DeBary Hall Historic Site
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DeBary Hall Historic Site will be closed Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Location: 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary
Get directions to site
History is alive at DeBary Hall Historic Site, a magnificent 19th century hunting estate overlooking the St. Johns River in DeBary, Florida. The site is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and includes DeBary Hall, the oldest intact building in southwest Volusia County.
Built in 1871, DeBary Hall was the winter retreat of a European-born wine merchant who chose the St. Johns River country for his hunting estate. Frederick deBary tried his hand at orange growing and commercial steamboating, but his Florida estate became a center of sport hunting and hospitality.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, some of the country’s wealthiest people visited DeBary Hall to spend winters hunting, fishing and swimming in the cool springs nearby, then relaxing in the shade of the veranda enjoying a cool drink and the news of the day. DeBary reportedly entertained Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland; the Astors, Goulds and Vanderbilts; and the Prince of Wales, who went on to become King Edward VII.
Today’s historic site covers 10 acres and includes the 8,000-square-foot hunting lodge, stables and other structures.
We invite you to explore history at DeBary Hall Historic Site. You’ll find remarkable buildings, a treasure trove of historical images, and many good stories.
DeBary Hall video overview
DeBary Hall was the winter retreat of a European-born wine merchant who chose the St. Johns River country for his hunting estate in the 1870s.
View more videos
Events at DeBary Hall
DeBary Hall hosts a number of events each month. View the calendar to find your next adventure, click here.
What is DeBary Hall?
Once the retreat of millionaires, this public site now offers a window on St. Johns River stories. For a history sampler, click here.
Planning your visit
DeBary Hall is a great drop-in site, especially if you’ve planned your spontaneity. Click here for hours of operation, driving directions and other details.
Visitors Center
DeBary Hall Visitors Center and Spring-to-Spring Trailhead. Click here for details.
Rental information
DeBary Hall can be reserved for certain activities appropriate to a protected historic site. Click here for details.
Plan your wedding in Victorian style
DeBary Hall stable
This 121-year-old structure provides space to host meetings, receptions and other gatherings for the community.
Become an ECHO Ranger
Volusia County's ECHO Ranger program educates youth, their families and scout troops about the many Ecological, Cultural, Heritage and Outdoors offerings.
Volunteering
Volunteers are keys to DeBary Hall’s life as a special public site. Please click here to check on possibilities for helping.
Related sites:
Lyonia Environmental Center
Located in Deltona, the LEC offers programs to adults and children, homeschool and scouting groups. See a list of available LEC programs.
Marine Science Center
Located in Ponce Inlet, the Marine Science Center is a facility devoted to the education and rehabilitation of sea turtles and seabirds. Here you will also find programs on how we can care for the longevity of our ocean and beaches and the wildlife that inhabits them.
Upcoming events
DeBary Hall: Story Time
December 19 @9:30 am to 10:30 am
Children are invited to Kids Corner, a free story time featuring stories, songs, and activities, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. The program is designed for preschoolers, but children of all ages are welcome. Reservations are not required.
DeBary Hall Historic Site, which...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 19 @5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tour
December 19 @6:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 19 @6:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 20 @5:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 20 @5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 20 @6:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 20 @7:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Explore DeBary Hall when candlelight will fill the 19th century mansion with a warm glow, accentuating its historic treasures and Christmas decorations. Guests will be escorted to the mansion for an open style tour. The mansion, once owned by the prominent deBary family, will be decorated with many ...
DeBary Hall: Home Hydroponics
January 8 @11:30 am to 12:30 pm
During this free, interactive Lunch & Learn, a certified master gardener will explain how hydroponic systems work, explore the benefits of soilless gardening, and find out which plants thrive best in a hydroponic environment. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch and gardening questions f...
DeBary Hall: Line Dancing
January 8 @5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Line dancing is a great way to exercise your mind and body. Join DeBary Hall staff for beginner line dances to various music genres. This program will be held in DeBary Hall's stable, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. It's recommended for adults, and there is a $5 charge for each class.
Registration is ...
DeBary Hall: Story Time
January 9 @9:30 am to 10:30 am
Children are invited to Kids Corner, a free story time featuring stories, songs, and activities, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. The program is designed for preschoolers, but children of all ages are welcome. Reservations are not required.
DeBary Hall Historic Site, which...
DeBary Hall: Swing into Contra
January 10 @10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join staff for an engaging, beginner-friendly class designed to introduce the lively tradition of contra dance. Partners and prior experience are not needed. During this free, two-hour class, a caller will guide participants through each step, making it easy for everyone to join in the fun.
Reser...
DeBary Hall: America the Beautiful
January 10 @1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Enjoy an inspiring visual presentation and engaging conversation led by bird and travel enthusiast Eli Schaperow. This special program invites audiences to embark on a photographic journey across the United States. Through Schaperow’s lens, attendees will explore the adventure, natural beauty, and...
DeBary Hall: Guided Bike Tour
January 14 @9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join DeBary Hall historians Tracy Mestre and Lisa Perez for an eight-mile bike ride from Lake Beresford Park to Blue Spring State Park. Riders will learn about the area’s history and native plants at several stops along the way. Come for the whole tour or as far as you want to ride. Children and t...
DeBary Hall: Teddy Bear Tea Party
January 17 @11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Children can bring their favorite teddy bear and step into a charming afternoon at the Teddy Bear Tea Party at DeBary Hall Historic Site. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of Frederick deBary’s elegant winter hunting estate, followed by a delightful lesson in classic tea etiquette. Children and thei...
DeBary Hall: Cow Creek Chronicles
January 17 @1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Discover a remarkable chapter of Florida’s past as journalist Gregory Enns shares insights from “Cow Creek Chronicles: The Rise and Fall of an Early Florida Cattle Ranch.” Enns traces the story of the Raulerson family, whose Cow Creek Ranch once stretched across 23,000 acres between Fort Pierc...
DeBary Hall: Line Dancing
January 22 @5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Line dancing is a great way to exercise your mind and body. Join DeBary Hall staff for beginner line dances to various music genres. This program will be held in DeBary Hall's stable, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. It's recommended for adults, and there is a $5 charge for each class.
Registration is ...
DeBary Hall: Story Time
January 23 @9:30 am to 10:30 am
Children are invited to Kids Corner, a free story time featuring stories, songs, and activities, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 198 Sunrise Blvd., DeBary. The program is designed for preschoolers, but children of all ages are welcome. Reservations are not required.
DeBary Hall Historic Site, which...
DeBary Hall: Moonlight at the Mansion
January 28 @6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join Derek Demeter, director of the Emil Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State College, for an evening of out-of-this-world exploration. Guests are invited to view the cosmos using telescopes provided by the planetarium. The night sky will reveal stunning sights such as the craters of the Moon, the ...
DeBary Hall: The Renal System
January 31 @1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Join registered nurse Susan Araujo for an engaging and easy-to-understand exploration of the renal system – much more than just your kidneys. Learn how this vital system filters your blood, removes toxins, and maintains your body’s fluid balance. Araujo will explain simple ways to monitor renal ...
