I love to travel and visit various Florida historic homes and hotels, which acquaints me with a variety of architectural styles. I write about the places I visit so I can share with my readers the ambiance of each locale. When you see a beautiful historic interior design, you have a greater appreciation of its beauty. By studying the architecture of these landmarks, I can apply my experiences to expand my knowledge of interior design concepts.
I chose the historic Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora, Florida for the perfect weekend retreat with its Victorian architecture and beautiful sunsets. I have always enjoyed meandering through downtown Mt. Dora and exploring all the quaint shops. When I checked The Lakeside Inn website, I found a great summer package, so I made a reservation.
The Lakeside Inn first opened as a 2-story, 10-room Victorian Frame Vernacular style hotel, called the Alexander House, in 1883. Hotel guests arrived by boat and stayed a month or more while enjoying bird watching, fishing and relaxing in the evening on the large, wrap-around veranda. The hotel name was changed twice and was finally named The Lakeside Inn in 1903.
In the 1920's, an Olympic sized swimming pool was added along with two new guesthouses, The Gables and The Terrace, built in a Jacobethan style with stucco walls and steeply gabled roofs. In 1930, President Calvin Coolidge dedicated the new buildings. Today the hotel consists of 5 buildings by the lakeside.
Our weekend started with a leisurely ride through the back roads of Central Florida to the quaint town of Mt. Dora. When we arrived at The Lakeside Inn, our first view was of a stately southern mansion surrounded by majestic oak trees festooned with Spanish moss.
We were impressed by the helpfulness and friendliness of the staff. Front desk clerk Justin had a cheerful greeting for us before checking us in. When we ate brunch in the dining room, our waitress Suzy was pleasant and efficient. Later in the lounge, bartender Jonathan treated us like old friends. Even the housekeeping staff in our guesthouse greeted us warmly.
We enjoyed the ambiance of the historic Lakeside Inn both in our 1920's style room, in the grand Old Florida style lobby with coffered ceilings, on the spacious front porch and in the warm and cheerful Tremain's Lounge. The lounge is a gathering place for both hotel guests and locals. When you visit the lounge, have Jonathan mix you a Lemon Drop and look for longtime resident, Walker. He has lived there since the 1930's and will regale you with stories from the town's past.
I had the privilege of speaking with owner Jim Gunderson and hearing his vision for the hotel. Under his leadership the hotel is undergoing renovations while maintaining its historical integrity. Jim says, "Our whole idea is to give people a relaxing experience." And that he does, from relaxing poolside to enjoying the rocking chairs on the full-length porch. Or you can enjoy Friday and Saturday night jazz in the lounge, ghost stories on Saturday evenings or an occasional free music concert on the lawn.
On July 4, our last day, we stayed by the pool all afternoon. We enjoyed a barbeque served by the hotel and had the most incredible pulled pork sandwiches (best I ever tasted). In the evening we lounged by the pool to watch the fireworks. On Lake Dora there was a myriad of boats floating like a flock of oversized ducks while other people were seated on the dock and families lay on the grass. And the fireworks were worth waiting for. For 30 minutes, we were treated to spectacular bursts of color that filled the sky as the crowd oohed and aahed. We saw falling stars and sun bursts in red, gold, green and white. Beautiful! What a way to end our weekend!
The Lakeside Inn not only gave me a respite from the big city hustle-bustle but also taught me further insights into Victorian and English Renaissance styles. In addition, I could imagine beautifully dressed women from the 19th century or parties in the hotel lobby from the heydays of the roaring 20's. It was a grand experience from a grand hotel and I cannot wait to return. To see this beautiful hotel, visit Mt. Dora and enjoy it for yourself. You will be pleasantly surprised.
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