Spectacular Stetson Mansion Named Among Top Ten in America’s “Top Tourist Attractions” in Tripadvisor’s Travelers Choice Awards
Christmas Mansion, Florida’s Most Historic Home,
Opens November 1 for Holiday Tours
As part of their annual Travelers Choice Awards, TripAdvisor has announced the top tourist attractions across the United States, and Stetson Mansion in DeLand, Florida has been named # 8 of the top 25. A multi-year award-winner, Stetson Mansion joins the ranks of such popular icons as New York’s Empire State Building, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Biltmore House, and the Art Institute of Chicago in this year’s contest.
According to TripAdvisor, “We award Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best to experiences and attractions with a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from our community over a 12-month period from May 2022 – April 2023. Each winner has passed our rigorous trust and safety standards. Fewer than one percent of TripAdvisor’s eight million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel.”
TripAdvisor editors note in the Best Top Attractions intro that these are “the most iconic landmarks you simply have to see to believe.” The Stetson Mansion in DeLand is part of Florida’s First Luxury Estate and quite possibly the grandest home ever built in Florida before the 20th century. The estate was hidden and lost for 100 years and has been rescued, restored, and updated in a timeless fashion. Built in 1886 for famed hat maker and philanthropist John B. Stetson, this early Snowbird’s winter retreat is of High Victorian architecture with Moorish influences. Among its exquisite details are 16 intricate mosaic floor patterns and 10,000 panes of antique window glass. It was the first home in Florida designed and constructed with Edison electricity, steam heat, indoor plumbing, and a call bell system.
For the past 12 years, the owners have carried on the tradition of extravagant gatherings with self-guided tours in the Stetson Mansion Christmas Spectacular. Each year, the mansion is closed during the summer while owner, JT Thompson creates 10 over-the-top designer-themed rooms; elegant and reverent displays that complement the mansion’s rich architectural details. The display features dozens of elaborate trees, more than 50 elegant vignettes, and 30 reverent nativities from around the world. Each scene is composed of many layers and each with its own message. This year’s overall theme is “The Christmas Mansion.” Tours are offered two to seven times daily from November 1, 2023 through Jan 20, 2024. Advance reservations are required; booking is available online. Stetson Mansion, 1031 Camphor Lane DeLand, FL 32720; https://www.stetsonmansion.com
Stetson Mansion Christmas Spectacular event has claimed many awards, including being named among the “Top 10 Christmas Homes” by Bob Vila, “Best Holiday Home Tours in America” in the USA TODAY’s “10Best” Readers’ Choice Awards, and among the “Top 10 Best Attractions in the US” by TripAdvisor.
