Grantham Pointe (Light House) — Attraction in Florida

It's a beautiful place and city is wonderful. Unfortunately, developers are slowly making it as crowded as other average Florida cities and it's beginning to lose the charm that brings people here to visit. A major highway connecting Orlando and other large towns now runs right into the city, and the parks that you could go walk and only have to share with occasional passersby are now flooded with people and getting more crowded every month. My wife and I went and sat on our car recently and 5 people came up and urinated by a big tree right in front of the walkway within the 15 minutes we were there. Never had that before all this new traffic came in. Developers are cutting down huge oaks and palms, clearing all the beautiful serene wooded areas to build more and more subdivisions, so of course it's looking less and less attractive to live here. I was born and raised in this area, and even though I've seen changes, it's been slowly up until the past 4 years. Now it's growing less attractive at a mad pace just like most everywhere else in FL. Someone has decided to not keep it "Some place special" anymore, and it breaks my heart. Greed trumps beauty of our beautiful heritage, it shouldn't be that way. I think most of the people that established and kept Mt. Dora special, have gotten older and retired or died and a new generation now is empowered that thinks about simply commerce and tax money instead of considering the whole picture, tax money comes from people coming here because they love the small town feel and lack of busy big city traffic(another awful side effect of new roads into a small town, takes twice as long to get thru town now, backs up for blocks every day. Didn't have that problem just 24 months ago). So, by trying to maximize how many people you cram into the city at once, you do increase commerce, but you reduce the amount of people that want to come here because it becomes no different than the city they live in or any other average Florida busy downtown . It's sad, but it's simple logic and concern for Mt.Dora's best qualities that is becoming a rare commodity. I'm missing it already and all I see is more land being so-called, "developed". How ironic, because it took these mighty oaks and beautiful healthy eco systems decades and even centuries to develop, yet I see contractors that could care less about our town push those trees to the ground, raze the woods, homes of our wildlife gone in days, and engineered water shed landscaping created to start building more houses and businesses. It should be more accurately called "undeveloping". But hey, it's only our trees, environment, and animals, right? It's so much better to make loads of money, move on after we put houses there so more people can move in and create more need, right?...

In the heart of Florida's embrace, where whispers of history dance with the wind, lies the quaint city of Mount Dora. Its roots dig deep into the soil of time, weaving tales of warmth and hospitality, where legends paint the landscape with strokes of wonder.

Upon the shores of Lake Dora, where waters mirror the stories of old, Ms. Dora Ann Drawdy's spirit lingers, her name etched in the ripples of time. Homesteader and friend to surveyors, her legacy blooms in the heart of the city, though the mystery of the lake's namesake remains, a puzzle lost to the ages.

As settlers followed in her wake, each soul a thread in the tapestry of growth, the town burgeoned into life. Tremain, Donnelly, and others carved their mark, shaping Mount Dora's destiny with every brick laid and every tree planted.

In the heart of this burgeoning town stood the Alexander House, a beacon for travelers seeking respite from the world's hustle. Renamed and reborn as the Lakeside Inn, its walls echoed with the laughter of presidents and visionaries, their footsteps leaving imprints on its storied floors.

With the arrival of the railroad, Mount Dora's pulse quickened, the economy flourishing with each passing train. Orange groves bloomed, factories hummed, and the town bustled with the promise of tomorrow.

Amidst the bustle, community flourished, its spirit woven into the fabric of daily life. Churches rose, stores thrived, and the Mount Dora Voice echoed the town's heartbeat, chronicling its journey through the annals of time.

But amidst the hustle and bustle, nature held court, its beauty a balm for weary souls. Palm Island Park beckoned with its ancient oaks and whispering cypresses, a sanctuary for birds and beasts alike.

And there, amidst the tranquil embrace of nature, we stumbled upon the Mount Dora Lighthouse, a beacon of hope rising from the shores of Lake Dora. Though humble in stature, its light shone bright, guiding wayfarers through the darkness with its azure pulse.

As we wandered the pathways, each step a journey into the past, we marveled at the beauty that surrounded us. From Elizabeth Evans Park to Simpson's Cove, the landscape unfolded like a lover's embrace, each vista a testament to Mount Dora's enduring charm.

And so, as we bid farewell to this enchanting city, our hearts brimmed with gratitude for the memories we had forged. In Mount Dora's embrace, amidst the whispers of history and the songs of nature, we found a piece of ourselves, forever entwined with the fabric of its story.

Thomas Corrao Stray Compass...

I’m going to be honest in my review! While the area is very cool, you spend about 5 to 10 minutes here and move on. There are benches that are not very well kept up with, covered in spider webs and bird crud. Fishing is just okay. I see the same folks fishing weekly and when I ask them what they’re catching, it’s seldom anything worth celebrating. People feed the birds and the area, while it would look great for picnics, is not. The birds swarm you and are on top of you the entire time you’re eating due to human feeding. I’ve never seen a single person out there telling people to stop. It’s just “something to do” for folks but they don’t realize they’re adding to an issue.

Overall, if you’re on a walk, it’s a great addition to the step counter. If you’re looking to watch a few boats pass by, cool little spot. If you’re looking to spend an hour here over lunch and some radio, you’re probably going to be disappointed by one of the above.

I will give credit where credit is due, the sunset over the lighthouse sure is beautiful. Outside of that, if folks would stop feeding the birds, it might be a place worth hanging out.

Without any enforcement of this here (and in Palm Island Park with the lady who’s there weekly giving squirrels peanuts and yelling “here squirrel!!! Come get your peanut!!!”) this park will always get a three stars from me. Sad when you see the Fish & Game Warden take his lunch there often as he watches the animals get fed and...