The Oheka Castle auction in Manhattan on Tuesday, Oct. 27, ended with a $72 million winning bid for the Gilded Age estate. The sale is not final until a federal bankruptcy judge approves it. A hearing was set for Thursday, Oct. 29, and no ruling has been reported yet. Oheka Castle is located in Huntington, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore. Here is what happened, who bid, and what’s next.
As of Oct 29, 2026, 11:45 AM ET. A court hearing on the sale was set for Thursday morning, Oct. 29, and we have not found a report of the ruling. The buyers’ names come from news reports, not from a court filing we have seen. We will update this page.
The Oheka Castle auction: what happened
The auction took place at The Dominick hotel in Manhattan and was closed to the public, according to Newsday. Concierge Auctions CEO Chad Roffers told Newsday that seven registered bidders emerged from about 700 interested parties. Bidders needed a $750,000 refundable deposit and proof they could close in 30 days.
The New York Post reports the winning bid in the Oheka Castle auction was $72 million plus a buyer’s premium. Long Island Business News (LIBN), citing industry sources, reports $71.8 million. The Real Deal says Concierge’s website lists a 6 percent fee for the buyer.
The Post and LIBN name Ronald Browning and Paul Alflen, partners at Gold Coast Property & Estate Management, as the pending buyers. Alflen confirmed to LIBN that the pair put forth the winning bid. ABC7 reported that officials would not announce the owner until a confirmation hearing on Thursday, so treat the names as reported, not official.
That hearing is before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Louis A. Scarcella in Central Islip, per LI Parks and The Real Deal. LIBN reports the winning bidders must put up about 16 percent of the price next week.
Where is Oheka Castle located? A short history
Where is Oheka Castle located? The castle’s address is 135 West Gate Drive, Huntington, N.Y., per its website. Newsday places it in the Cold Spring Hills area, just north of Jericho Turnpike and next to Cold Spring Country Club. Wikipedia lists the hamlet as West Hills.
Financier Otto Hermann Kahn built the mansion as a summer home between 1914 and 1919, per Newsday. The name comes from the first letters of his name, per Wikipedia. It has 127 rooms and once sat on 443 acres. Today it covers about 21 acres, per Newsday. Sources differ on small details, such as the completion year and room count, so we use Newsday’s figures. The National Register of Historic Places lists the castle, per Wikipedia.
It was a military academy from the late 1940s to 1979, Newsday reports. Gary Melius bought the abandoned, crumbling mansion in 1984 for $1.5 million and later spent tens of millions on restoration, per NBC New York.
The castle has also been on screen. The Post says Taylor Swift shot her “Blank Space” video there, and NBC New York says many films and TV shows have used it. If you like that Gilded Age and Old Hollywood glamour, the castle is a good example. Our guide to other historic buildings you can step inside covers more.
Why the sale happened: the debt
Debt forced the Oheka Castle auction. A company Melius controls, Kahn Property Owner LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year to stop a foreclosure sale, per Newsday. Court documents cited by Newsday show about $60 million owed to a secured creditor, and $8 million to $10 million to unsecured creditors and for professional fees.
LIBN reports that Taconic Capital bought the castle’s debt in June 2023 for about $28 million. It has grown to about $61 million with interest and penalties, which Taconic used as its starting bid. A judge ruled that the largest secured creditor, 135 W. Gate Drive LLC, could bid a credit of up to $61 million, per Newsday. Taconic declined to comment to the Post.
The sale is not final until a federal bankruptcy judge approves it.
Newsday reports that a Mineola appraisal firm put the castle’s value at about $137 million last spring, per federal filings. The winning bid is below that figure. Newsday also notes that the island has no comparable property, so any price is hard to judge.
Oheka Castle wedding cost, tours and what changes
Whoever buys the castle in the Oheka Castle auction must honor weddings booked through March 31, 2028, per court documents cited by Newsday. The castle’s homepage lists no prices, so we will not guess at the Oheka Castle wedding cost. Call 631.659.1400 or check oheka.com for current rates and dates.
Visitors can still plan a trip. Officials say the castle will continue to operate as usual, per ABC7. Huntington town historian Robert Hughes told Newsday that Oheka Castle tours, events and the restaurant are open to everyone, and he hopes that continues. The castle’s website also lists 34 guest rooms and suites, and OHK Bar & Restaurant.
The pending buyers say they plan to keep the castle intact. “We’re going to leave the castle as it is and make sure it keeps its historical presence,” Alflen told LIBN. He said the plans are preliminary. If you want to pair a visit with a trip, see our ideas for weekend getaways from NYC.
Oheka Castle condos: what the plan means
The Oheka Castle auction also decides who inherits a 2023 zoning change. The Huntington Town Board approved a four-story, 95-unit condo building at the estate, per Newsday. That plan has stalled. The auction listing says a developer can build residences over five acres on the southeast corner. ABC7 reports the winning bidder can file to build up to 95 condo units.
Not everyone wants the Oheka Castle condos. Civic leader Gayle Snyder told NBC New York that she and her neighbors oppose the approved plan. LI Parks, summarizing court records, says the project still needs Planning Board approval and a way in over East Gate Drive, which Cold Spring Country Club owns. The club sued to overturn the zone change.
In what we read, the pending buyers have not said whether they will pursue the condos. That is the part of what’s next to watch.
FAQ: what readers ask about the sale
Where is Oheka Castle located?
It is in Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island, at 135 West Gate Drive.
How much was the winning bid?
The Post reports $72 million plus a buyer’s premium. LIBN reports $71.8 million.
Who won the Oheka Castle auction?
The Post and LIBN name Ronald Browning and Paul Alflen of Gold Coast Property & Estate Management. Alflen confirmed it to LIBN. The names are not yet official.
Is the sale final?
Not yet. The winning bid is pending confirmation by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Louis A. Scarcella. A hearing was set for Thursday morning, Oct. 29, and as of 11:45 AM ET we have found no report of a ruling. LIBN says the buyers must put up about 16 percent of the price next week.
Can you still visit or get married there?
For now, yes. Officials say operations continue, and bookings through March 31, 2028 must be honored.
For more places to know, browse more Design on High Tea Magazine.
Sources we opened this morning: Newsday, NBC New York, LIBN, the New York Post, The Real Deal, ABC7 and LI Parks.