The town of Mount Dora began in 1874 when the area was settled by David Simpson, his wife, and two children.

The town became a popular winter retreat for hunters, fishermen, and boaters, and in 1883, the Alexander House, a two-story hotel, was opened.

Mount Dora began investing in public infrastructure, including streetlights, a water system, curbs, and paved roads.

In 2013, the City of Mount Dora began to develop an area of land called the Wolf Branch Innovation District.

That plan was developed as the Wekiva Parkway started to expand and State Road 453 opened right into Mount Dora.

The Mount Dora Museum of Speed opened for business in 2001 to adults only and was located on North Highland Street.

Built of bricks covered with stucco, the lighthouse stands sentry over the Port of Mount Dora.

Its 750-watt photocell powers a blue pulsator, sending out a guiding light to all boaters navigating Lake Dora after dusk.

[citation needed] The city sponsors an annual Scottish Highland Festival, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Feb. 17 to 19, 2023.

The art for sale includes oil paintings, watercolors, acrylics, clay, sculpture, and photography.

The Mount Dora Spring Festival of Arts and Crafts is held every third weekend in March in the downtown area.

The festival includes more than 250 fine and fun handcraft items and original art for sale on the streets of the historic downtown walking district.

The regatta, which is hosted by the Mount Dora Yacht Club, is the oldest in the state and is celebrate its 70th year in 2023.

It is a two-day event[28] The Mount Dora Seafood Festival takes place in September and began in 2015.

The Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce holds Florida's oldest bicycle festival annually in early October.

It features more than 400 talented crafters and artists, and includes an eclectic mix of arts and crafts from sculptures to ceramics to paintings to woodworking.

[29] The Mount Dora Plant and Garden Fair takes place on the second weekend in November in Donnelly Park.

[30] The Jane Austen Fest is held every February as a 3-day event, with many participants dressing in regency era clothing, noted guest speakers, staged readings of Austen's works, lawn bowling, an authentic Regency dinner and English country dance lessons.

The buildings in downtown Mount Dora were painted pink for the feature film Honky Tonk Freeway.

[31] Being a movie location provided an economic boost for merchants, helped restore the downtown area, and gave Mount Dora some national publicity.