46. Gary Melius

For a man in the high castle, Gary Melius is a remarkably low-key guy. He lovingly oversees the legendary home of Otto Kahn in Huntington, where he’s lived for years since saving the faux French chateau from the wrecker’s ball in 1984. With a Midas touch, Melius has turned the majestic digs into the premier first-class destination for weddings and glamorous events on Long Island. It’s also been the setting for TV shows and movies over the years, too, including the exterior of Charles Foster Kane’s Xanadu in Orson Welles’ classic Citizen Kane. Although that occurred long before Melius took charge, he knows how to put Oheka in the cultural spotlight. In 2014 Taylor Swift shot her wildly popular “Blank Space” music video at the castle. Thanks to Melius, this grand venue has become the nexus of an impressive network of connections with the rich and powerful in our region, some of whom have been known to show their hands at a regular weekly poker game in what’s affectionately known as “The Dungeon.” More recently, Melius has opened a popular bar and restaurant at the castle that is routinely packed. Whatever the future holds for Oheka, it’s a sure bet that Gary Melius’s contribution to the cultural legacy of Long Island will always be remembered.