Oheka Castle

Oheka Castle crowns a hill in Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island and is the grandest survivor of the Gold Coast era. Built between 1914 and 1919 for the financier Otto Hermann Kahn, it follows the style of a French chateau, with a huge main house, formal gardens, fountains and a long approach drive. The name is a mash-up of Kahn's initials. After years as a private home, a training centre and a ruin, the building was rescued and restored, and it now operates as a hotel and event venue that also opens its doors for public tours. For visitors curious about Long Island's age of wealth, it is the most dramatic single building to see.

The architecture is the main attraction. The castle has well over a hundred rooms, including a grand staircase, ornate ceilings, a ballroom and a library, and the symmetrical formal gardens stretch away from the terrace. Restoration has recreated period finishes, and the setting has made the property a favourite for weddings and film shoots.

Tours usually cover the public rooms and grounds, with guides telling stories of the Kahn family, the decline of the estate and the dramatic efforts to save it. Interiors may be closed during private events, so check tour dates before you go.

Otto Kahn was a patron of the arts, a banker and a major supporter of opera in New York, and his Long Island estate was designed to host large gatherings. The Gold Coast itself was the playground of such families, with a string of mansions along the North Shore built in the early twentieth century. Many have been lost or divided, so Oheka's survival makes it a precious example. Guides often point out the scale of the staff and services needed to run the property, a reminder of the economy that once surrounded these houses.

You can combine a tour with a meal or a stay if you want a fuller experience. The on-site dining rooms offer afternoon tea and formal meals in the historic setting, and some overnight rooms are available. Prices are at the upper end, so visitors on a budget may prefer to take a tour and eat elsewhere in Huntington, which has a lively village centre with restaurants and independent shops.

Dress codes can apply for certain events, so ask when booking. Practicalities: Oheka sits in the Cold Spring Hills area of Huntington, about forty miles from Manhattan, and is best reached by car, with a taxi from Huntington station on the Long Island Rail Road as an alternative.

Tours run on selected days and times, and weddings may limit access, particularly on weekends in summer and autumn. Allow around two hours, wear comfortable shoes for the grounds and bring a camera. Pair the visit with the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport, Planting Fields in Oyster Bay or a harbor lunch in Northport for a full Gold Coast day.