Oheka Castle
Oheka Castle, also known as the Otto Kahn Estate, is a hotel located on the North Shore (or "Gold Coast") of Long Island, in West Hills, New York, a hamlet in the town of Huntington. It was the country home of investment financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn and his family.
For the yacht, see Oheka II.Location
135 W. Gate Drive,
Huntington, New York
23.2 acres (9.4 ha)
1914–1919
Delano & Aldrich;
Olmsted Brothers, et al.
Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Chateauesque
September 15, 2004
The name "Oheka" is an acronym using the first several letters of each part of its creator's name, Otto Hermann Kahn, which Kahn also used to name his yacht Oheka II and his oceanfront Villa Oheka in Palm Beach, Florida. The mansion, built by Kahn between 1914 and 1919, is the largest private home in New York, and the third largest in the United States, comprising 127 rooms and over 109,000 sq ft (10,100 m2), as originally configured. It is said to be built on the highest point on Long Island.[2]
The castle is now a hotel with 32 guest rooms and suites. It is a popular wedding venue for socialites, celebrities and dignitaries, as well as the backdrop to many photo shoots, television series and films. It also offers a bar, restaurant, and mansion tours of the estate and gardens.
In 2004, Oheka was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] It is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.[3]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Kahn built Oheka in response to Jews being forbidden entry to clubs and golf courses in Morristown, New Jersey, and because Cedar Court, a previous country home of Kahn's, was virtually destroyed by fire in 1905.[4] 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. Two years were spent building an artificial hill on which to place the home, giving it views of Cold Spring Hills and Cold Spring Harbor.[5]