by Ryan Taylor

Created on: February 20, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Mount Dora is an inviting and cozy city nestled on a plateau in Central Florida. It is conveniently located 40 minutes northwest of Orlando and is the perfect getaway destination for area visitors. The city itself occupies the eastern shoreline of Lake Dora, which is one of seven lakes in the area, and is a popular location for fishing and water games. The lakefront community is celebrated for it's beautiful historic homes, architecture, natural beauty, antique shopping, arts galleries and much more.

In 1846, Dora Ann Drawdy was one of the first settlers to arrive to this once farmland area. Through hard work and dedication, she along with Ross Tremain and Captain John Donnelly, proved vital to the growth of the settlement. In appreciation of Ms. Drawdry's deeds, Lake Dora was named after her. In those days, Mount Dora was commonly known as "Royellou", which took its name after Tremain's children (Roy, Ella, and Louis). However, despite Tremain's efforts, it was renamed Mount Dora in 1883, after Lake Dora and also because the town rests on a "mountaintop".

Many historic buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places - a visit to the John Donnelly House, Royellou Museum, Antique Boat Museum, the Lakeside Inn, and a ride on the Old Mount Dora Atlantic Coast Railroad Line are a few of the favorite attractions. In fact, past visitors to the Lakeside Inn included Henry Ford, President Calvin Coolidge, Thomas Edison, and President Dwight Eisenhower.

Throughout the years, Mount Dora has played host to a variety arts and craft festivals, sailing regattas, and boat shows. It also lent its small town setting to various films including "Honky Tonk Freeway" (1981) and "Olive Juice" (2001). The entire town was painted pink in "Honky Tonk Freeway".

For sightseeing, Mount Dora offers three methods of transport: by water, land or air. Here are a few suggestions: By water: Lake County Waterways provides a boat tour of Lake Dora to experience nature at its best. By land: Inland Lakes Railway provides railway dining and adventure excursions. Check here for the train schedule and timetables: http://www.inlandlakesrailway.com. By air: Rohr Balloons provides a view from above in a hot-air balloon. Visit their site for information on rates and availability: http://www.rohrballoons.com/

In Mount Dora, one can reminisce in the past and enjoy the present; come and visit this community and celebrate together. For more information on planning your trip, check out this website: http://www.whattodoinmtdora.com/index.html.

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