Latest news with #KahnPropertyOwnerLLC
Daily Mail
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wedding venue loved by Taylor Swift files for bankruptcy... with only $57 left and $63 MILLION due to creditors
You would think that the place that held Kevin Jonas ' wedding and was the backdrop to Taylor Swift 's Blank Space music video would be endlessly successful. But it has now come to light that the popular venue - Oheka Castle in Huntington, Long Island - has filed for bankruptcy. The Chapter 11 filing came with the property only having $57.27 left in its checking out with no cash on hand, according to court documents filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Kahn Property Owner LLC - its ownership entity - also reported to owe a staggering $63.5 million to creditors. Gary Melius - the owner who still lives on site - filed for bankruptcy in order to save the place, he shared in a court statement. He revealed that the castle had been in foreclosure for a decade and that the bank finally came down on him. By filing for bankruptcy, Melius' hope is that he doesn't have to see it go up for auction. The filing means that the property won't be totally liquidated and so the popular venue - which also served as the set for Orson Welles' Citizen Kane and HBO's Succession - can continue. A Chapter 11 filing entails a process of financial reorganization rather than total liquidation. 'The weddings are all still on,' Melius told Newsday as a result, explaining that any bookings that have been made will continue without disruption. The castle was originally 109,000 square feet when it was built in the 1920s. But since the addition of the Terrace Room in 2003 - built to accommodate bigger parties - Oheka Castle is now an incredible 115,000 square feet with 117 rooms and 50 baths. The castle also includes a hotel, restaurant, and several events space. For those who choose to get married on the sprawling estate, couples can invite up to 350 guests. While weddings start at about $70,000 for 50 guests, the price can go up to $300,000. If you're just interested in staying in the hotel, a nightly stay starts at $495 and goes up to $1,295 a night if you get a suite. The castle also offers special 'weekday packages' for couples looking for a romantic getaway or even expecting parents. One of these packages - dubbed the Ultimate Romantic Evening Package for Two - costs $15,000. This package includes a one-night stay in a luxury suite, round-trip limousine service, exclusive use of the ballroom, a seven-course gourmet dinner, white glove butler service, and much more. And thanks to Melius's decision, if you're looking for a luxury wedding, the backdrop to your next music video, or a $15,000 night of romance, you can still have it at the Oheka Castle.
New York Post
07-08-2025
- Business
- New York Post
LI's beloved Oheka Castle wedding venue files for bankruptcy — with $57 in its checking account and $63M due to creditors
The owner of an iconic Long Island castle has filed for bankruptcy. Oheka Castle in Huntington is known for its lavish weddings and high-profile appearances in TV and film. The 109,000-square-foot chateau was built in the 1920s and includes a hotel, a restaurant and event spaces. The recent Chapter 11 filing is an effort by owner Gary Melius to save the famous site from foreclosure, Newsday reported. 5 The massive gardens and imposing facade have attracted guests, brides and location scouts for decades. Edmund J Coppa 5 A recent statement assured future guests that bookings and weddings are still on. Michael Sofronski The landmark property has just $57.27 in its checking account and zero cash on hand, according to court documents filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. Its ownership entity, Kahn Property Owner LLC, owes a reported $63.5 million to creditors. Owner Melius said in a court statement that he filed for bankruptcy in order to preserve the value of the estate, rather than see it sold at auction. Melius purchased the grand estate in 1984 and still lives there. He made headlines in 2014 when he survived a suspected assassination attempt outside of the castle. That case remains unsolved. Melius told Newsday that he's been in foreclosure for a decade, and was at risk of losing the property this week. He shared that he could no longer keep the banks and lenders 'at bay.' A joint statement released by Oheka Castle's communications director and a representative of its largest secured creditor, reported by Newsday, said that customers can expect all bookings, hotel accommodations and events to proceed without disruption. A Chapter 11 filing entails a process of financial reorganization, rather than total liquidation. 'The weddings are all still on,' Melius told the outlet. 5 Owner Gary Melius. New York Post 5 The Gold Coast property sits 36 miles from New York City. Edmund J Coppa 5 Oheka Castle has hosted multiple high-profile weddings, including the nuptials of one of the Jonas brothers. Edmund J Coppa The historic castle is not wanting for assets. Court filings revealed a total of $92.8 million in assets, including machinery, equipment and vehicles, in addition to the property itself. Its Versailles-like gardens and opulent facade also made it one of top wedding venues in Long Island, hosting weddings for the likes of Kevin Jonas and Anthony Weiner. Productions throughout the decades have also scouted the lavish hotel for popular movies and TV shows. It served as the set for Xanadu in Orson Welles' 'Citizen Kane,' HBO's 'Succession' and even a Taylor Swift music video for the song 'Blank Space.'
