Mount Dora. It’s one of those charming towns in Florida you can’t help but visit time and again. With an historic downtown, plenty of activities on the lake, and numerous festivals throughout the year, there is something for just about anyone. Visitors see it as a destination, a place on the map to experience, but for those who live here or even in neighboring communities, Mount Dora is, as the sign says, someplace special.
History of Mount Dora
As is the case for many Florida towns, Mount Dora didn’t start off as Mount Dora. In fact, its first official name came in 1880, Royellou, after the three children of the postmaster at the time, R.C. Tremain. (His children were Roy, Ella and Louis.) That name didn’t last long, as three years later the town was renamed Mount Dora, for Dora Ann Drawdy, who along with her husband, were some of the early homesteaders.
Getting to Mount Dora was difficult early on, with travel limited to steamboats or rowboats via the St. Johns River to Mellonville on Lake Monroe, and to complete the trip, travelers had to take a wagon train. After the railroad service began in 1887, travel was easier, and the population grew.
Incorporated in 1921, Mount Dora elected its first mayor, John P. Donnelly, who came to the area in 1879. He and his wife would eventually own most of what is now downtown Mount Dora as well as most of the waterfront. However, they also donated land to churches, the fire department and for other community improvements. Donnelly was also considered the “Father of the Tangerine” for his work developing the local citrus industry.
Mount Dora Today
You won’t be able to see all of Mount Dora without traveling down Donnelly Street, the main road through town. From the historic buildings, to the quaint little shops, there is plenty to see in whatever direction you choose to take.
Firehouse and Old City Jail – The firehouse was built 1923 on land deeded by J.P. Donnelly and housed the town’s firefighting apparatus. A fire siren on the roof not only sounded when there was a fire, but also every day at noon. An addition was made to the back of the firehouse of five jail cells and a bathroom to accommodate the locals who found themselves in need of “care” during these days of Prohibition. More cells were added to the front once the new firehouse was built in 1941 and it continued as the jail until 1969. The building now houses the Mount Dora History Museum and is open from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
The Train Depot was built in 1915 and initially operated two trains a day, in each direction. That increased to four trains a day in 1922, including mail, freight and passenger trains. Service to Mount Dora was discontinued in 1950. The depot is now home to the Chamber of Commerce and offers banquet and special event space.
Donnelly House – Located at 535 N. Donnelly Street, this Victorian charmer was built in 1893 by John P. Donnelly as a gift for his wife Annie. The yellow and white house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 for its architectural and historical significance. It now serves as the Masonic Temple.
Lakeside Inn is one of the most historically significant buildings in Mount Dora as it is one of only five Florida lodges named “A Historic Hotel of America” by the Trust for Historic Preservation and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built between 1882 and 1883 as the Alexander House, Lakeside Inn was only open in the winter and was comprised of two stories with ten rooms. In the 1920s and 30s, the Inn was the site of most of the social functions of the town, including a visit by President Calvin Coolidge in 1930. After numerous ownership and name changes, and a multi-million-dollar restoration, Lakeside Inn now houses 87 rooms and is considered a full-service luxury hotel, with great views of Lake Dora.
Mount Dora Lighthouse – A trip to Mount Dora isn’t complete without a visit to the lighthouse on Grantham Point. Don’t go expecting to climb another Florida lighthouse though. The red and white striped Mount Dora Lighthouse is only 35-foot tall and is the only inland freshwater lighthouse in the state. It uses a 750-watt photocell to power a blue pulsator to guide boaters into the Port of Mount Dora after dusk.
Shops and Restaurants – Specialty shops and boutiques line the streets of downtown Mount Dora, each one unique. A bookstore with spines of classic books painted on the awning, a quaint courtyard with little shops lining the walkway, and the list goes on. You can spend a day just walking in and out of the shops!
According to the Chamber of Commerce, there are 25 restaurants and cafes in Mount Dora, from those requiring reservations to those offering quick respites from the sightseeing. Our favorite was (and still is) the Frog and Monkey Pub, located in the Renaissance Building. Billed as the only underground pub in Lake County, the bar tender tells us stories about a ghost seen in the kitchen and caught on camera. A great story, considering names on some of the doors in the pub include “Morgue” and “Autopsy Room.” Ghosts aside, the other spirits and food were divine. My favorite, by the way, is the Blue Lemosa.
Events
Mount Dora is often referred to as the Festival City, offering events year-round, including annual events like Freedom on the Waterfront or the Open-Air Farmer’s Market every Sunday, which was in full-swing during our visits. Of course, you don’t have to go at a time when there’s a festival to have fun.
See our post of the Mount Dora Arts Festival here.
Getting Around Town
Walking is the best way to get around town and is made easier with an ample amount of free parking available. For the more adventurous, Segway tours are available. These one-hour tours take you along the waterfront, around to the lighthouse, through Palm Island Park and then through some of the area’s historic neighborhoods.
Mount Dora is located 45 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando, and is easily accessible from U.S. 441. Whether you are browsing for antiques, shopping in the quaint little stores or taking in some of the historic locations, take your time, take it all in, and plan your next visit, because Mount Dora is truly someplace special.
To see more of our photos from our recent visits to Mount Dora, please watch our slideshow below.
My home town. The Stephens family owned Stephens Cleaners & Laundry on Donnelly and the large home right next door on the corner. Chief Buddy Hewitt was the police chief and a gentleman named Carroll Griggs? Or similar worked there at the time. This was in the 60s. I roamed the streets of Mount Dora every day on my bike. Fished Lake Dora with my grandfather, Oscar Stephens and did not realize at the time what would become of MD. The dime store was a favorite as was the drugstore. We had several hardware stores as I recall. Gizmo’s was our favorite lunch spot.
So we have many memories of Mount Dora and try to visit often.
Great memories! Thank you for sharing!