County Police spokeswoman. The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. NY - Attempted murder of Long Island hotelier Gary Melius, 24 Feb 2014 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. This case is the biggest whodunit to hit Long Island in recent memory. DAmato told reporters gathered at the hospital that the shooting was an assassination attempt. Cops believe the black sedan was the lookout car, Newsday's sources said. Met Gala brings stunning fits and big reveals, Serena Williams debuts pregnancy on the Met Gala red carpet, Family still in pain after NYPD detective dies 33 years after shooting, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84, Paying more despite good credit? 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. It is a nod to Kahn's hometown in Germany. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. "Did you ever directly ask your son if he had any involvement?" The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. But Dale resigned immediately after her ruling. Kevin Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, married Danielle Deleasa there in 2009. Its later years were, unfortunately, less glamourous. 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.". Tuesday, Melius gave a statement to Eyewitness News saying; "I look forward to coming home. Visitors were greeted by a long driveway lined with manicured red cedar trees that led you into the property. Oheka Castle owner and poker player Gary Melius 'extremely lucky' to 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. With all his success, Kahn had some hard times too. Thomas Melius' attorney, Dennis Lemke, told Newsday that his client was in an inpatient drug program at the time of the crime. 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 . Inside Oheka Castle, The Real-Life 'Gatsby' Mansion - All That's A year earlier, Melius had defaulted on the loan. Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after visiting shooting victim and Oheka Castle Owner Gary Melius at North Shore University Hospital on Wednesday. The moment the Oheka Castle's owner was shot in his Mercedes February 25, 2016 | 3:25pm. It is supposedly the largest restoration in the U.S. to date. But the estate was no longer the playground for the rich and famous it once was. Legends say the castle is haunted. Oheka Castle: A Modern Day "Gatsby" Mansion | The Extravagant [7] Ten years later, following a lawsuit, the building passed to one of Yokoi's daughters and her husband. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. / CBS/AP. 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. "You know, I wasn't really in favor of doing this, felt the police do their job like everybody else," Melius said. 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. Was it related to politics, as one source with close ties to Melius who did not want his name used adamantly tells the Press? 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. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. 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. Melius said he has recovered from his injuries. But at Manganos second inauguration, Melius was basking on stage as one of the honored guests seated in rows behind the podium, where he chatted with Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington). The Suffolk County Police Department declined to comment on the ongoing investigation. During World War II, Oheka Castle became a radio operator's school for the Merchant Marines. 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. If you look closely, the estate is peppered with the symbol of the Linden tree. Melius boasts of friendships with King and Democratic Rep. Steve Israel. What is permanently damaged is his reputation, after what he called a character assassination in the press that hurt more than the shooting. Gary Melius shooting still shrouded in mystery 4 years later The shooter fled and has not been captured. a masked gunman drove up to the renowned catering hall and opened fire. Suffolk asks FBI to assist in Oheka Castle shooting Now that you've learned about the multimillion-dollar Oheka Castle in Long Island, go inside nine abandoned castles that are now haunting shells of their former glory. Twarowski has written for the financial and metro desks of The Washington Post and has earned more than 100 local, state and national journalism awards and accolades. Dive into this mega-mansion's history and find out what makes it so special. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. In recent weeks, Melius spoke with law enforcement authorities investigating political corruption, the source said. 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. 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. Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt; Hunt for gunman "Some would ask, why not have that reward out there two weeks after or a month after?" 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. Oheka Castle, also known as the Otto Kahn Estate, is a hotel located on the North Shore of Long Island, in West Hills, New York, also known as the "Gold Coast," a hamlet in the town of Huntington. If this near death experience has done anything, is a reminder to live each day, celebrate life and embrace your family.". Pathway to power: Gary Melius' rise through Long Island's cozy political system. from the school with a concentration in business and economics. Deborah Bryggman works at the mansion as a tour guide. 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. Footage shows 2 cars approaching scene where Oheka Castle owner Gary 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. It also offers a bar, restaurant, and mansion tours of the estate and gardens. "We don't have a motive at this point. The property cost owner Otto Hermann Kahn a total of $11 million. It's nothing but a miracle.". Police stand in front of Oheka castle on Long Island after the owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises. 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 completed in 1919 for financier Otto Kahn and then restored by Melius as a luxury hotel, catering hall, and conference center. (Courtesy Paul Prince). "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. It is my pleasure to welcome you to my home. 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. Sources told Newsday the suspect pressed a gun against Melius' closed window, then fired a round. Last year, he was at the heart of a political scandal that led to the resignation of Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale. The columns of Oheka Castle show the architecture's European influences. (Paul Prince/AP). Bleeding profusely, Melius stumbled back toward the castle. (KEVIN P. COUGHLIN/Kevin P.. Unfortunately, the castle fell into disarray after Kahn's death in 1934, changing owners several times before finally standing vacant for over a decade. In 2004, Oheka was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The financier had created the 109,000-square-foot manor in 1919. A look at the beautiful reflective pools inside the formal garden. Then, to build his dream home, Kahn would spend a total of $11 million roughly $158 million in today's currency. It's not clear how many people were in the Jeep. 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. The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. "I have never thought five minutes about it, I have not had five minutes of fear," Melius said. They just shot him. 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. February 24, 2015 / 7:08 PM Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. But the estate was no longer the playground for the rich and famous it once was. Was Typhoid Mary A Reckless Superspreader Or A Tragic Victim? The 69-year-old went into shock immediately after he was shot and his recollection of the shooting are hazy, police say. 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 house was featured in a book by subsequent owners who claimed . But even Ohekawhich borrows from the name of its originator, Otto Herman Kahnhas had some interesting reincarnations, too. "I not only don't know -- I can't think of why anybody who would kill me," Melius said. bucketlistli/TwitterOheka Castle's construction began in 1917 and was completed two years later. Long Island hotelier Gary Melius, 69, shot in the head at point-blank range outside his $30m Oheka Castle on Monday. Melius remains concerned for his welfare and that of his family, telling investigators he has no idea who is behind the hit. 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. It's been nearly four years since someone shot Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius in the face, and the assassination attempt is still . 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. In addition to weddings, the castle hosts fundraisers, galas and numerous other high-profile events. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. The Gatsby Suite, pictured here, is a nod to the hotel's alleged ties to, Kahn famously hosted extravagant parties at his summer estate. 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. Views of the garden from the hotel's restaurant. 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. As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, Melius had raised the stakes for solving the crime a year after he was wounded. He named political foes, and suspects the shooter was a paid hit man, but admitted it is still a mystery. Gary Melius shooting still shrouded in mystery 4 years later. It was the largest private residence in the U.S., second only to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. On February 24, 2014, Melius survived a gunshot to the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of the castle. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). I think hes going to make it! he told the Press when he was reached. A receiver has been appointed to oversee operations at Oheka Castle in Huntington as part of the ongoing foreclosure case brought by its lender. Newsday will include its entire Melius investigation in Sunday's print edition. Originally built for financier Otto Kahn in 1921, the 126-room Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "Are you any closer today, Gary, to knowing who did this to you?" 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.