Dupree Gardens

Dupree Gardens was a botanical garden featuring winding paths, streams, and waterfalls flowing through diverse flower displays across multiple landscaped levels. The site also included a lodge, gift shop, and restaurant facility for visitors.

The garden opened on December 1, 1940, and initially attracted tens of thousands of visitors annually. After World War II began, fuel and tire rationing led to a sharp drop in tourism.

The place served as a gathering spot for military personnel during wartime, with its camellia flowers sent to New York City for special celebrations. This role made it an important social hub for the local area.

The site was accessible via winding paths that led visitors through different levels, offering views across the varied terrain. An old stone entrance gate on Ehren Cutoff still marks the former access point at the edge of a residential development.

The garden featured electric-powered boats that transported visitors across an adjacent lake. This unusual form of transportation set it apart from typical garden visits and added to the overall experience.

Location: Pasco County

GPS coordinates: 28.24075,-82.44885

Latest update: December 12, 2025 08:01