DEBARY, FLORIDA

DeBary's huge neighbor to the east is Deltona with a population of 101,760. It is a planned residential community started in 1962 as a lot sales development by the Mackle Brothers and General Development Corporation.

Its adjacent neighbor to the north is Orange City and to the south is Sanford on Lake Monroe.

The history starts with Samuel Frederick deBary, a German-born champagne merchant who made his fortune in New York importing Mumm's champagne.

He first visited Florida around 1868, drawn by hunting and fishing guidebooks, and in 1871 bought four hundred acres on Lake Monroe from Oliver and Amanda Arnett.

That same year he built DeBary Hall, an 8,000 square-foot Italianate mansion with a two-tiered veranda, stables, an ice house, and what may have been Florida's first spring-fed swimming pool.

Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland were among his guests.

He expanded his land holdings to over ten thousand acres, planting orange groves and pecans, and in 1876 founded the DeBary Merchants' Line, a steamboat service carrying mail, tourists, and citrus between Jacksonville and Enterprise.

It later merged with Colonel Baya's line into the DeBary-Baya Merchants' Line, with thirteen boats and a crew of three thousand.

After DeBary died in 1898, the mansion became a museum, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

DeBary incorporated on December 31, 1993, largely to block adjacent Orange City's annexation plans, with Donald Smith as its first mayor. 

DeBary is a quiet, nature-oriented small city. It is a suburban community with neighborhoods boasting thousands of live oaks along with a designated bird sanctuary and a large park system.

Most shopping and dining places are along or near US-17, the main north-south artery through town.  Highbanks Road is a popular east-west route to the St. Johns River 

Parks like Gemini Springs (with its twin springs, trails, dog park, and picnic areas), Rob Sullivan Community Park (sports fields and playgrounds), River City Nature Park (disc golf along the river) are well maintained and open to the public.

These parks give residents easy access to walking, biking, fishing, paddling, and just sitting under moss-draped oaks by the water.

DeBary is a Florida Trail Town with connections to major paved trail systems. Some neighborhoods are golf-cart friendly. Daily life is typical small-city Florida: commuters heading toward I-4 toward Orlando or Daytona and families enjoying the parks.

DeBary balances modest growth (new housing, some downtown-style development plans, and infrastructure projects) with preservation of its riverfront and green space.

The community is proud of its historic DeBary Hall and the general feeling in DeBary is of a relaxed, family oriented, green place that reminds me of Old Florida (1960s).

1. Visit Gemini Springs Park on Dirksen Drive

This free 210-acre county park sits on a bayou off Lake Monroe and features two natural springs that pump millions of gallons of water a day. Walk or bike the trails, fish from the dock, picnic under the oaks, use the dog park, or camp at primitive sites while watching for birds and alligators.

3. See manatees at Blue Spring State Park

Just next door in Orange City, this first-magnitude spring stays about 73°F year-round and draws hundreds of manatees in winter. Boardwalks, snorkeling, swimming (when manatees are not present), kayaking, and camping make it one of the area’s top nature stops.

4. Take a St. Johns River eco-tour

Pontoon-boat tours leave from Highbanks Marina in DeBary and cruise the river with a naturalist. Expect alligators, turtles, wading birds, and sometimes manatees while learning about the ecosystem of Florida’s longest river.

5. Spend time at Lake Monroe Park

This waterfront county park offers boat ramps, fishing docks, a playground, picnic areas, camping, and access to the Spring-to-Spring Trail. It is a convenient, low-cost launch point for kayaks and a pleasant place to watch the lake and river meet.

6. Explore the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

A short drive across the river in Sanford, the zoo houses hundreds of animals plus themed gardens, keeper talks, and extra adventures such as a splash pad and zip line. It is an easy half-day outing that mixes wildlife and landscaped grounds.

7. Bike or walk the Spring-to-Spring Trail and connecting routes

DeBary is a designated Trail Town where the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Heart of Florida Loop, and St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop converge, giving access to hundreds of miles of paved multi-use path. The local Spring-to-Spring Trail links parks and springs and is popular with cyclists, walkers, and skaters.

8. Play disc golf at River City Nature Park

This 113-acre riverside park has two well-regarded 18-hole disc golf courses set among pines, oaks, and palms. It also offers walking loops, birdwatching, and plans for more waterfront amenities.

9. Hike Black Bear Wilderness Area

A short drive away, this preserve features a 7.3-mile loop on historic levees and boardwalks through floodplain forest. Wildlife sightings can include deer, otters, alligators, and occasionally black bears.

10. Kayak or dine along the St. Johns River at Highbanks

Launch a kayak or canoe from nearby parks or the marina and paddle toward Gemini Springs or downriver. Afterward, the Swamp House Riverfront Grill offers casual dining and live music with views of the water.

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