This historical tour was fantastic! We did the last tour of the day with Kayla, the owner. She was extremely knowledgeable and shared so much information on the home and what's happened over the years. I'm going to have to take this tour again just to try to remember it all! Lovely maintained home with so much history. Who visited, who contributed to the building and maintenance of the home, the restoration efforts. It was fascinating. We happened to be there on a day when they received a gift of an original Edison grammaphone with the beeswax songs in paper wrappers! And it actually worked! Amazing. Also loved the Louis Comfort Tiffany windows - just gorgeous! read more

Stetson Mansion - Exterior grounds - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

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If you're planning a visit to nearby Blue Springs State Park, the Stetson Mansion is an absolutely must-visit stop. Yes - Stetson - as in the hats. I was just as surprised to learn that the famed hat-maker once called the small town of DeLand, FL home. I happened to be visiting during peak manatee season and so had the privilege of being able to still enjoy the mansion during its special holiday tour season. During the holiday tour, each room of the mansion has a unique theme to it that you get to learn all about from your helpful docent. Not only do you get to the enjoy the wonderful story of that room's decorations theme but the history of the home and family is wonderfully blended in. I'm told that obviously during the regular historical tour you dive deeper but I left learning waaaaay more about the Stetson family than I ever expected (or knew). The home is privately owned and you the love and passion the new owners have for the historic property is evident in every room. We even had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners (the super sweet and DeLand native, Kayla) I was surprised to learn she had even created many of the decorations herself that adorned the opulent rooms in the mansion. The Stetson Mansion is a great example of one of the many historical gems tucked away in Florida small towns that you can stumble upon when exploring the state. Whether you're doing the regular history tour or holiday tour, you're sure to have a fabulous visit to the Stetson Mansion. read more

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Attended the 2025 Christmas Extravaganza @ Stetson Mansion in DeLand, FL today. An absolutely wonderful experience. The Mansion has new owners who have put their own touches on the more traditional decorations while incorporating wonderful new experiences. It really doesn't matter if you've attended before; you really should experience it again in 2025. read more

Stetson Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

I have been intending to visit the mansion for some time but noticed that they specially decorated the home for the holidays. We decided to visit while the mansion had its holiday decorations. Guests register and pay online for a specific day and time visit. Tours are self-guided. There is a recording that describes the tour. Guests are advised to set up access to the recording in advance of the visit. The recording is available on SoundCloud. I had some trouble accessing the audio but eventually succeeded. Guests are also advised to find and use restroom facilities before arrival. We found that the onsite restroom facilities were reasonable although portable. The online registration process also advised that parking could be a problem and provided some alternatives if the onsite parking was full. We found easy parking onsite. Pictures are not allowed inside the mansion, but I was able to take pictures outside. The decorations inside were extensive; so much so that the home would have been unlivable because of the scale of the decorations. The mansion was originally built by John Stetson, the hat-maker. Although I associate Stetson Hats with Western hats, the business operates out of Philadelphia. Stetson was known as the original "snow bird" who lived in Florida during cold winters in the north. The architecture was unique. The floors were intricate hardwood parquet. Thomas Edison was a friend and helped electrify the mansion. The original circuit breaker box is on display. The audio recording was very descriptive. Its description of the decorations was easy to follow. It described the rooms and the decorations in great detail. Visitors used their phones to listen to the recording. I'd recommend that visitors use headphones because some visitors played the recording on speaker phone which was distracting. I found the recording a bit confusing when it was describing the various owners and their family members. I enjoyed the tour and would like to return for a tour when the decorations have been stored and the tour focuses on the building and its history. read more

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My husband, sister and her husband went to the Christmas tour at the Stetson Mansion and what an enchanted evening, we all loved it. Our tour guide Alex was so friendly knowledgeable and fun explaining each room and so many different details. The home was truly spectacular, every room was full of amazing Christmas decorations and insight of the past. All the woodworking was beyond beautiful and the chandeliers were so old and each a one of a kind. This tour was well worth the price of admission. I highly recommend you make this part of your Christmas things to do. read more

Stetson Mansion - Out front - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

What a fun tour! Best tour we have ever done. We were honored to have one of the owners, Kayla, give our tour, and she was so fun. What made it even more special is all the memorabilia, along with the knowledge it's a private home. Kayla's artistic touches gave it the personal touch. Gorgeous home with lots of great history, and wonderfully presented . Go see, you will love it. Thanks for the selfie, Kayla! read more

Stetson Mansion - Kayla was so sweet to take a selfie with me. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

We had a nice time at the Stetson Mansion. The decorations are very well done however would look prettier in the evening. Our tour guide was very nice. Not a place I would continue to visit as once is enough. read more

Holiday Decor Done With Love in a Historic Gem A truly outstanding experience. The Stetson Mansion is beautifully decorated, with every room thoughtfully designed and filled with purpose and memory. You can feel the love and care that went into every detail. We did the guided tour and our guide, Alix, was wonderful, knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the history of John and Elizabeth Stetson. I'm already planning to come back for the Historic Tour to explore the architecture and craftsmanship in more detail. Highly recommend. read more

It was beautiful and our tour quide Candise was wonderful. It was very informative. The only thing I didn't like was that there was so many of us. It was claustrophobic when we had to shut the door in the room and we could barely move around to see things I think for the amount of money you pay for guided tour, they should limit the amount of people per tour read more

We were privileged to have Kayla as our guide. She explained the history and architecture is great details, not rushing or boring us at all. This is the second tour my husband and I have been on, the first being with our grandson and his finance to the Christmas tour and this time we had the private tour with friends. While we enjoyed the Christmas tour, this one was so much better! Kayla was a delightful guide. One would have thought she was trained as a well rehearsed actor, which was not at all the case. I could see her pride in the home and genuine love of the history. We felt as though we were truly connected to the former family. Well worth the price and to speak to those who complained that it did not have the original furniture, what would you expect after going through fires and The great depression, not to mention items the were bequeathed to former family members. An outstanding job of purchasing or hand making items that closely resembled the original. Almost in every instance the original was explained or a photograph was displayed. I would definitely recommend this to residents and visitors in Deland. read more

What a beautiful experience!! We started the tour with our delightful docent Cheryl, who was exceptional, very knowledgeable and told us a lot of the family history!! The house was decorated to the max with gorgeous Christmas decor! We enjoyed immensely! read more

Stetson Mansion - Front of the mansion , no photos were allowed inside. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

1. The holiday extravaganza was a disappointment because all of the fake snow and decorations covered up the original beauty of the home. If you like to see historic homes DO NOT go during the holiday extravaganza. 2. I felt the price was too high for this tour and the house itself is not that impressive. Go to Newport or Biltmore. 3. No public bathrooms. read more

Enjoyed the Christmas tour with Sophia. Amazing house. Sophia was so knowledgeable about the history of the house, previous and current owners, and of course the Christmas ornaments. To see the house in all its Holiday splendor was a treat. I've already bought tickets to see the house later in the year without all the decorations. read more

An interesting historical and Christmas decoration tour of the Stetson mansion. The guided tour includes rooms on two floors that have been meticulously decorated over the three month period leading up to Christmas. read more

Stetson Mansion - Rear - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

My wife and I went to visit the Stetson Mansion on April 18, 2925. Well, we are glad we did. So, if you think Stetson Hats originated in Texas well you need to visit this landmark. Our docent (Sally) was probably the best docent (i.e. guide) I have ever had the occasion to follow and listen too. Sally was extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, thorough and while she walked us through the house we had the feeling that we were present during the timeframe she was discussing. She explained the history of each room and brought us from the past to the present. She also pointed out the remarkable history of the materials that were used- it was an amazing trip back in history. We highly recommend it to anyone that is thinking about touring this beautiful historic mansion. read more

Please read my past review for more information about the Stetson Mansion. I am updating this review only because I finally made it to the "Grand Tour". I may have put it off for another year if I didn't get an email from them (since I am on the list) informing everyone they are no longer doing the Grand Tours after this Spring. I know, I know...it's sad, but completely understandable. It's a lot of work and it takes up a lot of time...and don't forget this is a private residence. JT & Michael have been gracious for years by opening their home to the public. On that note, I made time because I've "heard" the Grand Tour is really different from the Christmas Tour, you get to see more, etc. It is indeed very different and I am so happy we made it. JT & Michael...you have an absolutely beautiful home! I thought it was gorgeous when I toured it for Christmas...but clearly, it is magnificent year around. I wish I had a fraction of your talent for decorating and your patience in maintaining such a wonderful piece of history. My son and I truly enjoyed our tour with JoAnn and it was extremely informative. We loved hearing all of the history especially! As for what room we liked the most...I really don't know because I/we loved all of it. The closet you created in the master bedroom is pretty wicked, but anyone would love to have that kitchen. The glass door/wall is amazing and the electrical box is for sure too. I wish I would have made it there sooner, but happy I finally made it before the tours came to an end. Maybe if you reopen in the future and/or down the road I/we can hopefully make it back again. I/we truly enjoyed our visit and appreciate you opening up your home. We completely understand the work that goes into it every single day with little to no downtime. I am happy you are taking time for yourself. Thank you very much for sharing this historic gift! To everyone else reading this...you better hurry up if you want the Grand Tour. This is the last week they will be doing these tours. Of course, they will continue to do the Christmas tours, but they are really different. Go now or forever hold your peace because they may never go back to doing it again. I highly recommend a tour here...you just won't believe it and you won't be disappointed! Other notes: Michael is extremely thorough in the email with the tickets and the reminders. However, here are a few highlights: there is parking on the property, no pictures inside and there is only a porta-potty available outside. Thank you again...and we'll be back for a Christmas tour one day! read more

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What a fun relaxing departure from the hustle of today's lifestyle. Great place to take a teenager to show what life was before cell phones and iPads. Malia was fun and very informative. A natural entertainer. read more

December 2024 - The 10,000 sq ft building was decorated top to bottom for Christmas. The building itself is very special ... many architectural items make the design very unique. This is a special tour of an 1886 construction project in DeLand, FL. Don't miss it, you'll enjoy the tour. read more

I have taken both the Xmas guided tour and the Historical tour. The Xmas tour is fun for those who enjoy decor. It's very thought out with a lot of fun items to find. There are always different themes each year. But the best tour in my opinion is the Historical tour which is sadly coming to an end in a couple of weeks. The Historical tour takes you through the by history of the Stetson family, interesting facts about the home, and a discussion about his work as a hatter. Our most recent tour guide, Jo Ann, did an amazing job taking us from room to room and answering every question that the group had. At the end of the tour we purchased both books to take home and continue learning about the history of such an amazing home. The only downside of the tour is that you cannot take photos inside, but being that this is a private residence, and is only funded by tours, it is understandably why they ask for privacy. read more

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The Stetson mansion is Florida's first mansion. Built in the 1800s by John Stetson, a Philadelphia, entrepreneurial businessman, the mansion has today been carefully restored. The owners, JT and Michael, have done an amazing job, bringing this mansion back to its gorgeous glory. If you are a history buff, and looking for an amazing tour, I highly suggest touring the Stetson mansion during Christmas time. It offers one of the most stunning Christmas Christmas displays I have ever seen. It takes approximately three months to decorate the mansion for Christmas, but it is an experience that you will never forget . read more

There is no way to contact a human when making reservations or needing information regarding a current reservation. While the information on the website is quite extensive, it lacks in pertinent usable information, written in a direct manner. In other words: There is no way to contact this organization regarding a current reservation! read more

Tip: Bring phone and headphone/earbuds for tour. This was a fun distraction while visiting the in-laws in Florida. We came for the Christmas decorations tour where some guy spends three months decorating the house. While it is well done, I don't want to spend an hour inside. The audio tour is posted on YouTube so all the guests are playing it on there cell phones which they tell you to hold up to your ear so we don't hear 15 different audio tracks--it is a system that actually works. I just read the descriptions online and moved through the house on my own. read more

We visited for the Christmas tour, and it truly is stunning. The mansion is wonderfully decorated, a true feast for the eyes. We were welcomed to walk the grounds as well, and we especially enjoyed the "secret" bamboo garden. I'm grateful that this national treasure was saved and is available for all to enjoy. We plan to go back for the regular tour to see the third floor. read more

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I have been to the Stetson Mansion before and enjoyed it so tonight I brought my stepmother with me for the 2024 Christmas Tour. After arriving we were greeted by one of the new owners who I found out was a local DeLandite like myself. I was so happy to find the new owners were going to keep the tours going and that they were going to maintain the charm the former owners had created while adding to the charm with their own creative touches. I must say, my stepmother LOVED the tour and the home. We both have taken more historic tours than we can count with many different guides, however, none were as good as the guide we had tonight at the Stetson Mansion. Our guide was an expert storyteller and she made the tour educational and fun and we didn't want it to end. I want to thank the previous owners of the Stetson Mansion for all they have done for our community and welcome the new ones. The Stetson Mansion is an asset to DeLand and the greater central Florida area. A true Gem being well cared for by the right people. read more

Overpriced for the Christmas visit/tour , but I have heard it's the last year. Wouldn't do it again

I thought I'd write an update because it's been some time since my last visit to the Stetson Mansion. This time around, I visited during their Christmas Spectacular and, let me tell you, the decorations were spectacular indeed! I also had the opportunity to meet and briefly chat with one of the owners, which was a nice plus! He talked about the decorating process which he does by himself and took him almost 3 months to complete! His creativity and dedication are impressive! read more

Enjoyed the guided tour of this Private home. Our guide Jo Ann was knowledgeable and kind. The tour is $25.00 pp and about 1 hour 20 minutes. Covid rules are followed. Bring your mask. There are stairs, beautiful furniture, magnificent parque floors and mural painted walls and ceilings, great stories about the current owners and the Stetsons. You must reserve online as the tours are limited. Come on in and relive history! You won't be sorry! read more

Stetson Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

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I know it is almost the end of September then October. It's never too early to start thinking of the holidays. I love all things Christmas related, and this is one place you should put on your events list. From November to January there are Xmas tours here. They fill up super quick. The last Christmas I said I have to go and I just loved it. There's so much history in this beautiful home. Have you heard of the Stetson hats. They are very expensive. This was Stetson's Home. He also was friends with Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. I had just visited the Henry Ford and Edison Mansions in Ft Myers a few months before coming here. There's so much detail in this home and even more so with the themed Christmas decs every year. It's a lovely site to see. They also say with your Xmas ticket you can return for free in the future. It's definitely a fun trip and with it downtown Deland is darling too! read more

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Lovely home and grounds. Visited in Dec. to see the elaborately decorated rooms For the holidays but will undoubtably return to see it again after the season. The building itself is an architectural gem; gorgeous details and so very well maintained. The self guided tour is very organized and perfectly timed to permit small groups to enter and yet not be falling over each other. The narrated recording of room details is a wonderful idea to take in all that is on display. Gorgeous nativities throughout. Priceless outing! Love love love read more

Stetson Mansion - side exterior of the mansion... those windows and arch. details. No inside pics allowed tho as this is someone's actual home sweet home. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

This place isn't a mansion. Up charge you to walk through a crappy normal sized house? Owners are extremely rude too and super condescending. I'd prefer this place be torn down and turned into a massage envy. Then it might actually be useful. Also, they delete reviews. All the reviews on here are fake. Don't WASTE YOUR MONEY read more

Mansion, what mansion? I couldn't see it for the over-the-top, excessive decorations that can only be described as vignettes without a cohesive theme. Each vignette was lovelier than the last, but for $30 for a twenty-minute tour, I expected to see a decorated historic home, not an advertisement for the designer's talent. He can rent warehouse space and accomplish the same thing. read more

The House That Hats Built is so much more than hats...especially at this time of year. We took an OTOW (community we live in) tour to see this attraction that was awesome. Unique floors, doors, 10,000 panes of precious glass, decor, décor and more décor everywhere that was wonderfully displayed plus beauty, history and much, much more. Our tour guide Wren was enthusiastic, informative and friendly with a constant smile and bubbly personality. Wren guided us while we toured the first floor, then the easy climb up the 15 steps to tour the second floor. Photo taking was not allowed inside the mansion which was understandable but allowed outside which was a delight. We learned about The Stetson family and other owners up to and including the present (#6) owners of JT Thompson and Michael Solari. Outside under Florida's blue sky is a large, decorated wrap-around porch, a former school house that is now a gift shop, a 3 stall garage and a sweet garden tucked between. read more

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The tour was well presented. The home is beautiful and well worth the time. Such remarkable history preserved of the Stetsons. read more

Stetson Mansion - The Stetson mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

This was an amazing and beautiful start to our Christmas season. Each room is decorated exquisitely, with no detail spared. At every turn you will discover beautiful creations, items you had not noticed at first and appreciate the incredible labor of love that turned each room into a perfect vision. Every small detail has been incorporated to create a breathtaking experience in every room. The exquisite windows, floors and natural beauty of the architecture, plus added lighting blend together in perfect harmony to make this beautifully decorated home a true treasure. Thank you for sharing your wonderful home with us. We will definitely be back soon. 657 / 100 minimum read more

I was able to visit the Stetson Mansion as part of a special blogger event last month and it was AMAZING! I had no idea that this piece of amazing local history was just around the corner. JT, one of the owners, gave us an amazing VIP tour where we learned so much about the history of the home and the Stetson family. One of the most amazing things about this place is that it is actually their home - it isn't just a historical site that is open occasionally for tours. They did an amazing job bring the home back to life and showcasing all of the beautiful details. I am so glad that I took the time to visit and will definitely be back during the Christmas season to see what JT has up his sleeve :) read more

Stetson Mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

What a Florida treasure!! Do not miss out in the chance to visit. A historical site that is modernized for the owners who live in it.

An amazing restoration. So worth seeing. I've visited most of the great Guilded Age homes around the country and found this one ranked right up there with the best. The tour was a joy and the house and grounds are beautiful! read more

Stetson Mansion - Wonderful tour guide. Made the experience lots of fun!!! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

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yes, the mansion is stunning. Two particular women, hostesses, were rude, and made my family uncomfortable. This was Sunday, 12-17-23, 4 PM self-guided tour. first one behaved like my d-in-law was going to steal an item. Her tone and demeanor changed when she saw d-in-law's husband standing in a doorway. He lagged behind b/c he was carrying his child out of respect for the beautiful objects. it was shockingly noticeable. The "Have a Merry Christmas" greeting as they left was said with a sneer. neither wanted to make a scene and further ruin their Special Family Christmas outing. Needless to say, there were tears on the way home. So sad. A costly day my family won't forget....and not in a good way. read more

The mansion tour was definitely worth our time and money. We booked in advance and drove down and early for the tour. The architecture and woodworking and flooring was absolutely stunning. The Christmas holiday decorations up it looked beautiful, however there was too many decorations. You cannot even see the woodwork because of it. It has been personally purchased in the last 15 years and remodeled. They did a wonderful job. However somebody is living and staying in the in the master suite. That seems a little odd to us since it's on the historical register. The shower has been use that morning. The kitchen has been updated very nice and inviting, the owners are currently living there so they use that as our primary kitchen. It's a beautiful property would highly recommend it, I've just never seen anybody actually live in a historical home like this. Enjoy read more

Stetson Mansion - Stetson mansion - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida

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This is a very nice tour to take during Christmas. Make a reservation because they only have a certain number of people on each tour, certain number of tours each season. Parking is inside the gates which are opened about 30 minutes before the next tour. The tour takes about 1-2 hours, costs about $30/person and goes through all the rooms on the first and second floor. The rooms are decorated to specific themes and are different each year. They are beautiful and the tour guide did an excellent job of providing the explanation and answering the questions. The house is a beautiful structure and the rooms are wonderfully themed this year. I would recommend this for people visiting the area. read more

Stetson Mansion - Front view - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - DeLand, Florida