Florida Buildings I Love, No. 6: Lakeside Inn, 1883/1930, Mount Dora

Harold Bubil
2 min read
0
The main building at the Lakeside Inn dates to 1883 and was enlarged twice.
The main building at the Lakeside Inn dates to 1883 and was enlarged twice.

For many Sarasotans seeking a weekend away, Mount Dora in hilly Lake County is a favorite destination. It has a quaint downtown, lots of historic buildings and, of course, hills and lakes.

Then there is the Lakeside Inn. Built in 1883 to attract tourists and expanded over the next 47 years, this collection of five buildings makes up one of the state’s most beloved historic hotels.

Although Mount Dora has a number of boutique hotels and bed-and-breakfast houses, the Lakeside Inn, with its vintage vernacular architecture, gracious lobby and outstanding restaurant, the Beauclaire Dining Room, is a preferred home away from home.

Lakeside Inn boasts vintage vernacular architecture, a gracious lobby and an outstanding restaurant.
Lakeside Inn boasts vintage vernacular architecture, a gracious lobby and an outstanding restaurant.

Following, or preceding, a day of antique shopping or sightseeing within walking distance, many Lakeside Inn guests pass the time staring at Lake Dora from the many rocking chairs on the veranda that runs the length of the main building.

Just steps away, guests can jump on the vintage train that makes round trips to nearby downtown Tavares. At the bottom of the sloping lawn, pontoon boats and float planes offer tours by water and air.

It is all very genteel and Old Florida. But the Lakeside Inn’s history has not been a bed of hibiscus. In 1985, the hotel was rescued from demolition by a group of investors who bought it and conducted a major renovation.

The Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Yet, by 1990, burdened by the costs of the renovation, the property was in foreclosure. James Barggren and John Dempsey bought it at a sheriff’s auction. In 2010, they sold it to Jim and Alexandra Gunderson, who embarked on a full restoration effort, repairing dozens of roof leaks, replacing rotten window sills and restoring cracked stucco.

Their efforts show in the accommodations. The rooms have that vintage appearance, right down to the wavy-paned windows.

In 1985, the hotel was rescued from demolition by a group of investors who bought it and conducted a major renovation.
In 1985, the hotel was rescued from demolition by a group of investors who bought it and conducted a major renovation.

The Lakeside Inn has more in common with Sarasota than its guestbook: The 1981 movie “Honky Tonk Freeway” was filmed in both places (actually, the I-75 and Palmer Road area of Fruitville, on Sarasota’s eastern fringe).

Director John Schlesinger is an Oscar winner, but not for this movie. It was one of the biggest flops of its time, lasting just one week in theaters. The Lakeside Inn has shown significantly more staying power.

“Florida Buildings I Love” is Harold Bubil’s homage to the Sunshine State’s built environment.  

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Buildings I Love, Harold Bubil: No. 6: Lakeside Inn, 1883/1930, Mount Dora

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