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West Volusia County, Florida

by Art

Old Florida. Real Florida. Vibrant Florida.

Nestled between Orlando and Daytona, West Volusia County encompasses fourteen communities along the St. Johns River, each with their own stories and an eclectic collection of accommodations and attractions. The authenticity that travelers are looking for is here, from the top-rated mainstreet, Downtown DeLand, to the timeless St. Johns River, this is real Florida.

Today, the region is known for everything from skydivers leaping from above, to manatees cooling off below, and from pancake griddles to paranormal occurrences — what variety that is!

Old Florida

West Volusia is a dream for those who want to explore the waters and natural habitats of Old Florida. The heart of the region, which follows one of only 14 American Heritage Rivers in the country, The St. Johns River, makes up the St. Johns River Blueway and the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor.

Whether by canoe or kayak, river boat or houseboat, exploring the river gives visitors access to amazing views of turtles, gators, manatees and more than 200 species of birds in a lush, natural Floridian landscape.

And of course, there’s fishing! The region is widely known as an excellent area to catch bass and crappie. Popular fishing spots include the famous Highland Park Fish Camp and South Moon Fish Camp. 

New Vibe

Downtown DeLand, an award winning mainstreet community, is home to shops, boutiques, galleries and 9, yes 9, museums, complete with a series of murals and one of the incredibly popular #WingsOfTheWest photo ops.

New to the scene are a rife collection of microbreweries, brew pubs and wine bars, all of which dot the map and complement an array of fabulous restaurants. The combination of this “new vibe” and the character of authentic, small town Florida it offers brings a unique experience to anyone who wishes to visit our ripe community. 

West Volusia is a destination with countless stories to tell, history to share and fun to have. 

Get started on your journey at www.visitwestvolusia.com.

Annual Events

Fast Facts & Trivia

  • Despite a serious effort by both professional and amateur historians, no one has been able to pinpoint the exact origin of the “Volusia” name. Instead, there are several theories which include: 
    • The name derives from a word meaning “Land of the Euchee.” When the Timucua Native American culture died out in the early 1700s, the land in the area was uninhabited until other northern tribes began to migrate south into the area (much like the Seminole people). The Euchee Indians, originally from an area in South Carolina, were one of those tribes that came to the area.
    • It’s believed to have been taken from a British plantation that was located on the St. Johns River in the late 1700s, however, no one has explained where the plantation owner came up with the name.
    • The name is derived from the surname of one of the employees at a local trading post. He is described as of either Belgian or French descent and being well liked by many visitors and local residents. The story goes that his name was something like “Veluche,” which was pronounced “Va-loo-shay.” The post became known as “Veluche’s Place,” hence the eventual evolution and creation of “Volusia.”
  • Henry DeLand was a baking soda manufacturer from Fairport, NY who founded the City of DeLand, Florida, and the DeLand Academy (which later became Stetson University). He suffered a severe financial loss one winter due to guaranteeing orange crops for farmers who rented his land.
  • Before its founder arrived, DeLand had been formerly called Persimmon Hollow, after the Persimmon trees that were abundant in the area. Today, the city’s award-winning micro-brewery is named Persimmon Hollow Brewing Company.
  • The nearby scenic village of Lake Helen was the brain-child of Henry DeLand, who named it after his daugher, Helen.
  • The Stetson Mansion in DeLand is part of Florida’s First Luxury Estate and quite possibly the grandest home ever built in Florida before the 20th century. The estate was hidden and lost for 100 years, and has recently been rescued, restored and updated in a timeless fashion. Built in 1886 for famed hat maker and philanthropist John B. Stetson, this winter retreat was the only richly detailed “Gilded Age” mansion built in Florida. It has been Recently named one of the “”Top 5 Things To Do In Florida”” by Tripadvisor.com
  • German born Frederick deBary was hired by the Mumm family to sell its champagnes and wines in the United States. Young deBary was a success, selling Mumm brands to the rising class of wealthy Americans. He became a millionaire, and in 1870 came to Florida on a vacation and fell in love with the St. Johns River. He purchased land on Lake Monroe and built a mansion, known today as DeBary Hall, which included one of the first elevators installed in a home. He was known to entertain the famous, including Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland. He later developed a steamship company that helped open up Florida’s interior to commerce.
  • Deltona, an area that began as a small retirement community, has grown to have a much larger population (85,000) than popular nearby beach town Daytona Beach (60,000)!
  • Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp, a 123-year-old community of spiritually-minded people, is known as the Psychic Capital of the World.”
  • St. Johns River is the only Florida American Heritage River designated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to receive special attention (coordinating efforts of multiple governmental entities) to further three objectives: natural resource and environmental protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation.
  • DeLand was the first community to receive the MainStreet designation in Florida. Moreover, the community was the recipient of the “Great American MainStreet Award” and has been voted as the best MainStreet in Florida for a total of five times.
  • Pierson bills itself as the Fern Capital of the World, and for a good reason! The town is heavily reliant on agriculture, which mainly consists of growing it’s namesake, all of which are exported worldwide for use in floral arrangements and other decorations.
  • Skydive DeLand is one of the busiest dropzones in the world, having more skydiving activity than 98 percent of the other drop zones in the country.
  • Blue Spring State Park covers more than 2,600 acres, and includes the largest spring on the St. Johns River, Blue Spring. The park and it’s spring is a designated manatee refuge and the winter home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees. During manatee season, which approximately runs from mid-November through March, several hundred manatee can be viewed atop the springs in overlooks on cold days.
  • Inside DeLeon Springs State Park is the popular Old Spanish Sugar Mill & Griddle House Restaurant. Located inside of a 100 year-old replica of the original 1830s sugar mill, this griddle house lets you cook-your-own pancakes at the table!
  • Spring Garden Ranch Training Center in DeLeon Springs is the largest Standardbred horse training facility in North America and the winter home of many champion harness racing teams.

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