The building of OHEKA was complete.

The original cost to build OHEKA was 11 million dollars ($110 million dollars in today’s currency).

Architects: Delano & Aldrich (one of the Gold Coast’s premier mansion builders)

Landscape Architects: Olmsted Brothers (firm established by Frederick Law Olmsted, architect of New York City ’s Central Park)

Otto Hermann Kahn & his wife Addie and his 4 children used OHEKA as their summer home and weekend retreat.

The name “OHEKA” is an acronym for Otto HErmann KAhn.

The Kahn Family Motto was "Ever Restlessly Forward."

The Cold Spring Country Club was once the original horse stable and the golf course was once part of the original 443 acre Estate.

At 109,000 square feet, OHEKA was and remains the second largest private home in America (only The Biltmore in North Carolina can boast grandeur dimensions).

Construction: Reinforced steel & concrete with some walls 3’5” thick.

OHEKA originally consisted of 127 Rooms.

126 full-time servants were originally employed by Otto Kahn.

A total of 39 working fireplaces existed throughout the estate.

The Grand Staircase in the Entry Foyer was inspired by the famous exterior staircase from the Chateau Fountainbleu in France.

The Ballroom is 72’6” x 32’5” with a 24’ ceiling height.

The Formal Dining Room is 51’6” x 30’2” with an 18’ ceiling height.

Otto Kahn’s fear of fire prompted him to use fireproof materials in OHEKA and to paint the plaster walls in the Grand Library using a technique developed in the middle-ages, called “faux bois” which gives the plaster walls the warmth and grain of fine wood paneling.

The Library once had a secret passageway hidden in one of the bookcases which led into a small chamber referred to as his secretary’s office.

The emblem of “The Linden Tree” seen throughout the estate was the symbol of Kahn’s hometown in Germany.

Otto Kahn died of a heart attack.

The family sold OHEKA to the Welfare Fund of the Sanitation Workers and it became a retirement home for the sanitation workers of New York City. They re-named OHEKA “Sanita.

1942- 1945

OHEKA became a radio operator’s school for the Merchant Marines.

The greenhouses were sold to the Otto Keil family and are now known as The Otto Keil Florists.

1948-1979

OHEKA was owned and occupied by the Eastern Military Academy.

1979- 1983

OHEKA was abandoned and fell into almost total disrepair.

Gary Melius, a Long Island developer, purchased the devastated estate of OHEKA which had no electric, plumbing, windows or doors and its 23 remaining acres for 1.5 million dollars.

4000 roof slates were purchased to restore the damaged roof from Rising & Nelson Slate Co., the same Vermont Quarry used by the Kahn family.

The Friends of OHEKA, a not-for-profit corporation, was formed by community members of Cold Spring Hills & Huntington to protect, preserve & raise public awareness of OHEKA Castle.  

The Terrace Room was added to the Estate to accommodate larger events.With the addition of the Terrace Room OHEKA is currently 115,000 square feet, comprising 117 rooms and 50 baths.

500 Red Cedars were planted and now line West Drive leading to the courtyard to further restore the estate to its original design.

44 London Plane trees were planted in the Formal Gardens to replace the missing trees that existed in the original design.

2,505 Boxwoods are being planted around the reflecting pools to further restore the Formal Gardens to its original design.

222 new windows & doors from Italy are being installed throughout the estate.

70% of the Estate is currently restored with future plans to restore the remaining 30% of the estate to include a premier restaurant and luxury spa.