In the northern part of the Orlando metropolitan area, is the lakefront city of Eustis. Situated along the eastern shoreline of Lake Eustis, the community has a notably welcoming atmosphere with beautiful waterfront views. Its charming historic downtown district features quaint shops poised before brick sidewalks and tree shaded benches. Here, you’ll find many family oriented neighborhoods and cultural festivities. Eustis real estate offers a wide range of architectural styles, from Contemporary to Spanish/Mediterranean. Many are lakefront and feature spectacular views.
Eustis hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year. The First Friday Street Festival takes place the first Friday of each month and brings residents and visitors from miles around to enjoy food and live music. The most notable of their festivities is GeorgeFest, which takes place each year during the last weekend of February. It is held in celebration of George Washington’s birthday and consists of 113 consecutive events. You can take pleasure in a variety of dining experiences, singing, music and carnival rides, and you won’t want to miss the parade and fireworks display.
The city of Eustis is highly focused on economic development and provides a number of incentives for businesses to locate to the area. This coupled with the affordable cost of living has contributed to its growth over the past decade. Eustis is a growing community with a population of 19,214. The city’s population increased more than 27.2 percent between 2000 and 2013. Its residents consist mostly of families and 58 percent are married. The median home value in Eustis is $114,544. This is a 33 percent increase over median home values a decade prior but remains 25 percent less than the current state average.
If you’re searching for affordable living in a friendly community where residents take pride in their city, you’ll feel at home in Eustis. The city is committed to making Eustis a desirable home for its residents by ensuring streets and sidewalks are well maintained and investing in public spaces. The community is conveniently located only minutes from Orlando’s major attractions.
No matter where you choose to live in Eustis, there is a beautiful park with outstanding facilities nearby. Cardinal Cove is a favorite for fishing since it includes a fishing pier on the lake. A covered pavilion and tennis courts are also available. Sunset Island Park has everything for the sports enthusiast including a basketball court, racquetball courts, tennis courts and a quarter-mile walking path. Its picnic pavilions and playground equipment make it popular for family outings. Downtown, you’ll find Ferran Park, ideally situated on the shores of Lake Eustis. Exquisitely landscaped walking paths will lead you to the city’s historic Mediterranean style bandshell, a playground, and gazebos. Across from the park is an aquatic center with two heated pools and the Eustis Lake Walk. Lake Walk is a quarter mile long stretch featuring gazebos, benches, and 20 boat slips.
Lake Eustis Museum of Art will put you in touch with your creative side. Whether you’re an art connoisseur or dabbling with watercolors for fun, they have something for everyone. The museum displays rotating fine art exhibits in a variety of mediums by local and national artists. A permanent collection features historic and contemporary works by many award winning artists. A variety of educational programs is offered for children and provides an opportunity to experiment with different mediums. If you’re interested in refining your own artistic skills, adult classes are offered in sketching and painting. You can also broaden your scope of appreciation by joining one of the museum’s adult field trips to other museums.
Pack a lunch and spend the day with nature at the Trout Lake Nature Center. There is so much to see and do at this 230 acre wildlife preserve that you’ll want to make a day of it. The preserve is located near the southern entrance of the Ocala National Forest. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings while you hike the numerous trails and relax with a picnic lunch in the screened picnic pavilion. Afterwards, venture out onto the 1000 foot long boardwalk to the pavilion on Trout Lake, then on to the Adventure Trail to traverse the swinging bridge.
At the Charles Newell Museum you can view a collection of native Florida wildlife specimens and visit their reading center. The Environmental Education Building features a diorama of Florida wildlife in its native habitat, a collection of butterflies, shells and fossils and a 125 seat audio-visual center. You can also take part in a number of special events offered at the nature center such as their Full Moon Hike and Sunset at the Rookery.
The Lake Eustis Sailing Club takes sailing to a whole new level. They are the most active racing club in Central Florida and are home to four one-design racing fleets and five regional sailing events. If you don’t know how to sail, they’ve got that covered as well, offering lessons for both adults and youth. The club is located on 10 acres of property and provides storage for members’ sailboats. Dual launching ramps are available, and a large clubhouse is on site for activities, celebrations and get togethers. You can choose from several membership levels or just enjoy watching the races.
