One of Orange County’s Oldest Parks Turns 100 — And It’s Still One of Central Florida’s Hidden Gems

Trimble Park near Mount Dora celebrates its centennial this month. The nearly 64-acre lakeside park offers camping, hiking, fishing, paddling and a glimpse of the “Old Florida” that existed long before Central Florida became a major metropolitan area.

Orlando changes quickly.

New neighborhoods appear.

Roads expand.

Buildings rise.

And sometimes it can feel as though almost everything around us was built within the last few decades.

But drive northwest from Orlando toward Mount Dora and you’ll find a piece of Orange County that has been preserved for an entire century.

Trimble Park celebrates 100 years as an Orange County park on September 19, 2026. Orange County Parks and Recreation has officially listed the centennial among its major milestones for this year. (Ocfl)

That’s reason enough to tell its story.

But there’s another reason.

If you’ve never been to Trimble Park, you may have been overlooking one of the better inexpensive day trips available to Greater Orlando residents.

This Doesn’t Feel Much Like Orlando

Trimble Park sits on a narrow peninsula between Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton, part of the Harris Chain of Lakes near Mount Dora.

Instead of hotels, attractions and six-lane roads, you’ll find enormous live oaks covered in Spanish moss, wetlands, boardwalks and quiet lakefront.

Orange County describes the park as a place where visitors can experience the rustic character of “old Florida.” (OCFL Newsroom)

That description is surprisingly accurate.

The park has retained enough of its natural character that walking through portions of it feels considerably farther from Orlando than it actually is.

And unlike many Central Florida attractions, simply entering the park for the day doesn’t require buying a ticket.

It Started With a Family Donating Their Land

The story begins in 1926.

Sadie Conner Trimble had been the first postmistress of nearby Lake Jem. Her first husband, Owen W. Conner, founded Ocklawaha Nurseries and owned hundreds of acres around the Tangerine and Mount Dora area.

After Conner died, Sadie married R.J. Trimble.

The couple donated part of their estate to Orange County in 1926, creating what became Trimble Park. (OCFL Newsroom)

The Orange County Regional History Center records the donation as part of an extraordinary period when local families began voluntarily preserving pieces of Central Florida for public use before Orange County even had a formal parks department. (The History Center)

Think about that for a moment.

Someone living in Central Florida a century ago decided that a beautiful piece of lakefront property should remain available to the public.

Generations later, we’re still using it.

The Park Almost Didn’t Survive Intact

Preserving land once doesn’t guarantee it stays preserved.

By the late 1970s, property adjoining the original park was threatened by development.

A developer had acquired approximately 31.5 acres next to Trimble Park and planned a residential subdivision.

Orange County stepped in.

In 1978, the county used a state grant to acquire that property and preserve it as part of the park. Another 1.34 acres was added in 2000. (OCFL Newsroom)

Today, Orange County’s official park directory lists Trimble Park at 63.92 acres. (Ocfl)

Without that decision nearly 50 years ago, today’s park could look very different.

One of the Best Parts Is Simply Walking Through It

You don’t need a boat or camping reservation to enjoy Trimble Park.

Walking may actually be one of the best ways to experience it.

A roughly 1.1-mile nature-trail loop winds through oak, pine and cypress habitat and includes boardwalk sections through wetlands along the lakeshore. (Florida Hikes)

Much of the route is shaded by mature trees.

This isn’t a paved urban exercise trail.

It’s closer to a short nature hike.

That makes it manageable for people who want to spend some time outdoors without committing to a long wilderness trek.

As with virtually any natural Florida waterfront area, visitors should stay aware of wildlife, including alligators and snakes, and trail conditions can become wet after heavy rain. (Florida Hikes)

Bring a Kayak

This may be where Trimble Park becomes especially interesting.

Because the park sits between two lakes, it provides direct access to the Harris Chain of Lakes.

Orange County lists canoeing, kayaking, fishing and boating among the park’s recreational activities, and there is a public boat ramp. (Ocfl)

That gives paddlers an opportunity to explore a completely different side of the Mount Dora area.

You could spend the morning hiking through the park, launch a kayak, explore the shoreline and then head into Mount Dora afterward for lunch or dinner.

That’s a pretty good Central Florida Saturday.

You Can Camp Here Too

This may surprise people who think camping around Orlando means driving much farther into rural Florida.

Trimble Park has both tent and RV camping.

Orange County currently lists campsites at $18 for Orange County residents and $23 for non-county residents, with discounted rates for seniors 55 and older. (OCFL Newsroom)

Those prices make Trimble Park an unusually affordable weekend getaway for local families.

RV size is limited to a maximum length of 35 feet and height of 12 feet, according to the county’s current park information. Reservations are required for camping. (Ocfl)

And because you’re near Mount Dora rather than hours into the wilderness, forgetting something isn’t exactly a disaster.

It’s Also an Easy Picnic Destination

Not everyone wants to camp.

That’s fine.

Trimble Park also has picnic areas, grills, a playground, swings, rental pavilions, fishing areas and plenty of places to sit near the water. (Ocfl)

That makes the park useful for something much simpler:

Pack lunch.

Bring the kids.

Walk the trail.

Sit under an oak tree.

Watch the lake for a while.

Go home.

Sometimes an inexpensive local outing doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.

Dogs Can Come Too

Leashed dogs are permitted at Trimble Park.

That’s worth mentioning because finding places where the entire household can spend a day outdoors—including the four-legged members—can make choosing a weekend destination considerably easier.

Just remember that this is Florida lake country.

Keep pets close to you near shorelines and wetlands.

The Park Is Near Mount Dora — Which Makes It an Even Better Day Trip

One of Trimble Park’s biggest advantages is location.

The park is at:

5802 Trimble Park Road
Mount Dora, FL 32757

It’s close enough to Mount Dora that you can easily combine the park with a visit to downtown.

Mount Dora is already one of Central Florida’s better day-trip destinations, with restaurants, shops, galleries and frequent festivals.

That creates several possibilities.

Go hiking at Trimble Park in the morning and spend the afternoon downtown.

Camp overnight and have breakfast in Mount Dora the next morning.

Bring a kayak, paddle for a few hours and reward yourself with dinner afterward.

For Orlando residents looking for something different without committing to an overnight road trip, that’s a very workable combination.

Trimble Park Is Part of a Much Bigger Orange County Parks Story

The centennial also provides some perspective on how much Orange County has changed.

From 1924 through 1962, seven local families donated approximately 430 acres that became public parkland.

At the time, Orange County didn’t have the parks organization we know today.

Those early properties eventually helped lead to creation of the county Parks Department in 1973 and Parks and Recreation Department in 1985. (Ocfl)

Today, Orange County Parks and Recreation maintains 114 parks, trails and recreational facilities encompassing nearly 15,000 acres. (Ocfl)

The system now ranges from tiny neighborhood parks to enormous natural areas, athletic complexes and regional trails.

And it’s still growing.

2026 Has Already Been a Big Year for Orange County Parks

Trimble Park’s anniversary happens during a particularly active year for the county’s park system.

In February, Orange County opened Phase 1A of the 215-acre Horizon West Regional Park, adding an inclusive playground, trail, pavilion, restrooms and supporting infrastructure. Phase 1B is planned to add a splash pad, farmers-market hookups and a kayak/canoe launch. (OCFL Newsroom)

Also in February, the county opened the 4.46-mile Lake Apopka Connector Trail, filling a missing connection between the West Orange Trail and Lake Apopka Loop Trail and helping create a roughly 48-mile connected trail network around Lake Apopka. (Ocfl)

Meanwhile, Orange County says four additional neighborhood parks were in various stages of development as of April. (Ocfl)

A park donated in 1926 and new parks being built in 2026 therefore belong to the same story.

Green Space Becomes More Valuable as Central Florida Grows

Greater Orlando isn’t the same place it was 100 years ago.

Orange County’s population has grown dramatically.

Development continues pushing outward.

Land becomes more valuable.

And every year it becomes harder—and more expensive—to preserve large pieces of undeveloped property.

That makes decisions made generations ago increasingly important.

If the land around Trimble Park had been subdivided decades ago, recreating a 60-plus-acre lakefront natural area today would be extraordinarily difficult.

Instead, the trees are still there.

The lakes are still there.

People are still fishing.

Children are still playing.

Families are still camping.

And residents can still walk beneath the Spanish moss without paying admission.

That’s a pretty good return on a decision made a century ago.

What to Know Before You Go

Trimble Park is currently open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during summer and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during winter, seven days a week. (Ocfl)

Day-use amenities include trails, picnic areas and grills, a playground, fishing access, canoe and kayak access and a boat ramp.

Tent and RV camping require reservations.

Because the park is heavily wooded and surrounded by water, insect repellent is a good idea, particularly during warmer months.

And if you’re hiking, bring water and shoes you’re comfortable getting a little dirty.

For current hours, camping reservations and park information, use the official Orange County Trimble Park page.

Maybe 100 Years Is the Best Recommendation a Park Can Get

We spend a lot of time at Lifehappens2us looking for new things coming to Greater Orlando.

New parks.

New trails.

New restaurants.

New attractions.

New transportation projects.

But occasionally something old deserves our attention too.

Trimble Park has survived Florida land booms, hurricanes, enormous population growth and a development proposal that could have consumed part of the property.

And on September 19, 2026, it reaches its 100th anniversary as an Orange County park. (Ocfl)

That’s worth celebrating.

But the better celebration may simply be using it.

Pack some lunch.

Bring your walking shoes.

Maybe throw a kayak on the car.

And go see what someone thought was worth saving for us 100 years ago.

You may discover they were right.