O
heka Castle, a 109,000-square-foot Long Island chateau, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure. The castle's owner, Gary Melius, made the move to preserve its value and prevent it from being sold at auction. Despite owing $63.5 million to creditors, Oheka Castle still boasts $92.8 million in assets, including machinery, equipment, vehicles, and the property itself.

    Built in the 1920s, the castle has been a popular destination for weddings and film productions. Its lavish gardens and imposing facade have attracted guests and location scouts for decades. Melius purchased the estate in 1984 and still lives there, having survived a suspected assassination attempt outside the castle in 2014.

    A joint statement from Oheka Castle's communications director and its largest secured creditor assured customers that bookings, hotel accommodations, and events will proceed without disruption. The Chapter 11 filing is a process of financial reorganization rather than total liquidation. Melius told Newsday that he could no longer keep banks and lenders "at bay" after being in foreclosure for a decade.

    The castle has hosted high-profile weddings, including Kevin Jonas's nuptials, and has served as the set for various movies and TV shows, including HBO's "Succession." Despite its financial struggles, Oheka Castle remains a popular destination on Long Island's Gold Coast, just 36 miles from New York City.