A name like Mount Dora might seem out of place in the country’s flattest state, but the moniker is a nod to the original settlement’s location on a lakefront plateau roughly 180 feet above sea level. Today, the city of around 18,000 sprawls across a beautiful landlocked waterfront in Lake County, Florida, roughly 40 miles northwest of Orlando. The elevated area has long since blossomed into a beloved downtown, where annual festivals are held, and family-owned restaurants like Pisces Rising overlook the 4,385-acre Lake Dora. “The lake is a big draw, and people spend a lot of time on it,” says longtime local Robin Costoplos, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty. “We have some of the best bass fishing in the state, and they host a lot of big-name tournaments like Bassmasters.” Blending rural fun and small-town charm, Mount Dora offers uniquely beautiful scenery and a close-knit community.
Mount Dora's Lake Dora is part of the Harris Chain of Lakes in Lake County.
Mount Dora's quaint down town shops are always bustling year-round with shoppers.
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Orange roots in the citrus industry
In its transition from homestead to town, Mount Dora put down roots in the citrus industry's orange groves. Today, the city’s leading industry is healthcare. Various medical facilities, including UF and HCA emergency care centers, are around the city, as well as several veterinarian practices. Education and construction are other leading industries, and tourism also stimulates the local economy.
Mount Dora's leading industry is health Care.
There are various medical facilities in Mount Dora including UF and HCA emergency care centers.
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Downtown Mount Dora
Downtown Mount Dora is the heartbeat of the city. The walkable, brick-accented streets are lined by mature live oaks, some towering high above with Spanish moss. The restaurants and shops are bustling year-round, though hot, muggy summers tend to slow the rush. Downtown holds dozens of festivals yearly, but none draw as big a crowd as the Mount Dora Arts Festival. Going into its 50th year, this creative celebration attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually and features artists from around the world. The only local event that rivals its popularity is the annual Antiques and Collectors Extravaganza, hosted by Renniger’s Flea Market and Antique Center. Over 800 vendors set up on the city’s east side with collectibles, vintage items, antiques and more.
Mount Dora's Art Festival is one of the biggest in the nation and draws huge crowds.
Renniger’s Flea Market and it's events also rivals the Mount Dora Art Festival.
Residents and visitors always visit the Mount Dora Village Market every Sunday.
Pisces Rising is an eclectic seafood and steak restaurant in Mount Dora.
Crowds of people come to shop the little unique stores in Mount Dora.
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Historic homes downtown in Mount Dora
The median home price in Mount Dora is just under $446,000, roughly $25,000 more than the national average. As a small city with a lot going on, Mount Dora’s historic downtown – full of vintage properties and hip restaurants – is one of the most sought-after places to live. The early-20th-century properties in this walkable lakeside area display a variety of styles, from classic Frame Vernacular, ranch-style and cottage homes to stucco-sided Spanish Revivals and cozy Craftsman bungalows. “Homes don’t sell much downtown, and when they do people snatch them up quick,” Costoplos says. Condos came in the late 1970s and ‘80s, and in the early 2000s and 2010s, the development of New Traditional master-planned subdivisions took over the far east side. New construction on that side of town is still going strong as the city prepares to create the Wolf Branch Innovation District, an 850-acre multiuse project. The development is slated to bring more multifamily housing as well as employment opportunities through a new hospital, flex office-industrial space and much more.
Despite Mount Dora’s central Florida location and uniquely high elevation, flood insurance is strongly recommended. Prospective homebuyers should be aware of their potential property’s flood zone and the risk of hurricane season, which ranges from early June to the end of November.
Mount Dora is one of the most sought-after places to live, especially for lakeside living.
There are many types of Spanish Revival homes scattered around Mount Dora.
Cozy Craftsman bungalows are very sought after in Mount Dora, it adds to the charm of the City.
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Palm Island Park
Mount Dora is home to many parks, from neighborhood playgrounds to sporty hubs like the 35-acre Lincoln Avenue Community Park. Palm Island Park is one of the city’s more unique green spaces. The lakefront nature preserve features tall cabbage palms and bald cypress trees, whisking visitors away to old Florida. From the boardwalk, folks often spy baby alligators and turtles sunning themselves on rocks or migratory birds soaring above. Even more options for outdoor fun are just outside the city, throughout surrounding conservation areas, waterways and state parks.
Palm Island park is full of trails and beautiful wildlife and and scenery.
Bald cypress trees line the shores of Mount Dora's Lake Dora.
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Lake County Schools and a popular private choice
The city is served by Lake County Schools, which Niche grades B and ranks as the third-best school district in the Orlando area. While students may start at one of several elementary schools, Mount Dora Middle, graded B-minus, and Mount Dora High, graded B, are the city’s zone schools. Mount Dora Christian Academy is a standout private option. The school is graded A-minus and is home to the Biomedical Sciences Institute, a four-year program for students interested in learning about professional healthcare.
Mount Dora Christian Academy currently serves more than 870 students from preschool - 12.
Mt. Dora High School is a B public school located in Mount Dora.
Mt. Dora Middle School is B- public school located in Mount Dora.
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Highway 441 and the LakeXpress
U.S. 441 is the main route in and out of Mount Dora. The highway leads straight into the heart of Orlando, about 30 miles southeast. It’s also the fastest way to the county seat, Taveras, just west of Mount Dora on the lake’s northern shores. Public transit is available through the county’s LakeXpress bus line.
Mount Dora Police Department is the First in the Nation
The title “First in the Nation” is printed on the sides of Mount Dora police vehicles, commemorating the department’s history as the country’s first fully accredited law enforcement agency. The Mount Dora Police Department holds Excelsior status, the highest level of accreditation in Florida. Crime in the city has steadily decreased since the turn of the century. While crime stats specific to the city are unavailable, Lake County has seen a significant decrease in violent crime.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
