Eldora, Florida

Eldora is an uninhabited place in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is located within Canaveral National Seashore, south of Bethune Beach, west of Volusia County Road A1A. The average elevation is 3 feet above sea level.

History

Eldora was a prominent community of orange groves in the latter part of the 19th century. After a freeze destroyed most of its crops, it was nearly completely abandoned and has never regained its population.

After the death of its last resident, Doris "Doc" Leeper, a locally famous artist and conservationist in the 1980's, the management of the town was officially turned over to the federal government, and the town is now located more than two miles within the borders of the Canaveral National Seashore. The town claims no permanent residents, and visitation is limited and subject to park hours. Only two of its original buildings remain. The largest of which, "The Eldora House", now holds a museum. Although the town's orange groves were nearly completely wiped out over one hundred years ago, some trees still remain.

The town is also the site of two marine research facilities jointly shared by Daytona Beach College, and the University of Central Florida.

Geography

Eldora is located at coor dms|28|54|31|N|80|49|04|W|city. The town's location is by even today's standards, and is only accessible by one service road, which is Volusia County Road A1A. It is nearly a thirty minute drive to the mainland through New Smyrna Beach.

See also

*Volusia County Road A1A