Oheka Castle, the real place in which Scott Fitzgerald imagined The Great Gatsby
In the novel, Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway lived in West Egg, a region of Long Island inhabited by upstarts and nouveaux riches who look longingly toward East Egg, its “sister”, preferred by the already rich people such as the Buchanans. However, both locations were a product of Fitzgerald’s imagination, inspired respectively by the localities of Kings Point and Sands Point. They’re both part of Great Neck, where Fitzgerald resided in a cabin, similar to the one that Carraway had.
A few miles east of what would be his residence, half an hour from New York, is the Oheka Castle, a property built by the German banker Otto Hermann Kahn -the name of the castle bears the initials of his first and last names- in the early 20th century. Since Kahn was known for celebrating opulent parties and rubbing elbows with the celebrities of the time, many believe that Fitzgerald was inspired by him and his majestic castle to profile the character of Gatsby. Today, it’s a hotel with 32 luxurious rooms. Among them are the Gatsby Suites, inspired by the gloriously decadent days known as the “golden era” of American history, according to the hotel’s website. If you can’t afford the $395 to $1,095 of the cost of staying in one of these rooms, you will always be able to take the more affordable guided tour of the mansion for only $25 per person.
The New York of the Jazz era and the current one are two different and almost unrecognizable cities, yet they’re identical in essence. The magnetic and dreamy character of the Metropolis emerges strongly in the novel of F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby”, which was published in 1925. The movie adaptation directed by Baz Luhrmann allows us to go back and enjoy the flavor of those days and, above all, those nights and their outdoors parties in the luxurious villas of Long Island.
The Oheka Castle, built in 1919, is one of those villas that are today a part of Gatsby’s Gold Coast, which can be visited as a touristic route. In reality this is the most significant one, because the literary mythology takes for granted that Scott Fitzgerald may have been inspired in that building and its history.
In those early years of the 20th century, The villa cost $11 million which, considering the century that separates us, would be equivalent today to about 100 million euros.
When it was built, the French style castle was and still is today the second largest private residence ever built in North America. During the “Golden Era” of the decade of the 1920s, Kahn used over 10,000 square meters in which he built 127 rooms. It was a summer residence, in which he organized large parties to which chiefs of state and Hollywood stars would attend. Otto Kahn died in 1934.
In 1984 a laborious work of restoration began. Up until now, 30 million dollars have been invested, which have served to remodel 70% of the property. The castle is rented in its entirety for high society parties or companies, weddings or as a hotel as well, for a romantic weekend.
The 23 acres of impressive gardens, the exclusive rooms and the staff are capable of attending you with exceptional service. They can organize everything, even a personalized itinerary in a private yacht.
Guests have access to many superior quality services in the hotel. You can enjoy their excellent cuisine in the dining room, which has a highly qualified chef. The rooms and suites are beautifully decorated in styles that go from French castle to the one reminiscent of the Golden Era. Among the services you will find mattresses, pajamas, toiletries, bathroom towels, comfortable robes, high speed wireless internet and the ability to plug in your iPod or MP3 player.
When it comes to food, there are also wonderful options at the Oheka castle. Dining there is quite an event. You will find yourself with a European environment and a showcase of impressive dishes that will delight the guests, which will surely want to come back. A continental breakfast of the highest quality is also available every morning.
If you need to relax, you can find an in-room spa service with a broad range of massages designed to completely relax your mind and freshen up your spirit, everything from the comfort and privacy of your room. The gym helps clients stay in shape with the latest cardio machines, weight lifting and equilibrium machines.
If you’re planning an event such as a wedding, the meeting room is the perfect spot. The hotel has hectares of magnificent gardens and elegant rooms which offer the perfect scenario for special, unforgettable events. Business conferences will find the same sophisticated environment, as well as rooms with a capacity for 400 people, secretarial services, audiovisual tools and a professional staff that will guarantee that your event will be a success every time.
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