★ #1 Landmark Attraction in Florida — TripAdvisor

The Christmas Mansion

Experience a Florida Holiday Tradition: Book a Christmas “Spectacular!” Home Tour today!

Florida’s #1 Holiday Home Tour, November through January

Tripadvisor has named the Stetson Mansion the #1 rated Landmark Tourist Attraction in all of Florida. Florida’s First Luxury Estate, built in 1886 for famed hat maker John B. Stetson, is the largest, grandest, and most historic home ever built in Florida before the 20th century. It was the first home in Florida designed and constructed with Edison electricity, steam heat, indoor plumbing and a call bell system. Opulent details include 16 different mosaic parquet wood floor patterns, 10,000 panes of antique glass and various hand made wood embellishments. This Gilded Age estate has always been occupied and is still a private estate — it is not a museum or a home frozen in time, although it predates all other grand mansion museums in Florida.

About the Christmas Spectacular

15 Years of the Christmas “Spectacular”

The baby grand will welcome you into the Mansion where 10 rooms are embellished with elaborate designer decorations and over 50 nativities from around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ. Visitors enter the Mansion in staggered groups.

A lit nativity scene among the Christmas decorations

This enchanting event includes all the rooms on the ground floor and the 3 bedrooms on the second floor (including the owner’s bedroom, bathroom, and closet). Just when you think you have seen it all, you are then treated to a visit into the original School House, which has since been converted into a Zen-like guest cottage/gift shop featuring a soaring 15 ft Polynesian ceiling. The School House offers a few gift ideas, including a picture book featuring the Christmas designs, all created and installed by the owners.

The 1886 Stetson Mansion is the largest and most spectacular “Gilded Age” residence ever built in Florida before 1900. The grand Victorian mansion has had all of its original rich architectural details restored. You will walk on 16 stunning original mosaic parquet floor patterns.

The Victorians started our modern Christmas traditions like gift giving and Christmas trees, so what’s better than seeing Christmas in one of the Victorian homes where it all started? The Stetson Mansion had one of the first trees ever illuminated with electric lights. That’s what you get when Thomas Edison is your bff!

The Stetson Mansion is Florida’s most historic home, but it is not a museum. It is a private residence that is lived in and welcomes guests this time of year with over the top elegant and reverent holiday decorations.

Reserve Your Tour →

A decorated fireplace and nativity scene inside the Mansion

A Home Dressed for the Holidays

Step Inside Our Christmas “Spectacular”!

A dining room dressed for Christmas beneath a lit chandelier

Christmas decorations beside a stained glass window

Frosted blue and white ornaments and miniature trees

A grand piano garlanded with Merry Christmas lettering

Plan Your Visit

Two Ways to Experience the Season

Choose a self-guided or guided tour — both include free parking and start November 1.

Guided Tour

Let Us Show You Around

A docent leads you room by room, sharing the stories behind the house, the season, and the decorations.

Adult$39.50

Youth (5–17)$27

Kids (1–4)$15

Military / 1st Responder$35.50

Group Rate (16+)$37

+ $4 booking fee & 6.5% tax · Free parking

Book Guided Tour

Self-Guided Tour

See It At Your Own Pace

Explore ten decorated rooms on your own schedule, with a free audio tour narrated by the designer right on your phone.

Adult$29.50

Youth (1–17)$19

College Student / Faculty$24.50

Military / 1st Responder$26.50

Group Rate (16+)$27

+ $4 booking fee & 6.5% tax · Free parking

Book Self-Guided

The Mansion’s windows glowing at night

Since 2012

A Florida Holiday Tradition

Reservations are required online before arrival — we do accept walk-ups, but you risk the tour being sold out. Discounts are available for groups of 16 or more, and for military, first responders, college students, and faculty (ID required). Tickets are non-refundable for any reason, including illness, but may be changed one time at least three days in advance through the self-help “Manage Tickets” portal, and may be transferred to another person or resold. Each tour time has a limited number of tickets, similar to a theater, so guests enter the Mansion in small staggered groups.

Tours run approximately 60–70 minutes. Please wear flat shoes — high heels are not permitted, and photography or video is not allowed inside the Mansion for security reasons. The historic Mansion is not equipped for elevators or ramps, but a portable entry ramp is available to assist wheelchairs onto the first floor; there are 16 steps to the second floor, and many guests choose to tour just the first floor. Walkers must have wheels or pads — no plastic skids are permitted, and electric scooters and wheelchairs are not allowed. Free parking is available on-site, and our small gift shop accepts cash or check, with an ATM nearby for your convenience.

Book a Tour

A Message from the Owners

Not a Museum. A Private Residence.

The Stetson Mansion is not a public museum. There is no public or private funding, no tax breaks, no guild, and it is not staffed by volunteers. The holiday room displays are not donated by designers — they are entirely the creation and construction of one of the two owners. We open the estate to the public for your pleasure because we know it must be shared. The support you show with your attendance allows us to keep the doors open and continue our preservation efforts. Thank you for helping us save a small piece of our national heritage. It is an honor for us to be the stewards of Florida’s Most Historic Home.

Before You Go

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my tour date or time?

To manage your tickets, go to the home page and click Book a Tour. After you are redirected, go to the top right of the page and click Manage Tickets. We will send you a unique link that gives access to your order, including all tickets and items you have purchased or that have been issued to you. You will need the email address used to book the tickets to receive the link and access your order.

Do you offer discounts?

Military - Active or Veteran (MUST SHOW ID)
1st Responder - Active or Retired (MUST SHOW ID)
College Student or Faculty. (MUST SHOW ID)
Discounts for groups 16+.

What’s included in the Christmas Spectacular tour?

The baby grand will welcome you into the Mansion where 10 rooms are embellished with elaborate designer decorations and over 50 nativities from around the world to celebrate the birth of Christ.

This enchanting event includes all the rooms on the ground floor and the 3 bedrooms on the second floor (including the owner’s bedroom, bathroom, and closet.) Just when you think you have seen it all you are then treated to a visit into the original School House which has since been converted into a Zen like guest cottage/gift shop featuring a soaring 15 ft Polynesian ceiling.

Tour length: @ 60-70 minutes. Free Parking.

How do I get to downtown DeLand?

Downtown DeLand, FL is 1 mile away. take a right out of the gate. Turn right onto 15A. AT the next light (SR 44) make a right. continue straight on 44 to Woodland. (NO TURNS) Or Type in your maps “The Table” (a local favorite restaurant). Plenty of public parking, shops and restaurants.

Is photography allowed inside the Mansion?

NO PHOTOGRAPHY OR VIDEO PERMITTED INSIDE THE MANSION FOR SECURITY REASONS.

Still have a question? Contact us · (386) 785-3961

★★★★★

Our guest reviews

5.0 average rating · TripAdvisor

    
 
 
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   Ginger Russell 
 
 
 
  The history of the mansion is so interesting. We toured the first floor only but it was beautifully crafted.
  
 
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   Jackie Andrasco 
 
 
 
  Lori did a wonderful job of giving the history of the mansion. She was educational as well as entertaining. The home is beautiful and the historical details are amazing.
  
 
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   Erica A 
 
 
 
  My husband and I have done both the Christmas and history tours. They were wonderful. The beauty of the Christmas decorations was awesome! I liked you were able to go thru at your leisure while listening to a recording detailing the decorations. The guided history tour was very informative. Davida was a great guide. The craftsmanship put into building the mansion was unbelievable. Enjoyed learning the history of the Stetson family as well as the home.
  
 
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   Frank Pumillo 
 
 
 
  Well worth the tour! Davita was an excellant bost and guide.  Lots to admire in the house and the Stetson history.
  
 
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   steven stein 
 
 
 
  Divida the tour guide was excellent. So much history and interesting things to learn about John and Elizabeth Stetson and the house built in 1896 in Deland.
  
 
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   jay cloud 
 
 
 
  My wife and I were first time visitors to the Stetson Mansion and it was “Amazing”.
Our guided tour was led by Candice. She
was very passionate about the mansion and
shared so much information about the building itself as well as the history behind the man himself, John Stetson. It’s so wonderful that this historical chapter has been so beautifully preserved. Candice told us about the remarkable renovation that was carried out with the help of numerous vendors that contributed their time, materials and passion for reclaiming history.
John Stetson was an extraordinary person with a vision that he was determined to complete, as well as being an incredible hat maker. He understood that changes were necessary as tastes changed.
It’s no wonder that this is a very special place where people can learn about how Stetson became a name that’s known worldwide.
We strongly recommend that you visit this “Gem” and hear all about it from Candice. She was so enthusiastic and passionate about providing all the facts to our tour group. She answered all questions and made the entire visit memorable.