Mount Dora, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Dora, Florida
City
City of Mount Dora
City hall
Flag Seal Coat of arms Wordmark
Location in Lake County and Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Lake
Area
• Total	9.50 sq mi (24.60 km2)
• Land	8.35 sq mi (21.62 km2)
• Water	1.15 sq mi (2.98 km2)
Elevation	167 ft (51 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,341
• Density	1,957.24/sq mi (755.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	32756-32757
Area code(s)	352
FIPS code	12-47050
GNIS feature ID	2404318

Railroad station circa 1920

Mount Dora is a city in Lake County, Florida. It is part of the larger Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area. The city was founded in 1880. Mount Dora is famous for its small-town charm, especially its many antique shops downtown. This area also offers great views of Lake Dora.

Mount Dora is home to one of only three freshwater lighthouses in Florida. It hosts many festivals throughout the year, earning it the nickname "Festival City." In 2020, the city had a population of 16,341 people.

Mount Dora's Past: A Look at Its History

The front entrance of the Lakeside Inn

The town of Mount Dora began in 1874. David Simpson, his wife, and their two children were among the first to settle here. In 1880, Ross C. Tremain became the town's first postmaster. He also helped develop much of the land.

The post office officially opened in 1883. Tremain first named the village Royellou, combining the names of his children: Roy, Ella, and Louis. The community was later renamed after Dora Ann Drawdy. She was an early settler in the mid-1880s. Lake Dora was named after her in 1846. In 1883, the town also took her name. The "Mount" in Mount Dora means the town is on a plateau. This plateau is 184 feet above sea level. Today, you can find Dora Drawdy Way, an alley downtown, named after her. Another alley, Royellou, honors the town's first name.

Mount Dora became a popular spot for winter visitors. Hunters, fishermen, and boaters enjoyed the area. In 1883, the Alexander House, a two-story hotel, opened. This hotel has been renamed several times. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. A railroad arrived in 1887. This led to new businesses like an orange-packing house and factories. The town officially became a city in 1910. John Philip Donnelly was its first mayor. At that time, 371 people lived there.

In the 1920s, Mount Dora grew a lot. More homes and businesses were built. The city invested in public services. These included streetlights, a water system, and paved roads. The first two public parks were created. The Mount Dora Community Building was also built. Residents helped raise money for it. This building is still used for performances and meetings today.

In 2013, Mount Dora started developing the Wolf Branch Innovation District. This plan began as the Wekiva Parkway expanded. State Road 453 also opened directly into Mount Dora. The Wolf Branch Innovation District is being developed. It will become a hub for high-technology and life-sciences businesses. The city continues to improve its roads and services. This prepares Mount Dora for future growth.

Historic Places to Visit

Several places in Mount Dora are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important historical sites:

• Blandford
• John P. Donnelly House
• Lakeside Inn
• Old Mount Dora Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station, which now houses the town's chamber of commerce
• Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 111

The Mount Dora Historic District is a special area downtown. It includes many historic buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Mount Dora's Location and Landscape

Mount Dora is in the eastern part of Lake County, Florida. It borders Orange County to the south. U.S. Route 441 runs through the city. This road leads west about 5 miles to Tavares, the county seat. It also goes southeast about 25 miles to Orlando.

The city covers about 9.5 square miles. About 1.15 square miles of this is water. Mount Dora overlooks Lakes Dora, Gertrude, and Beauclair. The city is built on a plateau. This high ground is about 184 feet above sea level. This makes it about 100 feet higher than the nearby lakes.

Museums in Mount Dora

Mount Dora has several interesting museums.

The Mount Dora History Museum is run by the Mount Dora Historical Society. This museum is located in the city's first fire station and jail, built in 1923. It shows what life was like in Mount Dora from the 1880s to the 1930s. You can find this museum near Donnelly Park.

The Mount Dora Museum of Speed opened in 2001. It was located on North Highland Street. For three years in a row, it was named Mount Dora's top attraction by Tripadvisor. The museum displayed cool cars like muscle cars and foreign cars. It also had a collection of car-related antiques over 45 years old. The museum closed in July 2019. It was planned to become a bike shop.

Modernism Museum Mount Dora opened in 2013. It is on East Fourth Avenue. This two-story museum focuses on the Studio Arts Movement. This is where high art meets craftsmanship. It makes you wonder if something is a sculpture or a piece of furniture.

The Mount Dora Center for the Arts is a community hub. It has fine arts gallery shows. It also offers art classes for all ages. They hold an annual art auction and monthly Art Strolls. This center also helps organize the Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival. It was started by volunteers. They wanted to celebrate and improve the arts in Mount Dora.

Parks and Nature in Mount Dora

Sunset Park in Mount Dora, Florida in 2019

Mount Dora has many parks and nature areas.

Gilbert Park is at Tremain Street and Liberty Avenue. It was named after Mr. Earl Gilbert, who donated the land. The park has a barbecue area and several covered picnic spots. It also has a large playground. The park has been updated recently. It now has new picnic areas, better restrooms, and improved landscaping. The "Wood Wonderland" playground was also made bigger and better.

Annie Donnelly Park is in downtown Mount Dora. It's at Donnelly Street and 5th Avenue. This park is where the annual tree-lighting ceremony takes place. Many of Mount Dora's special events are held here. The park has benches, restrooms, and a fountain. It also has shuffleboard courts, a tennis court, and three pickleball courts. The Donnelly Park building is also here. You can rent it for special events.

Grantham Point Park is on Tremain Street, across from Gilbert Park. It is on Lake Dora. People sometimes call it "Lighthouse Park." The lighthouse is 35 feet tall. It was built in 1988. It is made of bricks covered with stucco. The lighthouse guides boats on Lake Dora after dark. Its light is powered by a 750-watt photocell. The Mount Dora Light is the only inland freshwater lighthouse in Florida.

The Lake County Water Authority also manages several nature preserves nearby.

Donnelly House in Mt. Dora, Florida in 2024

Population of Mount Dora

In 2020, Mount Dora had 16,341 residents. There were 6,156 households and 3,691 families living in the city.

Schools in Mount Dora

The city has two elementary schools and one middle school. It is also home to Mount Dora High School. In addition, there are nine private schools in the area.

Southern Technical College used to have a campus in Mount Dora, but it is now closed.

Fun Events and Festivals

Mount Dora is known for its many exciting events and festivals.

The city hosts an annual Scottish Highland Festival. This event features Scottish bands and musicians. There are also Highland games and historic re-enactors. Mount Dora has its own pipes and drums band that performs all year.

The Mount Dora Center for the Arts holds the Mount Dora Arts Festival. This is a fine-arts festival that happens on the first full weekend of February. It shows art from hundreds of national artists. You can find oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, and photography. The festival also has live music and food.

The Mount Dora Spring Festival of Arts and Crafts is held every third weekend in March. It takes place in the downtown area. Over 250 artists and crafters sell their handmade items. This festival lasts for two days.

The Sailboat Regatta and Mount Dora Earth Day are in April. The regatta is hosted by the Mount Dora Yacht Club. It is the oldest sailboat race in Florida. Mount Dora Earth Day Celebration is a one-day event. It happens around the international Earth Day.

The Mount Dora Blueberry Festival takes place on the last weekend in April. It is held in Donnelly Park. This free festival celebrates local blueberry farms. It is a two-day event.

The Mount Dora Seafood Festival started in 2015. It happens in September. The festival has booths with fresh seafood, drinks, crafts, and activities for kids.

The Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce holds Florida's oldest bicycle festival. It happens every year in early October. This is a three-day event. It includes different bike rides, from 8 to 100 miles long.

Mount Dora's biggest event is the Mount Dora Craft Fair. It happens every fourth weekend in October. Over 250,000 people visit this fair. It features more than 400 talented crafters and artists. You can find everything from sculptures to paintings. The Mount Dora Craft Fair was ranked as one of the top craft festivals in America in 2020.

The Mount Dora Plant and Garden Fair is on the second weekend in November. It is held in Donnelly Park. Plant growers from all over Florida come to share and sell their plants. This is a two-day event.

The Jane Austen Fest is held every February. It is a three-day event. Many people dress in old-fashioned clothing from the Regency era. There are guest speakers and readings of Jane Austen's books. You can also try lawn bowling, enjoy a Regency dinner, and learn English country dances.

Mount Dora in Movies

Film Appearances

The buildings in downtown Mount Dora were painted pink for the movie Honky Tonk Freeway. Being a movie location helped the local businesses. It also helped fix up the downtown area. This gave Mount Dora some national attention.

Cities Mount Dora is Connected To

• Forres, United Kingdom

See also

In Spanish: Mount Dora para niños