Batter up: Old Sugar Mill Pancake House opens in De Leon Springs State Park

Table Of Content

• Old Spanish Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs State Park might be closing
• Old Sugar Mill Pancake House hosts grand reopening at De Leon Springs
• Dolphin in Florida found with deadly bird flu, researchers say
• A Brief History of Scent With Saskia Wilson-Brown
• This Tiny Restaurant Helps Keep Kashmiri Cuisine Alive in Pakistan
• Customizable breakfast experience draws tourists to Old Spanish Sugar Mill
• Get the latest news to your inbox

Make sure to add your name to the waiting list for the pancake house as soon as you arrive as it can be a wait sometimes. The restaurant offers breakfast favorites, unlimited build-your-own pancakes and more. Atrium’s creative duo chef Hunter Pritchett and pastry chef Gregory Baumgartner experimented and developed a platter of buckwheat banana pancakes with french butter and maple syrup.

Old Spanish Sugar Mill at DeLeon Springs State Park might be closing

Old Spanish Sugar Mill is closed; reopening planned in October - The West Volusia Beacon

Old Spanish Sugar Mill is closed; reopening planned in October.

Posted: Wed, 14 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

They lured them with the promise of yet another location of the Spanish explorer’s famed fountain of youth. These types of roadside attractions were very popular in the days before attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. This thriving plantation grew cotton and sugar cane and became the home of Florida’s first water-powered sugar mill. Destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, the footprint of the mill remains.

Old Sugar Mill Pancake House hosts grand reopening at De Leon Springs

It’s best to avoid the place on Sundays after church, when the 1982-born restaurant is especially swarmed with hungry diners looking to get their hands on the butter-laden flapjacks. While all the pancakes at the Original Pancake House are excellent (shout out to the extremely popular chocolate chip), the real specialty here is the oven-baked Dutch Baby. This airy pancake somewhat reminiscent of a crepe is about the size of your face, and comes with lemon and powdered sugar. There’s nothing quite like the quaint beach bungalow-turned pancake house Uncle Bill’s.

Dolphin in Florida found with deadly bird flu, researchers say

Four fluffy platter-sized cakes come in one stack, and it might be best to share unless truly hungry. There’s nothing quite like a leisurely morning with a heaping stack of flapjacks and all the nostalgia that comes with it. Luckily for the breakfast lovers of Los Angeles, the city is full of some pretty outstanding pancake varieties. "We have been blessed to serve as a Central Florida staple since 1961," the restaurant wrote. De Leon Springs State Park and the Old Sugar Mill stand as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of history, nature, and gastronomic delights. Whether you’re flipping pancakes or exploring the wonders of the park, this destination invites you to savor the richness of Florida’s landscapes and heritage in every moment.

The Old Sugar Mill, a historic wooden building with timeless charm, offers a dining experience like no other. Here, at the pancake house within the Old Sugar Mill, visitors have the opportunity to build and flip their own pancakes table-side, adding a dash of fun to their dining experience. As you patiently wait for a table, take advantage of the park’s abundant outdoor activities. Explore the natural wonders by embarking on a refreshing hike, take a leisurely swim, or paddle across the pristine waters in a canoe or kayak. For those seeking a more guided experience, the park offers an eco/history boat tour, an hour-long journey that unveils the rich ecological and historical tapestry of the area. Owner Christine Moore pumps out casual breakfasts and lunches at both Lincoln and Little Flower Candy Co. in Pasadena.

Please contact the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House directly for current hours and pricing. Check out our See & Do Page for other fun things to do in Florida and our Deals Page for offers and coupons for Florida attractions, restaurants, shops and more. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection had said its contract with the owners was scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, 2022. In advance of that, the department put out an open call for proposals for other groups to share potential restaurant plans and ideas for the space. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders.

It was very nostalgic to return to the place of my childhood memories. The heating device in the middle of the table (I think it's a griddle) is easy to use. With a little planning and preparation, you’ll be sure to have a great experience and create memories to enjoy for years to come. While the pancake experience has remained virtually untouched for years, some fresh additions are on the horizon. If you prefer a later start for breakfast or a more leisurely brunch, it’s best to approach this experience with the wait in mind. If you aren’t keen on waiting, you’ll need to arrive well before the park opens.

Customizable breakfast experience draws tourists to Old Spanish Sugar Mill

If the park gets full, the gates may be closed temporarily, so be sure to arrive early during peak season if you want to be assured of entry. A stroll around the park also reveals ruins and other details of the old plantation’s history from the Spanish-American and Civil Wars. There is even a horse-drawn road grader on display that park officials found in the nearby woods. Others may choose to follow in the footsteps of the great John James Audubon on the Wild Persimmon Hiking Trail. The trail is part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. It’s perfect for warming the space on a frigid winter morning (yes, even in Florida).

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Here, you’re not just a patron, you’re part of the pancake-making magic. Every morning, the enchanting aroma of cooking batter beckons hungry visitors from near and far. Welcome to the historic Florida Sugar Mill, a pancake lover’s paradise right here in Florida.

It’s a solid addition for everyone, even those adhering to a gluten-free diet. The menu has nearly twenty varieties of cardiac arrest-inducing options, from the Black Magic filled with crushed Oreos to the Saturday Morning Fever with Bailey’s and Kahlua batter. The Saturday and Sunday morning lines are no joke, but is worth the wait after one bite of these cakey monstrosities. Beyond the typical breakfast spot, it’s a place where culinary tradition meets interactive fun, and where you can whip up your own pancake masterpieces right at your table. On our second visit, the same arrival time allowed us to be just the fourth car in line to enter the park and seated right away. By the time we left, there were many families waiting for their chance to sit and enjoy their breakfast.

They supply maple syrup, molasses, or golden honey to top your pancakes, but the pancakes are flavorful enough to stand on their own as well. The pitchers of batter are ample, but they will be quick to offer more if you haven’t had your fill yet. The server takes your order, turns on the griddle and speedsaway to get what you need to start your breakfast adventure.

Nestled within De Leon Springs State Park, this historic grist mill-turned-restaurant offers a unique twist on the quintessential pancake breakfast. Pancakes at the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House and a day at De Leon State Park are a great family adventure all year round. The cost to enter the park is $6 per vehicle, which covers up to 8 in the car. How did a state park become the home of a pancake experience to begin with? To answer that, we must go back through the long and storied history of De Leon Springs State Park. For over 20 years, CJ’s Cafe does a daily and hearty breakfast and lunch.

It’s hosted at the site of a historic sugar mill,wrapped in the beauty of the nearby second magnitude spring and surroundingnature. Get hundreds of discounts and deals on activities, attractions, dining, and shopping all throughout Florida. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team. Join us for breakfast or lunch at the Old Sugar Mill Pancake House from 8 a.m.

Wander over to the visitor center located across the swimming area, where additional information and resources await to enhance your park experience. A short paved trail leads to Old Methuselah, an ancient Cypress tree, offering a glimpse into the park’s natural heritage. For those seeking a more adventurous path, non-paved trail hiking options beckon, promising an immersive encounter with the untamed beauty of the surroundings.

A hidden gem in the truest sense, this charming establishment invites locals to indulge in a delightful culinary escapade without venturing far from home. In warmer weather, you can also take advantage of the swimming basin surrounding the headspring. The water is a constant 72 degrees and a comfortable way to beat the Florida heat. Park rangers can offer a list of birds to watch for, including a great number of wading birds and even the occasional nesting bald eagles.

For those willing to pass uppancakes for lunch, the Cuban sandwich is rumored to be quite good. Straight ahead, you see an alcove used as a gift shop, featuring the usual tourist treasures and unique local art pieces. Just to the right of the gift shop is a smaller room featuring a wood-burning fireplace. The wheel would turn, crushing sugarcane into something similar to the syrup sweetening the many pancakes inside. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.