Eldora, Florida facts for kids
Eldora is a special place in Volusia County, Florida, that no one lives in anymore. It's found inside the Canaveral National Seashore, which is a big protected area. Eldora is located near the ocean, and it's only about 3 feet above sea level.
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A Look Back: Eldora's History
Orange Groves and a Big Freeze
Long ago, in the late 1800s, Eldora was a busy community known for its many orange groves. People grew lots of oranges there! But then, in the winter of 1894-1895, something called the Great Freeze happened. It was so cold that it destroyed almost all the orange crops. Because of this, most people left Eldora, and it has never had many residents since.
A Town Becomes a Museum
After the last person living in Eldora, a famous artist and nature lover named Doris "Doc" Leeper, passed away in 2000, the land officially became part of the federal government's care. Now, Eldora is deep inside the Canaveral National Seashore. No one lives there permanently, and you can only visit during park hours.
Only two of the original buildings from Eldora's past are still standing. The biggest one, called "The Eldora House", has been turned into a museum. Even though the big freeze happened over a hundred years ago, you can still see some orange trees growing there today!
Science by the Sea
Eldora is also home to two special places where scientists study the ocean. These marine research centers are used by students and teachers from Daytona State College and the University of Central Florida.
Where is Eldora?
Eldora is located at 28°54′33″N 80°49′11″W / 28.90917°N 80.81972°W. It's a bit tricky to get to because there's only one main road, County Road A1A. It takes almost thirty minutes to drive from Eldora to the mainland through New Smyrna Beach.
