Long Island’s Historic Oheka Castle Is Headed to Auction

The landmark property was originally built between 1914 and 1919 for financier and patron of the arts Otto Hermann Kahn, and has since appeared in Citizen Kane and a Taylor Swift music video

Elegant chateau with manicured gardens featuring symmetrical hedges and reflective pools under a blue sky.
Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot

The second-largest private residence built in the U.S. is heading to auction. Oheka Castle, a French Renaissance-style château and hotel located in Huntington, New York, is set to be auctioned off via Concierge Auctions and Adam Modlin of The Modlin Group on October 27.

The castle’s most famous starring roles include standing in for Xanadu in Citizen Kane and stealing the show in Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” music video. Oheka, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has also appeared in Succession and hosted numerous celebrity weddings, including Kevin Jonas, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and Joey Fatone. 

Historic mansion with ivy-covered facade and manicured gardens featuring symmetrical hedges and reflecting pools in foreground.
Archival photos of Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot
Vintage library with wooden paneling, large fireplace, bookshelves, antique furniture, and ornate rugs in sepia tone.
Archival photos of Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot

The château boasts 127 rooms and has hosted a number of notable people since 1919, including royalty, heads of state, and Hollywood stars. Across multiple decades, the castle underwent a $40 million restoration, the largest private residential restoration in American history, according to a press release. The highest bidder will assume ownership of Oheka, and that purchase comes with an adjacent Town of Huntington-approved project for 95 luxury condominiums. 

Elegant banquet hall with chandeliers, round tables covered in white cloth, and large framed paintings on the walls.
Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot

“Oheka Castle is one of the truly extraordinary estates in the world,” said Adam D. Modlin of Modlin Group. “And representing it is an exceptional privilege. Its architectural significance, extraordinary craftsmanship, storied history, and spectacular grounds place it in a category of its own. Following its restoration, Oheka has been returned to a level of grandeur that is extraordinarily rare today.”

Luxurious library room with wooden panels, plush sofas, a grand piano, and elegant decor.
Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot

Modlin continued, “For the next owner, this is not simply the acquisition of a remarkable estate—it is the opportunity to become the steward of an important piece of American history, with an adjacent developable opportunity that creates an entirely unique dimension of future potential.” 

Aerial view of historic mansion surrounded by lush greenery and formal gardens on a sunny day.
Oheka Castle. Photo: Brett Matthews Photography, Elliott Kaufman Photography, Phillip Ennia, Stefen Turner, and Camelot

The famed Long Island castle, which was built between 1914 and 1919 for financier and patron of the arts Otto Hermann Kahn, sits on approximately 23 acres and encompasses 112,895 square feet. The aforementioned luxury condominium project would be situated on 5.13 acres at the southeast corner of the property.