Mount
Dora is a beautiful lakefront town in Central
Florida that is famous for its quaint look, its
festivals and its antique shops.
| The
City was established in 1880, and first
named Royellou after one of the City’s
pioneers, a local resident who provided
camping hospitality to federal surveyors
in 1883. The town was later renamed
after the lake. The “mount”
refers to the fact that the city sits
on a plateau of real estate 266 feet above
sea level. Incorporated as a town
on March 25, 1910 with 370 residents,
it was later incorporated as a city on
April 23, 1953. |
 |
 |
Government and City Services
The
City Charter provides for the council/manager
form of government.
The mayor and two council members
are elected at large, with four council
members elected by district.
Members serve two-year staggered
terms.
In
addition to police, fire, streets, parks,
recreation and library services, the
City also provides water, sewer, electric,
stormwater and solid waste disposal
services.
Mt. Dora has set aside
real estate for numerous parks that
include a lakefront boardwalk for bird
and wildlife watching.
Future plans include the possible
construction of a boardwalk off of Donnelly
Street through property donated
to the City by Edee Waite. |
|
There is also real estate set aside
as an extensive, tree-shaded cemetery
owned and managed by the City. Currently,
the Mount Dora is working on a combination
beautification and utility of real estate
in the City’s downtown area.
The project includes the transformation
of
alleyways into a streetscape
complete with designer bricks and antique
street lights. |
 |
| In addition, Donnelly Park
is undergoing complete renovation.
To find your perfect home in town or beachfront
property near the ocean, contact Central
Florida Realtor John Hambrick or Angela
Chapman at 1-866-290-1890 or fill out
the Home
Search Form. |
|
| 
|
Other
Features
Located approximately
25 miles northwest of Orlando,
in Lake County,
the City retains the flavor of a small town
with hilly terrain, several lakes, large canopy
oak trees and historic buildings.
Mount Dora was recently recognized
by the readers of Florida Living Magazine
as Florida’s friendliest small town and as
having the best antique shopping area in the
state. The City has a viable downtown
with a variety of antique and specialty shops
and restaurants.
There is limited light industrial
business.
One of the goals for the newly-approved
Economic Development Coordinator will be to
find ways to attract clean, light industry
to the City.
| Industries
providing employment: Educational,
health and social services (19.8%),
Retail trade (12.9%). |
The City Limits abut Lake
Dora and encompass over 8.1 square miles of
real estate.
The service area for water, sewer and
planning purposes encompasses 16.14 square
miles. |
| Renninger's
Antique Extravaganza (Third
weekend of January, February and November)
one of the largest gatherings of antique dealers
in the south with over 1500 dealers attending.
Arts Festival
(February 5-6, 2005) This nationally
ranked fine arts festival attracts 300 artists
from all over the world and attracts thousands
of visitors. Annual
Used Book Sale )February 5-6,
2005) Over 10,000 books for sale.
Black Heritage Festival (February
12, 2005.) Antique
Boat Festival (March 17-20,
2005) Over 150 antique, classic and historic
boats are on display at the southeast's largest
event of this type.
Antique Festival (March
19-20, 2005) Over 150 vendors display treasures
on the downtown streets.
Jewels & Junque Sale (March
19, 2005) A fundraiser for the Ice House Theatre.
Sail Boat Regatta
(April 2-3, 2005) The oldest
sailing regatta in the state. Festival
of Music & Literature
(April 3-10, 2005) Presenting outstanding
artistic programs in music, literature and
other genres. Mount
Dora in Bloom (April 30th-May
1st, 2005) Landscaping competition with local
nurseries. Taste
of Mount Dora (May 1, 2005)
A spectacular evening of culinary delights.
Old Fashioned
Fourth of July Celebration (July
4. 2005) Join us for an old fashioned celebration
of our Independence Day. 2nd
Annual Art Car Weekend (August
26-28, 2005) Enjoy the art creations
from the Wacky Car Club. The event includes
a parade, car contest, exhibits, road rally,
sidewalk sales and children’s programs.
Bicycle Festival
(October 7, 8, & 9 2005)
Attracting 1500 cyclists, this is Florida's
oldest and largest bicycling event.
Craft Fair (October
23-24, 2005) This nationally ranked juried
event continues to attract over 250,000 visitors
and over 350 of the best crafters in the country.
Plant & Garden
Fair (November 5 & 6, 2005-First
weekend in November) Over 10,000 rare and
exotic plants plus garden accessories.
Light Up Mount
Dora (November 27, 2005-Sunday
after Thanksgiving) Join us in lighting Donnelly
Park and Downtown Mount Dora with close to
2 million sparkling lights! Wonderful Holiday
Season Entertainment and festivities including
Community Choir, Ballet, Soloist, Singalongs
and Santa. |
|
| 
|
The Cultural Calendar knows no season. Throughout
the year, Mount Dora enjoys plays at the IceHouse
Theatre, concerts and recitals by international
artists at the Mount Dora Festival of Music &
Literature, gallery openings, and on-going exhibitions
at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts. Directly
behind the Center for the Arts on Royellou Lane
is the Royellou Museum at the Old City Jail, providing
a glimpse of Mount Dora life from the past to
the present.
| Parks |
| Gilbert Park has a boat dock
and ramp, an All Children's Playground,
& large picnic pavilion. Located on
real estate at Tremain Street ‘yyy and Liberty
Avenue |
| Donnelly Park has an entertainment
platform for occasional free concerts, shuffleboard
courts & clubhouse Located on real estate
at the center of town at Fifth Avenue and
Donnelly Street |
| Palm Island Park has the longest
boardwalk on a lake in Florida. Located
on real estate next to Gilbert Park |
| Evans Park has a gazebo, picnicking
and fishing. Lawn Bowling clubhouse and
rinks adjoin it. Located on real estate
at the foot of Donnelly Street. |
|
|
A
Mecca
for Antique collectors:
There
are probably more interesting and
varied antique dealers per square
foot of real estate than any other
place in Florida. To top that off,
nearby Renningers Antique Market attracts
thousands to its many weekend fairs
and extravaganzas. |
|
Shopping
in Mount Dora is Irresistible:
The number
and variety of gift shops, fashion
boutiques, decorative art galleries,
and interesting cafes astounds - -
all within easy walking distance of
each other and beautiful Lake Dora.
Each shop is unique and reflects the
unbounded taste of the owner. Most
stores are open every day. The perimeter
of Mount Dora (U.S. 441) offers other
shopping opportunities, services and
independent businesses. |
|
 |
 |
For
Fun & Relaxation set sail
on a sunset
cruise, rent a bike, fish off a pier next to
our inland light-house, enjoy the nature walk
on Palm Island - - our little island wilderness
- - or stroll around the neighborhoods enjoying
the sunsets and the lake views. For those who
like their fun less strenuous - - an evening
sunset cocktail at one of the outside cafes
or on the porch of one of the inns. If
the charm of Mount Dora is for you, contact
Angela Chapman or John Hambrick, Suburban Orlando
Realtors, to help make your dreams come true
with a lovely home in town or, if you prefer,
a home in one of the surrounding Orlando communities.
John can also help you with your 1031 tax exchange
properties. |
| If you need to sell your Mount
Dora home or Central Florida home, visit our to bring buyers and sellers together.
Whether you're looking for investment properties,
a retirement
community, a golf
community, metro Orlando
or just want a home "out in the country,"
give them a call for more information. They
can help you find your home in Seminole
County, Orange
County, Lake
County, Brevard County, Volusia
County, Polk
County, or Osceola
County. |
Population (year 2000): 9,418
Elevation: 175 feet
Median house value: $110,700 (year 2000)
Hospitals/medical centers:
- LIFESTREAM BEHAVIORAL CENTER (about 1 mile;
LEESBURG, FL)
- FLORIDA HOSPITAL/WATERMAN (about 4 miles;
EUSTIS, FL)
- SUMMIT,THE (about 11 miles; APOPKA, FL)
Airports certified for carrier
operations:
- ORLANDO SANFORD (about 29 miles; ORLANDO,
FL; ID: SFB)
- ORLANDO INTL (about 36 miles; ORLANDO, FL;
ID: MCO)
- OCALA INTL-JIM TAYLOR FIELD (about 47 miles;
OCALA, FL; ID: OCF)
Other public-use airports:
- MID FLORIDA AIR SERVICE (about 3 miles;
EUSTIS, FL; ID: X55)
- BOB WHITE FIELD (about 6 miles; ZELLWOOD,
FL; ID: X61)
- UMATILLA MUNI (about 8 miles; UMATILLA,
FL; ID: X23)
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students:
- UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX-ORLANDO CAMPUS (about
24 miles; MAITLAND, FL)
- ROLLINS COLLEGE (about 25 miles; WINTER
PARK, FL)
- SEMINOLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 26 miles;
SANFORD, FL)
- STETSON UNIVERSITY (about 27 miles; DELAND,
FL; FT)
- VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 29 miles;
ORLANDO, FL)
- UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (about 32
miles; ORLANDO, FL)
- CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about
45 miles; OCALA, FL)
Private high schools:
- CHRISTIAN HOME - BIBLE SCHOOL (PO
BOX 1017 13TH AVE MCDON ST; Grades: KG - 12)
- SOLID ROCK CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (PO BOX
DRAWER 236; Grades: KG - 12)
Private primary/middle schools:
- MONTESSORI N.E.S.T. & CHILDREN
(500 S. CLAYTON ST.; Grades: PK - 6)
- CARLTON PALMS EDUCATIONAL CENT (28308
CHURCHILL SMITH LANE; Grades: UG - UG)
Major Subdivisions in Mount Dora
Addison Place, Avalon, Black Bear Reserve, Bunker Hill
Condo, Chautauqua overlook, Country Club of Mount Dora,
Gains Sub, Golden Heights, Golden Heights 1st Add, Golden
Isle, Granite State Court, Guller’s Homested, Hough
Plat, Lake Dora Villas, Loch Leven, Marots Add Tangerine,
Mount Dora R27, Mount Dora 30 19 27, Norwood , Oakwood,
Orange Hill, Orange Lake Estates, Overlook at Mount
Dora- Mount Dora, Pine Crest, Sherwood- Mount Dora,
Sylvan Shores, The County Club of Mount Dora, Triangle
Acres
|
