【Oheka Castle】World Madam 2024 Global Awards Ceremony venue

WORLD MADAM Promotional Video | 2024

Theme Tune《We Are World Madams》

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Oheka Castle, also known as Otto Kahn Estate, is located on New York's Gold Coast. The name "Oheka" is an acronym derived from the initials of its creator, Otto Hermann Kahn. Built between 1914 and 1919, it is the largest private estate in New York and the third-largest private castle in the United States.

This castle is currently owned by Gary Melius, an advisor to the World Madam Foundation, and has been transformed into a hotel featuring 32 guest rooms and suites. It is a popular venue for weddings of royalty, social elites, celebrities, and dignitaries, and has served as a filming location for many famous television shows and movies. Notable personalities who have gotten married here include Curtis Martin, Kevin Jonas, Megyn Kelly, Joy Fatone, Brian McKnight, former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner, and comedian Yannis Pappas. In 2004, Oheka Castle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has received multiple accolades for top-tier service, including the prestigious 6-star Diamond Award, and is a member of the American Historic Hotels Association, an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Oheka Castle's enchanting history is a story that spans across different eras. In 1914, financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn purchased the land. After two years of construction, this French-style chateau became a prominent local landmark, renowned for hosting luxurious celebrations and epitomizing the glamour of the 1920s. The Kahn family entertained notable figures of the time, from Hollywood legends to politicians, at their lively gatherings. 

After Otto Kahn's death in 1934, the property changed hands several times. In 1984, it was purchased by Gary Melius, an advisor to the World Madam Foundation, who invested $40 million to restore the estate to its former glory.

From a starring role in 1941’s Citizen Kane to its appearance in an episode of Gossip Girl, Oheka Castle Hotel and Estate has played an important role in pop culture history. Thanks to its European style and location that’s a short drive from New York City, Oheka Castle is highly sought-after as a location for films, television, and other productions. One of the most famous scenes of HBO’s acclaimed drama Succession was filmed at Oheka. Titled “Hunting,” the episode, which followed the Waystar Royco senior staff while they headed to Hungary for a corporate retreat, ultimately became known for the famed “Boar on the Floor” scene. During the scene, media titan Logan Roy berates his staff during a game that takes a dark turn. While the episode was meant to take place in Hungary, it was actually filmedin New York State at Oheka.

But perhaps the most famous onscreen appearance of Oheka may be when it was used in Taylor Swift’s 2014 “Black Space” video. Several pivotal exterior scenes for the video were shot at Oheka, including scenes where Swift and her boyfriend trot around on white horses through the castle’s rear façade and enjoy a picnic on the rolling grounds.

The castle really lends itself to a "royal style" of retro luxury, full of Victorian sophistication. In particular, the European geometric garden always reminds us of the garden of Versailles, with symmetrical beauty everywhere.

Every royal element you want, whether it's a court staircase, a crystal chandelier, or a pumpkin carriage, is available here.

Even on rainy days, you can move the outdoor ceremony part indoors to the Terrace Room, and even the indoor Library, which is quite retro.

The Terrace Room is decorated with a large area of white, adding to the sense of holiness. In the Library, all the furniture is removed and chairs and ceremony tables are placed to add warmth and tranquility.

Today, Oheka Castle Hotel and Estate is a highly coveted location for weddings and private events. The venue performs an average of 200 weddings per year, starting in 1987.

Nearby attractions