Tucked away inside Canaveral National Seashore, a stately white house stands alone… the only remnant of the once-thriving Eldora community.
From 1877 to 1898, Eldora was mainly an agricultural community and served as a stop for steamboats on the East Coast of Florida. However, by the turn of the century, the area’s commerce focus shifted after several key events. First, freezing temperatures devastated the local citrus crops. The railroad also arrived on the mainland, reducing the importance of the steamboat stop. Eldora then became known as a winter escape for the well-to-do. Sport hunting and fishing lodges also cropped up around the area.
By the mid-1900s, Florida tourism interests changed vastly. The number of visitors began to slowly decline, leaving behind an empty community.
Today, the Eldora House is the last remaining vestige of the waterfront town. Inside you’ll find a museum dedicated to the community’s history. Exhibits and old photos highlight the area’s heyday as well as its demise.
