Key facts
- Oheka Castle, a 127-room estate on Long Island, is set to be auctioned on October 27.
- The estate is said to have inspired the parties in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'.
- It was built in 1919 by financier Otto Hermann Kahn and named after him.
- After Kahn's death, the property changed hands multiple times and was abandoned in the 1980s.
- Land developer Gary Melius purchased the estate and spent $40 million on its restoration.
- Melius defaulted on a loan and declared bankruptcy in July 2025.
Oheka Castle, a 127-room estate on Long Island that is said to have inspired the lavish parties depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby,' is scheduled to go up for auction on October 27. The property was built in 1919 by German-American financier Otto Hermann Kahn, who used it as a grand estate for entertaining.
After Kahn's death in 1934, the castle changed hands multiple times and eventually fell into disrepair, suffering damage from fires, vandalism, and theft before being abandoned in the 1980s. Land developer Gary Melius purchased the estate and invested approximately $40 million in its restoration.
However, Melius defaulted on a loan over a decade ago and declared bankruptcy in July 2025, leading to the current auction. Today, Oheka Castle is the second-largest private home in the United States, behind Biltmore House, and serves as a venue for weddings, a restaurant, and a hotel. It has also been featured in various media, including Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' music video.