OHEKA CASTLE Hotel & Estate

Oheka Castle is a one-of-a-kind hotel. It was built in the 1920’s as the second-largest private residence in the United States for financier Otto Kahn. Its grand ballrooms and meeting spaces have hosted lavish parties attended by heads of state and celebrities -- including Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks -- and some of the wealthiest families in the country have called its rooms home. Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Cameron Diaz, Demi Moore, Justin Timberlake, and Jay-Z have all been spotted here.

After Kahn’s death in 1934, his widow sold part of the 443-acre estate to the Cold Spring Country Club, which rebuilt the exclusive golf course and added other sports facilities that guests now have access to for a fee. The estate is now down to 23 acres of absolutely stunning gardens, complete with reflecting pools, statues, and paths with ocean and golf course views. When its new owner, Long Island developer Gary Melius, purchased the mansion in 1984 after it had been abandoned and occupied by squatters for years, the French chateau-style property was in a state of great disrepair.

He invested over $37 million in renovations, and hired a team of historians, architects, and researchers to try to restore the estate’s former grandeur as accurately as possible. Renovations are almost complete, but there is still some work that needs to be done: The spa and pool are yet to be renovated, and there’s only a temporary but beautiful restaurant operating at the moment. tag:revisit 9/1/2013

Today, the Oheka Castle features 32 elegant rooms, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its stunning grounds, top-notch services, exclusive feel, and gorgeous accommodations have made it the top wedding venue in the United States. The developer, who still lives on the third floor -- in the same room Otto and his wife used to live in -- can be seen dining in the hotel’s restaurant along with guests and non-guests.

Oheka Castle is located in Cold Spring Harbor, a small, picturesque town on Long Island’s north shore. It is surrounded by the Cold Spring Country Club, a private 18-hole golf course that used to be part of the estate and now offers access to Oheka Castle’s guests. The area is mostly residential, and the Cold Spring Harbor LIRR station is located a 5- to 10-minute drive north of the property.

Despite its small size, Cold Spring Harbor offers a few cute shops and a couple of nice restaurants, mostly on Main Street. Those who want to learn more about Long Island’s history might want to check out the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities and Museum Gallery. Huntington, which is another of the quaint little towns found in the area, is just a short drive from Oheka, and worth a visit. The beach, however, is a 25-minute drive away, on the southern shore.

The north shore of Long Island was nicknamed the Gold Coast for the many large estates of America's wealthiest families that cropped up here in the 19th and early 20th century. This region's lush landscape, rocky coastline, summer fireflies, and grand mansions inspired the setting of The Great Gatsby.

• 40-minute drive to JFK and LaGuardia airports
• Adjacent to Cold Spring Country Club
• 5-minute drive to several shopping malls
• 7-minute drive to Cold Spring Harbor LIRR station
• 10-minute drive to Cold Spring Harbor
• 11-minute drive to Huntington

The mansion offers six different room types, all featuring elegant, classic decor with unique touches and antiques, upscale amenities, and high-end Frette linens of Egyptian cotton. Bathrooms vary in size, but they’re all decadent, and most feature separate showers and soaking tubs.

• Plush king or queen beds with Frette linens
• Flat-screen TVs
• iPod docks
• L’Occitane or Molton Brown toiletries
• Most rooms have fireplaces
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free snacks and bottled water

The hotel’s gym is housed in a vaulted-ceiling room with chandeliers and exposed brick walls. It features high-end equipment with individual TVs, large windows, and Pilates balls.

• Open 24 hours
• Weight-training and cardio machines

The hotel is still working on a permanent restaurant, tag:revisit 9/1/2013and all three meals are currently served in a beautiful temporary restaurant with wooden ceilings, exposed brick walls, chandeliers, and large windows offering garden views.

• The restaurant serves all three meals, and is open to non-guests for lunch and dinner only. Guests are served free continental breakfast here daily.
• The Chaplin Room is dedicated to Charlie Chaplin, who was a dear friend to Otto Kahn and a regular visitor. It offers the same menu as the restaurant and has a bar for evening drinks.
• The main bar is adjacent to the restaurant and offers food and drinks in a beautiful space with a fireplace, comfortable seating, and large windows offering garden views.
• The menu of upscale American cuisine offered in all dining venues includes comfort food, salads, entrees, and desserts.

• Free Wi-Fi throughout
• Free continental breakfast served daily
• In-room spa services available
• In-house wedding planner
• Mansion tours upon request (for a fee)
• Corporate retreats planner on-site
• Access to golf and tennis at adjacent Cold Spring Country Club (for a fee)
• Indoor and outdoor meeting and events space

While Oheka Castle is famous for its lavish wedding receptions, its gorgeous meeting spaces, common areas, dedicated staff, and chateau-style rooms make it a popular pick for corporate retreats and meetings as well.

• Ballrooms and meeting spaces have hardwood floors and large windows overlooking the manicured gardens; some feature fireplaces.
• Up-to-date technologies and free Wi-Fi
• Catering service available upon request
• Outdoor areas available
• Secretarial services

Oheka Castle is a consistently popular wedding venue among the rich and famous -- and for good reason. It’s got stunning ballrooms, gorgeous gardens, luxurious rooms, and great service. There are several wedding packages -- some of which include an overnight stay after the reception -- and a wide array of beautiful rooms and outdoor spaces that can accommodate between ten and several hundred guests. Though multiple price points are offered, weddings here aren't cheap; the most expensive wedding held at Oheka Castle cost over three million dollars.

• Bride and groom attendants
• Dressing room
• The Bridal Suite features a large living room, an elegant room, a dressing room, and a palatial bathroom with a glass shower and a separate claw-foot tub.
• Special group rates available for the wedding night
• Special packages for bridal showers are also available.