Stetson Mansion Featured On ABC Action News - Tampa Bay

GALLERY: You can tour Stetson Mansion and its incredible Christmas decorations

This holiday season, you can take a tour of a more than 100-year-old mansion with some pretty impressive Christmas decorations.

Built in 1886, the Stetson Mansion is the largest and most spectacular "Gilded Age" residence ever built in Florida before 1900 according to its website.

It's a private residence that is lived in, but welcomes guests this time of year with over the top elegant holiday decorations.

Each year 10 rooms in the mansion are embellished with all new elaborate designer decorations and 24 nativities from around the world. Decorations are different each year. This year’s room themes include A Woodland Escape, Pretty As A Peacock, A Blue Christmas, Cardinal Conclave, Stetson Country Christmas, Life Is Wonderful, Hero’s Tribute, A Trip to the Pole, and A Santa Convention. Visitors will be guided through the first and second floors of the home by a knowledgeable tour guide providing lively commentary as holiday music from the baby grand player piano wafts in the background. The owner/designer might stop in to say hello to your group.

The tour lasts 75 minutes and reservations are required.

The cost is $27 + tax for adults, and $15 for those under 22 years old. However, note that the mansion is not recommended for infants and toddlers.

Holiday tours run daily through January 15.

For more information and to make a reservation, click here.

Stetson Mansion Ranked 3rd in The Nation by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Award 2019

The top 10 winners in the category Best Holiday Historic Home Tour are as follows:

1. Graceland - Memphis

2. Wildwood Manor House - Toledo, Ohio

3. The Stetson Mansion - Deland, Fla.

4. Filoli Historic House and Garden - Woodside, Calif.

5. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens - Akron, Ohio

6. Meadow Brook Hall - Rochester, Mich.

7. Brucemore - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

8. Glessner House - Chicago

9. The Mount - Lenox, Mass.

10. Webb Deane Stevens Museum - Wethersfield, Conn.

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Congratulations to all these winning historic homes!

Stetson Mansion Featured in FodorsTravel

Take a Look at These Historic Homes Decorated for Christmas

These Southern landmarks pull out all the stops for the most wonderful time of the year.

The American South might not be able to promise you a snowy Christmas, but if you fancy historic mansions, festooned with garlands, poinsettias, and thousands of lights, we’ve got you covered. These lavishly decorated homes throw open their doors every winter to share the yuletide spirit and make the rest of us jealous. ‘Tis the season!

Stetson Mansion 

WHERE: DeLand, Florida 

You’d never think the extravagant decorations at the Stetson Mansion could be the work of one man. It takes about two solid months, but owner JT Thompson transforms the Gilded Age villa (former home of famed hatmaker John Stetson) into a be-ribboned wonderland. All told, there are around 18 Christmas trees, 24 Nativity scenes, and no partridges but surprisingly several peacocks, a nod to Stetson’s love for the showy birds.

Each room has a dedicated theme. This year, see “A Woodland Escape” evoking winter’s first snowfall in the music room and “A Blue Christmas”—with blue jays—in the parlor. Guided tours elaborate more on the decor than the history, though you’ll pick up some fascinating facts about the home, too, like how it featured one of the world’s first strings of Christmas lights, a gift from Thomas Edison.

When: November 15-January 15

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Holiday things to do: 16 Florida experiences worth the drive by The Walton Sun

15. Stetson Mansion Holiday Christmas Tour

If you’re in need of a little Old Florida this holiday season, look no further than the holiday tour at Stetson Mansion in DeLand, Fla. This enchanted place offers some of the most elaborate Christmas decorations in the state. Often handmade and rarely repeated, the 1886 High Victorian style “Gilded Age” mansion is on the National Registry of Historic Places. And get this: The Stetson Mansion has one of the first-ever Christmas trees with illuminated electric lights. Of course, that’s what you get when Thomas Edison is your close friend.

Thanks to John. B. Stetson -- the creator of the iconic Stetson cowboy hat -- we can visit this slice of Florida history any time of year, but especially for Christmas when the 10-room home is embellished with decorations and nativities. This year’s themes include Pretty as a Peacock, Life is Wonderful, A Trip to the Pole and a Hero’s Tribute.

Where: Deland

When to go: Now through Jan. 15

For more information, visit: https://www.stetsonmansion.com/christmas-tours.

Stetson Mansion’s ‘Christmas Spectacular!’ opens for holidays by The West Volusia Beacon

The best Holiday Home Tour in Florida and a 10Best in the nation, according to USA Today, runs through Jan. 15 in Florida’s most historic home, the Stetson Mansion.

The privately owned High Victorian mansion was built in 1886 for Florida’s first snowbird, John B. Stetson, the famed hat-maker. The largest, most opulent, and most technologically advanced home ever built in Florida before 1900 was one of the first homes in the world designed and built with Stetson friend Thomas Edison’s electricity, and the first to use Edison electric Christmas tree lights in Florida.

This holiday season, 12,000 visitors from all over the world are expected to enjoy guided tours of the mansion during a 60-day event, which has a $1.5 million economic impact on DeLand and West Volusia.

New elaborate and elegant themed displays are created each year for 10 rooms. Unlike other holiday homes decorated by dozens of volunteers, the entire display is created and assembled in eight weeks solely by co-owner/designer JT Thompson, who hand-places each intricate layer of decoration. Themes this year include “A Woodland Escape,” “A Cardinal Conclave,” “Heroes Tribute” and “Life is Wonderful.”

“Our goal this year is to make you feel like you came home for Christmas,” said fellow co-owner Michael Solari.

Guides detail the inspiration and meaning of each room, as well as share a little history of the home’s builder and current owners.

The mansion holiday tours began Nov. 15. Reservations are required and can be made at StetsonMansion.com for the hour-and-15-minute guided tour, which is similar to a one-man show.

Tours operate at 10:30 a.m., and 1:30, 3:15, 5 and 7 p.m. The cost is $27 for adults, $15 for youths 1 to 22 years old, plus tax and a $3-per-ticket processing fee. Parking is free.

More details can be found on the website.

Stetson Mansion is at 1031 Camphor Lane, west of Downtown DeLand.

Stetson Mansion decked out for the holidays .- Featured by ClickOrlando.com

Iconic home features lavish Christmas decor

DeLAND, Fla. – For the past nine years, the owners of the iconic Stetson Mansion in DeLand have been decorating it for Christmas tours.

The mansion, which was built in 1886 by famed cowboy hat maker John B. Stetson, sits on 2.3 acres of land and includes a small schoolhouse.

The current owner, J.T. Thompson, uses his imagination to decorate 10 rooms with the Christmas spirit and he also pays tribute to the Stetson family with several decorative peacocks.

“Mr. Stetson had peacocks, hundreds of them, that roamed his acreage. Every year it’s in a different area and this year, for the first time ever, it’s taken over the grand stair case,” Thompson said. “I never repeat themes or designs. Every year we feature nativities from around the globe.”

One of the guest rooms also honors the brave men and women of the U.S. military.

“This year I added first responders as well and this room is probably always the most difficult room for me to design because I just want to -- I want to make it impactful and I want them to know just how much their service and their allegiance to the country means to me,” he said. “Including even a tribute to one of the greatest tragedies our nation has ever faced: 9/11."

This year, the dining area’s decoration was inspired by the owner’s childhood memory.

“This is called the conclave of cardinals. So as a young boy, I was an altar boy and I remember when all the cardinals would get together to vote on the new pope. As you go through the room, you’ll hear, you’ll see cardinals,” Thompson said.

Inside the reception parlor, a Christmas tree decorated in blue jays and silver balls stands next to a piano that has also been covered with blue and silver decor.

Thompson called the room, “I’ll have a blue Christmas.”

" I wanted guests to feel as if the 120 blue jays came into the room, designed, decorated and prepared it for them and the arrival of the Christ child," he said.

Thompson and his partner purchased the property 13 years ago. It’s often been referred to as the crown jewel of Central Florida. It was the eclectic architecture and character Thompson fell in love with.

“We stepped inside this home and I just knew that this was a home that we had -- it had to be ours and we had to save it from the wrecking ball and bring it back to life,” he said.

The Christmas tour runs through Jan. 15. Tickets are $27 for adults and $15 for children. The tour takes 1 hr and 15 mins and includes the first and second floor as well as a school house.

Free parking is available. Historic tours are offered from Feb. 2 to Sept. 14th.

For more information, click here.

6 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Daytona Beach

By Daytona Beach Area CVB on Oct. 02, 2019

Craving an escape from winter weather? Head to Daytona Beach for a range of holiday events and holiday spectaculars.Whether you are in the mood for the dreamlike experience of Christmas lights, a celebration that takes a step back in time or a jolly holiday parade, plenty of fun Christmas activities await in Daytona Beach! And with other Florida holiday experiences, such as Nights of Lights in St. Augustine and the fun spectacle of Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach, so close (less than an hour drive) there’s even more reason to head to Daytona Beach for the holidays.Consider any one of these events to put you in the holiday spirit:

Magic of Lights® Holiday Display

The iconic Daytona International Speedway transforms into a holiday heaven during the Magic of Lights® Holiday Display. Take the family and drive through the 1.5-mile display, which features over a million of the latest in LED bulbs and all-new digital animation technologies that have been specially created for the “World Center of Racing.” For more information on ticket pricing for cars, motorcycles, vans, limos and buses, visit the websiteOpens in New Window . The event takes place daily through New Year’s Eve from 6 to 10 p.m. November 22-28, then from 7 to 10 p.m. November 28 through January 1. Ticket holders can drive through twice on Tuesdays (excluding Christmas Eve.)
•    Venue: Daytona International SpeedwayOpens in New Window  (at the intersection of International Speedway and Bill France Boulevards)
•    Address: 1801 West International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
•    Admission: $25/car at the gate; $20 in advance.

Stetson Mansion Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tour

The Stetson Mansion Christmas Spectacular Holiday Home Tour takes place at “Florida’s first luxury estate,” the famed Victorian Gilded Age residence built in 1886. Its original, rich architectural details make the perfect backdrop for elaborate holiday decorations, which are different each year. Designer decorations from around the world will adorn the mansion and each of the ten rooms will feature the this theme "Come Home for Christmas." Come and experience how Stetson Mansion has decked the halls on one of these enchanting tours, which are offered daily (except Sunday mornings) through January 15 at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:15 and 5 p.m. Reservations are required; visit the website for more informationOpens in New Window . And, as a special holiday gift, if you come for a Christmas tour, you can return for free as many times as you’d like from February to September 2018 when you bring a paying guest!
•    Venue: Stetson MansionOpens in New Window 
•    Address: 1031 Camphor Lane, DeLand, FL 32720
•    Admission: $27 + tax, adults; $15 + tax, ages 1-22

DeBary Hall Historic Site Candlelight Tours

Take a step back in history with a DeBary Hall Historic Site Candlelight Tour.
Originally a hunting retreat for a wealthy steamboat line owner, DeBary Hall offers interpretive exhibits that give a glimpse into the lifestyle of the late 1800s. During the holidays, the historic site is aglow with holiday adornments, Christmas decorations and old treasures. Explore the lodge on a candlelight tour and hear the story of the Christmas Orange, followed by refreshments. This experience is recommended for visitors aged 12 and older; call (386) 668-3840 for reservations.
•    Venue: DeBary Hall Historic SiteOpens in New Window 
•    Address: 198 Sunrise Boulevard, DeBary, FL 32713
•    Admission: $10 

Daytona Beach Boat Parade

Holiday cheer gets a nautical twist at the Daytona Beach Boat Parade, a favorite local tradition that’s back for another year on Saturday, December 7, at 6 p.m. Boats will be extravagantly decked out with twinkling lights and holiday décor to cruise the Halifax River, and you can experience the magic free of charge. Viewers post up watch along bridges, causeways and river shorelines, and it all culminates at Halifax Harbor Marina.
•    Venue: Halifax Harbor MarinaOpens in New Window 
•    Address: 450 Basin Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
•    Admission: FREE

A Northern Lights Christmas Gala at The Casements in Ormond Beach

For over four decades, The Casements Country Christmas has brought joy and good tidings to the Daytona Beach area! Set on the shore of the Halifax River and just two blocks from the ocean, the mansion has been called “the jewel of Ormond Beach.” This National Historic Site transforms into a winter wonderland on the first weekend of December. Admission is free for all three days! Enjoy special holiday décor, a tree lighting, holiday entertainment, train rides, gift shop, a handmade craft room, ice cream and food trucks, and more! The jolly man himself will be in attendance along with Mrs. Claus. Call 386-673-5312 for tickets.
•    Venue: The CasementsOpens in New Window 
•    Address: 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
•    Admission: FREE; $25 for a Santa Holiday Tea at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 8

Christmas in Daytona Beach offers a wide variety of festive activities and holiday fun. No matter which one you choose, a winter getaway is sure to put your whole family in a sunny, spirited state of mind.

Enjoy a look at everything Daytona Beach has to offer and start planning your next trip! Download our free official visitors guide or sign up for our e-newsletter.