Police stand in front of Oheka Castle on Long Island after owner Gary Melius was shot on the premises Monday. Not bad for a guy whod bankrolled the entire losing campaign of Manganos supposed opponent, Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick, for $23,000. "Somebody was watching over him. Authorities set up informational checkpoints, interviewing passing motorists and anyone else who might have seen something useful. The property was also the site of Kahn's daughter's wedding, which became the first of many wedding ceremonies hosted at Oheka Castle. State Supreme . Link to logo, AAA Four Diamond Award Logo, Link to logo, Historic Hotels Worldwide Logo. The 70-year-old developer and major political donor. Its a puzzle, says Newsdays Sandra Peddie. The 69-year-old went into shock immediately after he was shot and his recollection of the shooting are hazy, police say. There is plenty to do during your visit to Long Island. 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. . Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after visiting shooting victim and Oheka Castle Owner Gary Melius at North Shore University Hospital on Wednesday. "I cannot believe this; you are not safe anywhere," said Natasha Silne, a newlywed who was supposed to check into the hotel with her husband for their honeymoon. For the next four years, the building remained empty, during which time over 100 documented arson attempts occurred, all of which the building survived, demonstrating Kahn's success in building a fireproof building. 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. Castle Owner's Connections Investigated in Shooting - WSJ Otto Kahn bought the land for $1 million $158 million in today's currency. Originally a 127-room "house," Oheka Castle is now a 32-bedroom hotel. Gary Melius has a vast and complicated business enterprise, so that means there are a lot of places to look. 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 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, 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. Rice's decision drew the ire of her one-time political ally, Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs. It's nothing but a miracle.". "This is an active, ongoing investigation, we're not going to be commenting," said a Suffolk County Police spokeswoman. The paper reports records show that Thomas Melius was released from a months-long jail stint just five days before his father was shot. [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]. At the palatial residence Tuesday, Melius told Gusoff he has not lost faith in police, but hopes for new leads. Then, 222 new windows and doors were purchased to reseal the property as well as 4,000 new roof slates to fix the damaged roof. 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. 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 not only don't know -- I can't think of why anybody who would kill me," Melius said. Suffolk County district attorney visits Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius "They wanted to help some way and felt, you know, really helpless," Melius said. Originally built for financier Otto Kahn in 1921, the 126-room Oheka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Paul Prince/AP). Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. Melius, whod worked as a bowling alley pin setter and a plumbers helper before striking it rich in real estate, acquired the property in 1984 for $1.5 million and reportedly contemplated tearing it down because vandals had had the run of the place for several years. Legends say the castle is haunted. 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. Pathway to power: Gary Melius' rise through Long Island's cozy political system. Melius myriad business dealings? Mevorach asked. David Winzelberg // January 15, 2019. 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. Gary Melius adopted him. On Tuesday, Melius released a video to the media announcing the reward and thanking the Suffolk County Police Department for its work. If this near- death experience has done anything it is a reminder to live each day, celebrate life and embrace your family. 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. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. "He said he had evidence of witness tampering and other crimes," the source said. Oheka Castle owner Gary Melius, 69, shot in the head by masked gunman Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt It has been used to film popular shows like. Inside Oheka Castle, The Real-Life 'Gatsby' Mansion - All That's The shooting was captured on surveillance. Theyve vowed to investigate every aspect of Melius life. 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. "I feel good we're going to catch him, and hopefully, he'll get what's coming to him," Melius said. "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. Suozzi still lost in November. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The premise of the show was to give viewers an "all-access pass inside America's most enormous, opulent and advanced Mega Mansions. Long Island hotelier Gary Melius, 69, shot in the head at point-blank range outside his $30m Oheka Castle on Monday. On Feb. 24 of last year, a masked gunman drove up to the renowned catering hall and opened fire. It was the largest private residence in the U.S., second only to the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. 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. Melius, a supporter of the third-party candidate, then contacted Dale seeking to have the young man investigated. Who shot Melius and why? A year earlier, Melius had defaulted on the loan. The young man was arrested on an outstanding warrant while riding a county bus on Oct. 5. (Veronique Louis for New York Daily News). February 24, 2015 / 7:08 PM 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 ocean-front Villa Oheka in Palm Beach, Florida. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for SYNPSH of CROIX, HAUTS DE FRANCE. But something about the castle must have had a deep hold on him because he could not walk away from it. Suffolk County Police declined to comment on the video surveillance Thursday. Infamous (and possibly haunted) Long Island home. To enter from the castles main entrance, visitors must follow a long winding road and pass through a gated driveway equipped with surveillance cameras. 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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On February 24, 2014, Melius survived a gunshot to the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of the castle. #TheFBIs Investigators say the gunman wore a black mask and ambushed 69-year old Gary Melius while he was getting into his car in the parking lot of the mansion's lavish grounds at about 12:30 p.m. Police say Melius was fortunate to survive the shooting, with the bullet entering his head just above his right eyebrow, travelling under the skin, outside the skull, and entering near his right ear. Newsday reporter discusses assassination attempt of Oheka Castle owner 4 years later. A look at the swimming pool at Oheka Castle. Restoring Oheka Castle was a huge investment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Oheka Castle's entirety was kept in tip-top shape by a team of 126 full-time servants. Melius offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. 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 . "To realize that he was able to recover from the shot, go back into Oheka, call the police," Rosenberg said. ", Oheka Castle is one of Long Island's most exclusive hotels, located in Huntington, N.Y. 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. "First place they look is my family so it was a tough thing to get used to," Melius said. The castle is now a hotel with 32 guest rooms and suites. As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, Melius had raised the stakes for solving the crime a year after he was wounded. Oheka Castle owner recovering after murder attempt; Hunt for gunman Former President Bill Clinton officiated the nuptials. In shock," she said. I look forward to getting back to work. 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? This is shocking and sickening, he added. . In recent weeks, Melius spoke with law enforcement authorities investigating political corruption, the source said. Oheka Castle also been seen as a backdrop in a number of movies, including "Citizen Kane," television shows and magazine photo shoots, and it has been used for high-profile political events and fundraisers. Gary Melius, the owner of Oheka Castle in Huntington, N.Y., was shot Monday morning by a masked gunman. He was sitting in his Mercedes-Benz in the parking lot of his sprawling Huntington estate, Newsday said. It took 18 months to scrape off the original paint from the railings during initial repairs. ", Melius bought the Oheka Castle in 1984 for $1.5 million after it had fallen into disrepair. In 2004, Oheka was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. And if there were a pressing problem requiring immediate attention, hed be the first one to be hands-on, as youd expect from a guy who once was a plumber, long before he became the king of the castle. 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 . Detectives were scanning hours of surveillance video and visitor logs. "I am disappointed and surprised, and I disagree vehemently," he fumed then. "He said he had enough to put people in federal prison.". a masked gunman drove up to the renowned catering hall and opened fire. Melius has engaged in political skirmishes with some of Long Island's most powerful officials, a high-ranking political source told the Daily News. Investigators will review surveillance footage. But the owner of the mansion, Gary Melius, lived through a much darker experience there. 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. The ex-senator had a lunch date scheduled with Melius on Monday until he learned of the shooting from Melius' daughter, according to Newsday. The owner, who also lives there, was shot by an unknown assailant Monday. The moment the Oheka Castle's owner was shot in his Mercedes February 25, 2016 | 3:25pm. HUNTINGTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The victim of an assassination attempt on Long Island spoke out Tuesday, a year after he was shot in front of the historic mansion he owns.