In 1879 John P. Donnelly came to Mount Dora from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. At the time it was a…read morepopular winter destination for wealthy northerners. Donnelly has made his fortune in real estate and citrus business ventures. In 1881 he married local resident Annie McDonald Stone. Annie was a divorced single mom who ran the boarding house Donnelly was staying in and she also happened to be the daughter of his boss. In 1893 Donnelly had this gorgeous Queen Anne style house built as a gift to his wife. The plans for the house were chosen from 59 plans in the Cottage Souvenir No. 2 book sold by Tennessee architect George Franklin Barber. It is estimated Barber sold 20,000 plans in his career. The yellow and white Victorian house with stained glass windows was dubbed the Gingerbread House. The original property was a city block in size and included a barn and tenants house. Mount Dora was granted it's first charter in 1910 and Captain John Philip Donnelly became it's first mayor. At that time the population of Mt. Dora was 371 people. Donnelly was also one of the founders of the yacht club. The couple lived in the house until Annie's death in 1908. In 1924 Donnelly sold a corner of his property to the city for $45,000 to be turned into Donnelly Park. John P. Donnelly died in 1930. After his death the house was purchased by another prominent Mount Dora citizen, D. F. Gorman. After Gorman died the house was sold to the masons. Today more than 13,000 residents call Mt. Dora home. The Donnelly home was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on April 4, 1975. It is one of the most photographed buildings in the city. It is now owned by a Masonic temple, Mount Dora lodge #238 F & AM. To pay for the upkeep of the house the masons rent out the first floor for private events. A visit to Mount Dora would not be complete without a visit to this magnificent and historic home.

Renaissance was built in the 1920's. It is part of a collection of the many historical buildings in…read morebeautiful Mount Dora. When it was built in the 1920's, it was the Dora hotel! It was one of the only 3 level buildings in the community. Today there are a number of stores for shopping as well as restaurants/bars inside this historical building!

The railway was vital in establishing the flow of goods and people into a town. They were the…read moreprimary form of transportation. The first railway that came to the area was the Jacksonville, Tampa, and Key West Railway in 1886. The 29.5 mile route ran from Sanford, Sylvan Lake, Paola, Cassia, and Sorrento into Mount Dora and then to Tavares. In the 1880's train cargo was typically citrus, goods, from a local cannery, and fertilizer. Town founder David M. Simpson used the citrus to advertise his town by wrapping each piece in promotional materials promising a ree brochure of Mount Dora. The Old Mount Dora A. C. L. Railroad Station is a historic 35 x 93 foot Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Mount Dora, Florida. It was originally built by ACL in 1914 and opening in 1915 at a cost of $8,223. It operated with two trains going in each direction. By 1922 there were four trains running passengers, freight, and mail. Passenger service continued to bring in tourists and visitors until it ended in 1950, and freight service on the line ended in 1973. On March 5, 1992, the station was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The depot is now the home of the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce who leases the building from the Seaboard Coast Line for $1 a year. The City of Mount Dora along with many community members and businesses restored the railroad station in 2014 in time for it's 100th anniversary with a grant from the Mount Dora Community Trust. Historical details were preserved like the sliding cargo doors and pine wood floors. The building is available for rent for private events like weddings, parties, and seminars.

Mount Dora isn't a huge lake but it's big enough to warrant a lighthouse and it's apparently the…read moreonly lighthouse in the entire state of Florida that remains an inland aid to navigation. It's adorable, located on a small spit of land at the Port of Mount Dora next to the boat launches. The lighthouse was completed in 1988 and stands 35 feet tall. It is built from brick. There is free parking here and a few benches where you can sit by the water and watch the kayakers or jet skiiers. [Review 1029 of 2024 - 1905 in Florida - 22057 overall]

Nice spot to sit down for a while once you get around the Mt. Dora area…read more Good amount of seating, but I'd say to stay away on really hot days. The lighthouse is waayyyyy smaller than you would think it is. But still a cool area to check out.

I've heard the residents of Mount Dora were in an uproar when this house was painted, but…read moreultimately the city failed to make the homeowners to revert to a standard color (lost court case). Hearing this was painted to help their autistic son identify the house if wandering off made my heart happy. It also offers both residents and tourists a beautiful mural and testament to artistic expression. Very glad I was able to see it and hope others are able to appreciate the beauty of the mural (renovated in 2025).

If you're strolling through Mount Dora and stumble upon the Van Gogh House, prepare to be genuinely…read moredelighted. This hidden gem is an absolute visual treat and one of the most creative outdoor art experiences I've seen in Central Florida. Every side of the house and surrounding walls is covered in vibrant, swirling murals inspired by Van Gogh's most iconic works--from Starry Night skies to bold sunflowers and rolling landscapes. It feels like you're walking straight into a living painting. The colors are incredibly vivid, and the detail is impressive from every angle. No two sections feel the same, which makes it even more fun to walk around and explore. It's peaceful, artistic, and surprisingly immersive for an open-air display. The contrast of classic fine art style painted onto a casual neighborhood setting makes it feel whimsical and unexpected in the best way. This spot is completely free to enjoy, perfect for photos, and a must-see if you love art, murals, or unique local attractions. It's one of those places that reminds you how much creativity can transform a space. The Van Gogh House is truly one of Mount Dora's coolest hidden treasures and absolutely worth the stop.

All that is here now is an empty field and an interpretive sign that explains how this lot used to…read morebe the Rehbaum Warehouse. Alfred Rehbaum Sr. came to Mount Dora in 1915 from Cincinnati Ohio. He was hired at the age of 20 to run J.P. Donnelly's hardware store. Rehbaum eventually purchased the business designed in an Industrial Vernacular style and renamed it Rehbaum Hardware. The Rehbaum Hardware store was in operation from 1915 to 1984. The Rehbaum Warehouse stood on this site from 1927 until 2019. Well know for their warehouse the Rehbaum family was also respected their civic service. Alfred Rehbaum Sr. was one of eight founding members of the Mount Dora Development Company. He was elected school board trustee and became the president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1925. He also served several terms on the City Council. Rehbaum Hardware was a three generation family business. Alfred Rehbaum Jr. joined the business after returning home from WWII. His son Alfred "Sonny" Rehbaum III started working at the hardware store in 1950 at the age of 11. He was also very civic minded and served on the city council and was a founding member of the agency in charge of revitalizing downtown Mount Dora. After 44 years he sold the family business in 1994 and retired. He died the next year of a heart attack while changing a tire. There are now plans by the CFL Property Group to add retail space offices where the hardware store once stood. It's ironic the the groundwork Sonny Laius down during his lifetime to redevelop his beloved town was what led to the demolition of his former family business.

Captain Felix and Guide Mr Run were great. Sharing fun and interesting information. We saw baby…read moregators, a big Mama gator laying nearby, lots of birds and a few turtles! Also got to wave at some "canal" locals. It was the 2 hr canal tour and was a great deal. We also were able to bring our leashed Pomeranian Daisy May

It was a beautiful day for a boat ride. Our party of 4 chose 1230 on a Tuesday aboard the Rusty…read moreAnchor 18 seater. Our Captain Shawn and Guide Ran were all about safety and making sure we were well informed. The host checked us in about 1215 and we boarded along with 2 other couples. Lake Dora is the second smallest of 6 lakes in Mt Dora named after being one of the highest points in Florida at just less than 190 feet above sea level. Very interesting commentary and history. The lake is expansive but the best part was a mile long absolutely beautiful canal at times resembling the Amazon. We saw foliage, alligators, otters and birds along the way. Enjoy!

CatBoat Adventure Tours should be on everyone's bucket list!…read more We booked this tour a couple of weeks in advance and had plenty of days and times to choose from, but it ended up being sold out. Our guide was amazing and provided a lot of information about the Mount Dora area. My husband had a blast operating the boat. They go very fast, but drive smooth. Nobody in our group wore a life vest, but they do offer them if you're interested. This was an amazing time and we're already thinking of when to come back.

Such an amazing time!!! Must do if in the area- best money you will spend. Fast on the open water…read moreto transfer into the tall-tall trees, huge nest of wildlife that exists along the canal enjoyed only by water - you will experience the beauty of natural Florida, behind the concrete world built around us!! Our tour captain Todd was ridiculously hilarious! I can't spill all his fun secrets but this seriously is the best 2 hours you'll spend in Mt. Dora!!

Wow, what a blast. This was a suprise birthday gift given to my father and I by our spouses and…read morewhat a surprise it was. They arranged for the two of us to take "The Harris Chain of Lakes bar hop". We met our pilot "Paul" in Mount Dora. A very professional and knowledge guide with a Jimmy Buffet kinda quality that made us very comfortable from the start. We managed five stops on our tour staying long enough at each for a drink and a quick bite. If you think pulling up to a bar in a limo is cool you really need to try this. There was absolutely no pressure on us. We could stay as long as we wanted but we where more interested in the flying than the drinking. We didn't know how beautiful and interesting central Florida is from the air until now. Each jump resulted in a 15 to 20 minute flight to the next bar. Paul even threw a quick touch and go in on our final jump. This was a unforgettable trip that we will be talking about for a very long time. I definitely recommend them and may be back for another one of their tours in the near future . Cheers till then.

From the owner: We offer Seaplane rides in our Cessna 185 floatplane, which can accommodate 3 passengers at a time…read more We have a full complement of rides that fit any price point and desired length of trip. Rides start at $44 per person for a 10 minute ride around Lake Dora and go up to $219 per person to take three people on a 70 minute ride to the St. Johns River. We offer day trips and adventures to different restaurants and tourist attractions around the Central Florida area. We also provide Single Engine Training at the Private, Commercial and ATP level. ASES training can be provided in our Cessna 185, Cub or a Husky on amphib floats. Ask us about our AMAZING proposal ideas! We can customize any of our flights and would love to take you flying!