Eldora State House at Canaveral National Seashore
See the Historical Sites web page for an interactive location map.
The Eldora State House is the only original home remaining from the community of Eldora, a winter resort that saw its heyday from around 1900 until the late 1930s. By the time the area became part of Canaveral National Seashore in 1975, there wasn’t much left of the community. There are a few other houses remaining, but these are from the 1950s and are not open to the public.
Prior to being a winter destination for wealthy home owners, Eldora was a farm community, with oranges being the main crop. However, by the early 1900s the agriculture business was dead and the island quickly became a resort. This change came about for two reasons. First, in 1895 a freeze hit and ruined the entire citrus crop. As the bankrupt farmers left the island, those seeking a winter get-away were able to buy up the land. Second, by the turn of the century the railroad had come to the Florida mainland, and the island farmers simply could not compete with the mainland farmers due to the cost of having to transport their oranges by boat.
The Eldora State House, which was originally called Moulton’s, was built around 1912 on the shore of Mosquito Lagoon and remained in use through the late 1950s, then sat abandoned. In 1989, the non-profit organization Friends of Canaveral started a campaign to raise money to renovate the house. Ten years later the newly christened Eldora State House was opened to the public.
View of Eldora State House from Mosquito Lagoon, Canaveral National Seashore
The Eldora State House is only open on special occasions, though you can stop to see it at any time. Check the Calendar web page for Canaveral National Seashore to see when open house events are held.
The house is located at Parking Lot #8 on a one-way road called River Road (aka Eldora Loop Road) that branches off from the main park road just south of the Apollo Beach Visitor Center. The parking lot, along with a restroom building, is directly on Eldora Loop Road. Visitors must park here and walk 250 yards down a dirt road to reach the house, which is not bad because the walk is short and the scenery pleasant. If you have a handicap permit, you can drive down this road and park in the small parking lot at the house. If you drive, the road comes to a 4-way intersection. The Eldora State House parking lot is on the left; a fishing pier is straight ahead; a right just loops back around to the fishing pier.
Path to the Eldora State House at Canaveral National Seashore
Today the house serves mainly as an Eldora museum. It is not a house where tours are given, and only a few of the lower level rooms are open. Exhibits comprised of historical photos discuss Eldora’s history, the steamboats that plied the waters of Mosquito Lagoon, the men who served at Mosquito Lagoon’s House of Refuge (an early version of the Coast Guard-operated life-saving stations), the fishing industry, the life of the house servants (many were former slaves), and the restoration of the house. There are also some artifacts on display such as bottles that were unearthed from the area, but most of the exhibits are made up of the old photos. A park volunteer is on hand to answer any questions, otherwise you just roam around on your own.
Exhibit and old photos of Eldora
Photo of the Eldora State House in the late 1920s
In addition to the exhibits is a 12-minute film that begins by discussing the history of Florida, but as it progresses it narrows its breadth until finally zeroing in on the history and people of Eldora. The film shows on demand and is suitable for all ages. I highly recommend spending the time to watch it.
When departing, if you walk around to the right side of the Eldora State House (when facing the front porch), you will see a boardwalk. This is just an alternate trail that leads back to the parking lot. It comes out to the left of where the dirt road begins, and when you are at the parking lot, it is easy to overlook. It is also a pleasant walk, and since it is the same distance as the dirt road, you might as well take it so that you don’t see the same things twice on the way back.
Alternate route to the Eudora State House at Canaveral National Seashore
Allow one hour for your visit to the Eldora State House.
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Last updated on February 11, 2024
