DEER ISLAND, FLORIDA

Updated March 17, 2021

Deer Island is a residential community less than one mile by boat from downtown Mount Dora, Florida. 

The island is bounded by Lake Beauclair on the south and Lake Dora on the north.

A causeway on the western end of the island joins it to the mainland, and a narrow winding canal joins these two lakes at the east end of the island.

Deer Island has access to all of the Harris Chain of Lakes from either the resident's private docks or the Deer Island County club docks on Lake Beauclair.

A favorite pastime of Deer Island residents is to finish off a day of golf by taking a short boat ride to Mount Dora for dining and entertainment.

If you don't have a boat, you can visit the island by car after a twenty minute scenic drive from Mount Dora.  You will pass along the causeway to the gates that are open to the public from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Lake Dora is on the Harris Chain of Lakes that also includes Lake Harris, Lake Eustis, and Lake Griffin.  Deer Island residents with boats have access to this chain and also to the Ocklawaha River with navigable waters - for a small boat - all the way to the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean.

To be honest, very few people make that long trip all the way to the ocean.  There is plenty to see and do on the chain of lakes.

Unlike most other islands in Florida, Deer Island has not been overdeveloped with high rise condominiums and acres of pavement.  The 400 acre island has been developed as a low density residential community around a Joe Lee designed golf course.

There are 281 homesites on the island, but some people have built their home on two sites.  Most homesites are on the golf course.

The Deer Island County Club clubhouse, swimming pool, and tennis courts are open to both residents and non-residents who have a social or golf membership.  

Most lakefront homes have their own private dock, but there is also a dock with available boat slips at the clubhouse.  

The current mix of single family homes range from 1800 square foot golf villas with three bedrooms and two baths, all the way up to large impressive homes on the lakefront with thousands of square feet of living area.

Most residents, golfers or not, leave their car in the garage and get around on the island by golf cart, bicycle, or plain old fashioned walking.  All the homes are built with garages big enough to hold two cars and a golf cart or a jet ski.

Great care was taken in the development of Deer Island to preserve the natural features along the lake and within the boundaries of the golf course.  The island is a nature lover's dream and will forever be a quiet oasis in the rapidly growing state of Florida.

Deer Island is in the heart of Florida's "Golden Triangle" of Mount Dora, Tavares, and Eustis. 

Tavares is known as "America's Seaplane City" with facilities in the downtown area. It is only 15 minutes by car from Deer Island.

Learn more about the "Golden Triangle" towns.                

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