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Eustis
Population: 15,106
City Hall: 10 N. Grove St.
(352) 483-5430
www.eustis.org
Centrally located on the shores of it’s namesake Lake, Eustis has a history dating back to pre-Civil War days. Originally named Pendryville, after A.S. Pendry, an early settler, the name was later changed in honor of Lt. Colonel Abraham Eustis, commander of Fort Mason. The town grew rapidly after the Civil War, especially with the arrival of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad.
Downtown Eustis is vintage Norman Rockwell, where one can walk brick-laid streets, feel the breezes from majestic Lake Eustis, smell homemade sourdough bread or see a play at the Bay Street Theatre. In fact, in 1993 Eustis was named a Main Street City, one of only a handful in the state.
History buffs will enjoy a visit to the Clifford House, a Neo-classical Revival house serving as the Eustis Historical Museum. The 18-room mansion was built in 1911 and features pinewood floors, brass fixtures, six fireplaces and Italian tile throughout. The house was placed on the Register of Historic Places in 1975, Weekday afternoon tours are available to the public.
The Village is the central shopping district, adjacent to Ferran Park, a popular downtown venue that features the Alice McClelland Memorial Band Shell, one of only two in the state. The adjacent aquatic center offers swimming lessons and water safety courses in two heated pools, while a quarter-mile Lake Walk beckons joggers or those just out for a leisurely stroll along Lake Eustis. Boaters have up to 20 slips available, all within walking distance of the Village.
Holidays come alive with Light Up Eustis and the Festival of Trees in the fall. The granddaddy of all festivals though, is the George Washington Birthday bash, held in February Celebrating it’s 100th year this 3-day even is the oldest festival in the state and features arts and crafts exhibits, patriotic activities, a parade and sailing regatta.
Eustis Main Street was formed to help promote and revitalize Downtown Eustis through such events as their monthly street parties, held the first Friday of the month. The organization’s vision is to bring residents back downtown to shop, dine and enjoy the newly remodeled waterfront. Contact them via their website, www.eustismainstreet.org.
Eustis is sensitive to the preservation of historic buildings through their Local Landmark designation program. Representing Classical and Gothic Revival, Mediterranean and Frame Vernacular styles of the late 19th Century, many of the buildings can be found in a six-block section between Center Street and Lake Shore Drive. The chamber of commerce can provide you with a historic tour map.
Commercial construction continues to flourish near the new Waterman Hospital complex along S.R. 441. The Eustis Village Shopping Center, with Public and Beall’s as anchor tenants, is one of many new retail centers in Eustis. And the 80-acre Eustis Commerce Park has attracted several bio-medical firms, most notably, Nutraceuticals, Inc.
Mount Dora
Population: 9,418
City Hall: 510 Baker St.
(352) 735-7100
www.mountdora.com
A drive into Mount Dora, down streets line by giant oaks, evokes visions of a New England hamlet, giving the visitor glimpses into this town’s 19th century roots. Only 30 minutes from Orlando, Mount Dora’s quiet, homespun ambience is in stark contrast to the corporate commercialism of Orlando and has become a favorite retreat for many Central Floridians.
A stroll down 3rd Avenue toward the shores of Lake Dora and the Mount Dora Yacht Club, takes you past numerous antique shops, art galleries and gift boutiques. On the way, stop at the chamber of commerce, housed in an 80-year-old renovated train depot. Walk across the street and have a leisurely breakfast or lunch at the historic Lakeside Inn, a favorite haunt of presidents such as Calvin Coolidge. Built in 1883, the Inn is former home of Mount Dora’s first mayor, J.P. Donnelly, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Further down the street is the Royellou Museum, which contains artifacts from the 19th century, was converted from a former jail and firehouse and is named for J.P. Donnelly’s children, Roy, Ellen, and Lou.
Mount Dora is also known for its charming bed and breakfast inns, a departure from the multi-million dollar luxury hotels that characterize Greater Orlando and its attraction.
Mount Dora has several parks dotting the shores of Lake Dora, including Evans Park, site of the annual lawn bowling championship. Palm Island Park, identifiable by its landmark 35-foot brick lighthouse at Grantham Point, offer spectacular views of wildlife along its hiking trail or picnic areas. Downtown, Donnelly Park often plays host to outdoor concerts amid a backdrop of camellias, oleander and bald cypress.
Festivals abound during the year, beginning in February with the renowned Mount Dora Art Festival, followed by the Exotic Car Show and the Antique Boat show and antique fair. Summer months bring the Sailing Regatta, testing the nautical skills of over 100 seafaring mates. Major events in the fall include the Plant and Garden Fair, the Bicycle Festival, which attracts over 1,500 cyclists, and Light Up Mount Dora, held the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Tavares
Population: 9,700
City Hall: 100 E. Caroline St.
(352) 742-6414
The seeds of Tavares were planted over a century ago by Major Alexander St. Clair Abrams, who started a lumber company and built a railroad line through the town to support his business endeavors. In 1888 the city was voted the county seat, despite bitter battles with politicians from Leesburg and Eustis.
The beauty and allure of Tavares have much to do with its location, between sparkling Lake Eustis and Lake Dora, connected by the Dora Canal, known by its majestic grand cypress tress.
Not surprisingly, fishing and water sports are a popular activity in Tavares. There are numerous boat ramps, fish camps and marinas to accommodate the most avid yachtsman. The city operates 8 parks totaling over 250 acres, including Hickory Point, a 68-acre park on Lake Harris with 12 boat ramps and a marina pavilion. Several other parks offer tennis, racquetball, basketball, softball and picnic facilities. Wooten Park, with its children’s playground, picnic tables and boat ramps on Lake Dora, is a favorite setting for city-sponsored events, such as Founder’s Day, the 4th of July and Light Up Tavares. Three golf courses, Baytree, Deer Island and Village Green, offer challenges for varying skill levels.
The National Center for Boundless Playgrounds will be funding a special accessible playground for disabled children off Lake Idamere. It is only one of 50 being Built around the state.
As well as being the county seat, Tavares is also home to the Lake County Historical Museum, on the corner of Main Street and Sinclair Avenue. In fact many historical landmarks can be found in this Bi-centennial City, from the Opera House, built by Major Abrams in 1887, to the current courthouse built in 1924.
Health care services are now within arm’s reach, with the recent completion of Florida Hospital Waterman’s 122 acre Hospital and Medical Complex on SR 441. The state-of-the-art facility features a 25,000 square foot atrium, two unique red-tiled bed towers, fountains and a Meditation Garden. The new hospital will serve as a cornerstone to attract other health care-related firms to this new business corridor.
Umatilla
Population: 2,214
City Hall: 1 S. Central Ave
(352) 669-3125
As the northern-most city in Lake County’s Golden Triangle, Umatilla is truly the “gateway to the forest.” Located just south of the Ocala National Forest, this small community was founded in 1876 by Nathan Trowell, who discovered the hamlet after venturing down the St. Johns River. The downtown area is punctuated by nearly two dozen sparkling lakes, lovely parks and a charming library housed in a former train depot.
Umatilla is also rich in history, welcoming visitors to Florida before the turn of the century. Since it was on the railway path, early founders built hotels for winter guests on their way to south Florida. Some of these buildings still stand today, including the “White House,” a fine example of antebellum architecture common in the 1800’s.
The annual Black Bear Festival draws thousands of nature lovers to this sleepy hamlet during the first week in October. Umatilla is also home to Amazing Exotics Animals, where visitors can get “hands-on,” training about the various habitats, endangered status and feeding habits of dozens of species of wildlife.
Softball and baseball enthusiasts have three parks with which to choose, Clearwater Lake Park, Lake Dora Park and Southside Ball Park.
East Lake County
While much of Lake County has seen its share of residential expansion, the northeastern region has remained largely rural in nature. Bordered on the east by the Wekiva River, designated as an “Outstanding Florida Waterway,” and the Ocala National Forest to the north, residents and outdoorsmen alike have come to enjoy the wild and unbridled scenery around them. The town of Sorrento, just east of Mount Dora, has a history dating back to the 1880’s, when William Butts and his family migrated from nearby Mellonville, which is today known as Sanford. They were followed by some families from Ohio. Of course, like most new homesteaders, they took to citrus farming, taking advantage of the fertile soil and proximity to the St. Johns River to ship their crops. Later, a turpentine plant and sawmill were built by the Battle Brothers.
The area prospered with the coming of the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railroad through Sorrento. A hotel and golf course were built in Mt. Plymouth. The hotel was said to have once hosted such diverse guests as the sister of President of Grover Cleveland and noted gangster Al Capone.
Historians say the name of the town was taken from a popular novel at the time, “Agnes of Sorrento,” which took place in an Italian city of the same name.
Today, the area is known more for its large number of horse farms and equestrian centers, most notably the Simpson Training Center, Sorrento Oaks and Plymouth Oaks Equestrian Farm. Pasture upon pasture of majestic steeds will be found grazing along Plymouth-Sorrento Road or Highway 44. Agriculturally, one will also find dozens of ornamental nurseries sprouting orchids and other tropical plants, taking a cue from its neighbor to the south, Apopka, “Indoor Foliage Capital of the World.”
Further north, off of State Road 44, is the tiny community of Cassia. In October city fathers host one of the area’s favorite events, Cassia Day, filled with bluegrass music, turkey shoots, old-fashioned games and great food.
At the present time there are no public schools in East Lake County. Children attend schools in either Umatilla, Eustis or Mount Dora. A new library was recently dedicated on Hwy. 437 adjacent to the chamber of commerce. The county building is a new community center in Mount Plymouth at Diehl Rd. and S.R. 46.
Astatula
Population: 1,298
City Hall: 25019 C.R. 561 Astor
(352) 742-1100
Astatula’s location, between the eastern shore of Little Lake Harris and the northwestern side of massive Lake Apopka, give much credence to its Indian name, “lake of sparkling moonbeams.” Founded in 1872 by T.A. Hux, an entrepreneur who developed the farmland to raise cotton, sugar cane, cattle and citrus, this sleepy little community is beginning to feel the affects of the growth coming from south Lake County. It’s population has climbed 400% over the past 10 years, boasting a total of 1,300 residents.
Fruitland Park
Population: 3,186
City Hall: 506 W. Berckman St.
(352) 787-6089
Originally named Gardenia by it’s founding fathers, many of whom hailed from England, Fruitland Park is situated between Leesburg and burgeoning Lady Lake, west of Lake Griffin. Although there is much room for growth, the town’s population has not changed as much as it’s northern counterparts.
Recreational opportunities abound, with several private and public campgrounds offering cottages, R.V. camps, boat rentals and fishing and swimming venues. Lake Griffin Park, a 427-acre recreation facility northwest of the city, offers boating and camping, complete with a playground, canoe rentals and picnic areas. The city also has a public swimming pool on Berckman Street. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy casting their line at Morgan’s Fish Camp and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Howey-In-The-Hills
Population: 956
City Hall: 101 N. Palm Ave.
(352) 324-2290
Located along the southwestern shore of Little Lake Harris, this pristine community is best known for its world-class golf and tennis resort, Mission Inn. Originally called the Floridian Club, William Howey built the resort in 1924 as the centerpiece in his efforts to establish this area as a major agricultural center, using the Harris Chain of Lakes to transport citrus by barge. It was restored in the 1960s and has since become one of the most prestigious golf and tennis resorts in the state. The inn also has its own yacht club, Marina del Rey, which offers guided cruises on the Harris Chain of Lakes
City-owned Sara Maude Park features a cypress-lined boardwalk at Little Lake Harris. To the west in Okahumpka is Sunset Lakes, one of the finest water ski schools in Florida. Golfers will enjoy the challenging Bella Vista Golf Course, overlooking Little Lake Harris. And in November, runners from across the state come to compete in the half-marathon run at Mission Inn Resort.
Just north of Howey-in-the-Hills is the tiny hamlet of Yalaha, best known for its charming German bakery, located on County Road 48. Third generation baker Max Klopfer bakes bread and pastries daily, using flour from Mennonite farms in Kansas. It is said that the first settlers came here from South Carolina after the Civil War.
Lake Lake
Population: 11,828
City Hall: 225 W. Guava St.
(352) 753-2212
Once simply a rest stop on the way from Leesburg to Ocala, this tranquil community has grown from a few hundred residents to nearly 14,000 making it the second-largest city in Lake County. The catalyst for such growth was the 1980’s ground-breaking of Orange Blossom Gardens, now simply called the Villages, one of the nation’s largest retirement communities encompassing nearly 12,000 acres and 10,000 homes stretching throughout Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties.
The Villages offer the ultimate in convenience, with over 50 different retail shops, restaurants, churches, a medical center and over a dozen golf courses in which to play. (In fact, golf carts are the chief mode of transportation in the Villages, easily outnumbering cars.) They even operate their own television and radio station, as well as their own daily newspaper. New commercial construction includes a 25,000 square-foot regional post office and a 120-bed nursing facility.
Among much anticipation, the Villages Regional Hospital, affiliated with Leesburg Regional Medical Center, opened it’s 60-bed facility in 2002. The $35 million complex features an Outpatient Surgery Center, 24-hour emergency room, Medical Imaging and Breast Center, a wellness and rehabilitation center, ICU and full diagnostic services. Plans are already in place to expand to 300 rooms in the future.
Life does exist outside the walls of the Villages. The City of Lady Lake has built a new municipal complex and have doubled the size of their police and fire departments. A new recreation and sports complex was recently built near Heritage Park, a favorite gathering point for locals. The park plays host to the Lady Lake Heritage Festival, offering a day of old-fashioned arts and crafts, games, music and costumes celebrating the founding fathers. Other noteworthy events include the annual Chili Cook-off, the Lions Christmas Parade and Light up Lady Lake, held in December. For more information contact the chamber of commerce, located in the log cabin on SR 27. And be sure to visit the library, directly behind the chamber, housed in it’s unique setting, a refurbished train depot and box car.
Don’t be surprised to see the occasional buffalo or two grazing in several fenced locations throughout Lady Lake. And a trip to Uncle Donald’s Farm is a delight for both young and old. Golf enthusiasts can hone their skills at one of a dozen private or semi-private courses, including Harbor Hills.
Leesburg
Population: 15,956
City Hall: 501 W. Meadow St.
(352) 728-9705
Although Leesburg is situated in the far western part of Lake County, it is in many ways the center or hub of activity. Perched atop Lake Wales Ridge, Leesburg attracts both the traditional retiree and the urban refugee escaping the hectic pace of the big city. The economy, once solely based upon agriculture, has become more diverse, anchored by a first-class airport, and industrial parks, as well as a new business incentive programs and fast0track permitting to encourage new business investment. The main shopping venue is the Lake Square Mall, featuring 80 specialty stores and a dozen movie theaters. Home improvement giants such as Lowers and Home Depot are just two of the many corporate chains that have established roots here.
Leesburg Regional Medical Center recently completed a $65 million expansion to address the growing need of comprehensive surgery facilities for the area. They also added a Life Center for Women, providing private birthing and labor rooms. Nearby the Florida Heart and Vascular Center also celebrated a 27,000 square foot expansion to their cardiac care facilities.
A few years ago Leesburg completed a $2.4 million Streetscape Program, highlighted by the erection of a new town square on Main Street across from City Hall. The downtown area is an antique shoppers delight, with no less than a dozen antique and specialty stores from which to browse, from a Quilter’s Dream to Victorian Rose.
City Fathers work to promote patronage of area businesses through coordinating such events as their Downtown Street Parties, Mardi Gras, Main Street Christmas Stroll, the Leesburg Art Festival, the Fall Craft Festival and the Bike Fest, drawing thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the state for a weekend of music, revelry and food.
The Leesburg Partnership, (www.Leesburg partnership.com), has been instrumental in revitalizing the downtown sector and restoring historic buildings, such as the Leesburg Opera House, circa 1989. In fact, a large portion of the City Core has been designated an Historic District by the State.
Leesburg’s location, between two of Lake County’s largest bodies of water, Lake Griffin and Lake Harris, make it no small wonder that boating and fishing are the two most popular pastimes for Leesburg residents. The Harris Chain of lakes, which an average depth of 14-16 feet, are rich in bass and speckled perch.
The city has made a commitment to providing ample acreage for recreational pursuits. The Susan Street complex has four little league fields and a press box, racquetball and lighted tennis courts, a regulation football/soccer field, concession stands and picnic area. Venetian Gardens is an 80-acre preserve off Dixie Avenue, complete with baseball fields, tennis and shuffleboard, a swimming pool, boat ramps and a public beach. Recently, work has begun to connect the downtown section of the rails to trails to those existing along the 441 corridor. The new leg will run from the Mote-Morris House to the City’s recreation department.
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