It’s a fantastic place. I was born in Miami, but my greatgrandmother lived in Glenwood, a hamlet with shell roads outside of DeLand, and we used to go swimming at DeLeon all the time.

‘Pool’ is a bit misleading. It’s a huge spring with built-up sides. Absolutely marvelous and not to be missed. Swim over the springs if you can.

It isn’t a real Spanish mill, see http://www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings/History.cfm

Doug

bosco lover-
Yeah, the ego thing definitely played a part in me getting in the pool in the first place. There were about a half dozen senior citizens goading me, telling me it wasn’t too bad. Well, I got in and it was just too cold. They were much tougher than I was!

water is always the same temp, roughly 72 degrees, since it is a spring. that day the water and air were about the same temp, so it wasnt too bad. plus, there’s an ego thing to going swimming in november-look how tough i am

bosco lover-
Really nice photos of this great place. How cold was the water in the pool? The time I was there and went swimming, it was September and the water was freezing!

Thanks Bosco, Those photos bring back fond memories of a very pleasant day spent at DeLeone springs.

Cheers, John

and this is from outside. we even went swimming that day

thanks to unclevic for photo tutorial

i took some friends to the sugarmill right before thanksgiving. they had never been but are now definitely converts.
ive never uploaded a picture before, hope it works

these are from inside the restaurant

This Yankee is happy to use molassas and corn syrup in all their various southern incarnations on his pancakes when i’m in that part o our great nation. When at home I use maple syrup.

Cheers, john

I agree. We have been there many times and it is always fun. Buy some of their bread to take home. It is delicious. My daughter in law has this "thing" where she has to have real maple syrup on her pancakes.

One time we went there and she , as usual, brought along her maple syrup in a quart container. I was so embarrassed when one of the employees chased out to our car to catch us before we left and said "Here is the syrup you left………..it has to be worth more than your meal."[:(] (Incidentally, I think it most rude to bring anything into a restaurant to have with your food.)

To be honest we go to Outback once a year. We have a dear friend in St Pete who insists on treating us to a dinner at Outback, so we go and I order the rack of ribs (lamb) which is really pretty good. But I still resent the damn interminable wait for a seat in the damn place.

I think we have been to a BBQ joint in Port Orange, "Uncle Walt’s???. It’s a few years ago but as I remember it was pretty good… or maybe it was in Palataka…

Anyway, enjoy your visit to the Sugar Mill, we certainly did.

Cheers, John

qwerty79-
Please come back and let us know what you think and photos would be great, too. The surrounding area is so picturesque, you will have no trouble getting great photos.

i dont know if its spanish, but it does have a working water wheel on the side of the restaurant. i understand they grind their whole wheat pancake batter on the premises

Do they actually have an old Spanish sugar mill? Because if they don’t and you want to see one (but it’s not Spanish), it’s only a short drive to Bulow Plantation near Ormond Beach:

yes, definitely worth doing and a great trip for when you have visitors. if you go when its warm enough, you can go swimming. the springs are so refreshing. if you can, go on a weekday, much less crowded. also, if you happen to be looking for dinner in deland (town is about 10 minutes away from the springs), we really like the holiday house. and the town of deland has a very cute downtown, worth checking out