Welcome to the Great Mount Dora Lifestyle

Mount Dora Florida is unlike most cities in Florida.  Nestled among gentle rolling hills and surrounded by numerous natural and pristine lakes lined with age old live oaks, cypress and palm trees along their banks, Mount Dora is something special indeed.

The Mount Dora lifestyle is unique, offering our many residents and visitors alike, the opportunity to enjoy boating, fishing, alligator spotting, bird watching, golfing and just simply the best spot in Florida to view our spectacular sunsets over beautiful Lake Dora.

Mount Dora has over a million visitors per year.  They enjoy all of the activities and events that our residents do when participating in our great Mount Dora lifestyle.  Lakeside shopping, dining and musical entertainment provides a festival like atmosphere all year long.  Mount Dora's many events include Craft Fairs, Arts Festivals, The Plant and Garden Fair, Bike Festivals, Music Festivals...to name a few.  The City's arts centers include the Ice House Theater and the Mount Dora Center for the Arts, which host numerous exhibits throughout the year.

While visiting, you can view the scenic vistas of Mount Dora from a hilltop, balloon ride or by taking a boat tour through our many waterways, lakes and canals.

While being known for its old world charm and antique shopping, the Mount Dora lifestyle includes some of the best of modern amenities and infrastructure.  The City has excellent schools, world class hospitals nearby, and highly rated fire and public safety services.

The Mount Dora Lifestyle History

Being homesteaded in the mid 1800's by Ms. Dora Ann Drawdy, the City took its name from nearby Lake Dora in 1883.  Along with Ms. Drawdy, the other founder's of Mount Dora were Mr. Ross C. Tremain, the town's first official postmaster in 1880, and Captain John Phillip Donnelly, the town's first mayor in 1910.  The arrival of the first railroad in 1887, stimulated the local economy, carried tourists and freight, and started this great Mount Dora Lifestyle that we know today.

Mayor Donnelly's home, a Queen Anne style structure, was built in 1893 and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  At the time, there were 371 residents enjoying the Mount Dora lifestyle, and the city consisted of two general stores, a drugstore, a hardware store, two churches and the town hall.

In the early 1920's, the Mount Dora lifestyle experienced a significant boom in residential growth and business development.  Streetlights were put in place.  A water system, curbs and paved roads were installed.  The first two parks, named after two land owners donated prime pieces of real estate downtown and along the shores of Lake Dora.

Mount Dora incorporated into a city in 1953 and today is home to over 11,000 residents that enjoy the unique Mount Dora Lifestyle.

Below are some of the events that our residents and visitors alike enjoy while experiencing our great Mount Dora Lifestyle.

Mount Dora Annual Bicycle Festival in October
Mount Dora Annual Craft Fair in October
Annual Mount Dora Plant and Garden Festival in November
Mount Dora Christmas Walk in December
Mount Dora Christmas Parade in December
Mount Dora Lighted Boat Parade in December
Mount Dora Annual Arts Festival in February
Mount Dora Music Festival Prelude Concert in October
Mount Dora Village Antique Festival in March
Mount Dora Sail Boat Regatta
Taste of Mount Dora in May
Light Up Mount Dora in November
Renninger's Antique Extravaganza in January, February, and November
Mount Dora Music Festival in February
Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration in July

There's plenty to do and see when enjoying our great Mount Dora Lifestyle!