Orange Blossom Cannonball in Tavares and Mount Dora, Florida
Heritage railroad with a museumExcursion trains ended in 2017; no public rides operate today
The Orange Blossom Cannonball was the excursion train of the Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad, carrying passengers between Tavares and Mount Dora on a line that once hauled the Golden Triangle's citrus to market.
- Ran from 2011 to 2017
- Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad
- Line reached Mount Dora in 1887
- Golden Triangle citrus route
- No public rides today
Orange Blossom Cannonball at a glance
- Hours
- Closed; no excursion trains operate
- Admission
- Not applicable
- Best for
- Rail history readers and Lake County locals
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Orange Blossom Cannonball? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Tavares and Mount Dora.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The excursion train on Lake County's old citrus line
The track the Cannonball used has a long story. Florida's railroad expansion reached the Golden Triangle of Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis in the 1880s as the citrus industry took off, and the line reached Mount Dora in 1887. From about 1890 to 1930 thousands of carloads of oranges and grapefruits rolled over these rails each season, and for decades after, the line carried residents and visitors too. As highways spread, service shrank, but the core track linking the three towns survived.
The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad, advertised as the Orange Blossom Cannonball, ran tourist excursions on that historic track, owned by the Florida Central Railroad, from October 2011 until early 2017. Its steam excursions between Tavares and Mount Dora gave Lake County families a way to ride the old citrus route. When the company stopped running, the Orlando & Northwestern Railway began a new excursion service in October 2017, though passenger trips on the corridor have since ended as well.
What remains along the route
There is no museum or train to board today. The historic Mount Dora depot downtown and the lakefront in Tavares, along the shores of Lake Dora, mark the two ends of the old excursion run.
For young train fans today
Families can no longer ride the Cannonball. Kids who want a real train day in this part of Florida will find working exhibits at other rail museums in the region, listed below.
Plan your visit: tips for Orange Blossom Cannonball
- Older listings for the Cannonball are out of date; the train stopped running in 2017.
- For a ride or museum visit nearby, try the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden.
- Mount Dora Rails with Trails, a local coalition, shares news about the future of the line.
Who is working to keep the line
The track's future is now the focus of Mount Dora Rails with Trails, a community coalition that believes the corridor can keep its rails and gain a trail at the same time. The group says its plan centers on restoring tourist train service between Tavares, Eustis and Mount Dora, and it invites residents and local businesses to sign its petition and join the effort.
Rail museums you can still visit nearby
The Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden is only about 19 miles away. Kirby Family Farm in Williston, about 59 miles off, runs themed train events, and the Historic Plant City Union Depot is about 60 miles southwest. Browse all of Florida's train museums for more.
- Central Florida Railroad MuseumWinter Garden, FL · about 19 mi
- Kirby Family Farm RailwayWilliston, FL · about 59 mi
- Historic Plant City Union DepotPlant City, FL · about 60 mi
- Florida East Coast Railway Society historic collectionstatewide, FL · about 65 mi
- Henry B. Plant MuseumTampa, FL · about 74 mi
- Florida Railroad MuseumParrish, FL · about 89 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Imagine riding past orange groves toward a lake, the window full of water and sky. That is the kind of view Rally gets on the Pacific Surfliner, staring out an arched window at the ocean and saying hello to a white bird. The Cannonball does not run anymore, but I love that people in Mount Dora still hope to ride their old citrus line again.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Florida: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Florida
- Halloween train rides in Florida
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Orange Blossom Cannonball?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Orange Blossom Cannonball: 20 questions answered
Is the Orange Blossom Cannonball still running?
No. The Orange Blossom Cannonball stopped running in early 2017, and it no longer offers public rides in Tavares or Mount Dora. Listings that still show tickets or schedules are out of date. Its operator, the Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad, ran excursions from October 2011 until that year.
What was the Orange Blossom Cannonball?
It was the advertised name of the Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad, a tourist railroad that ran excursion trains between Tavares and Mount Dora in Lake County, Florida. The trains used historic track owned by the Florida Central Railroad, on a line once built to carry the region's citrus crop.
When did the Orange Blossom Cannonball operate?
The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad operated the Cannonball from October 2011 to early 2017. Reports differ slightly on the final month, with some placing the end in January 2017 and others in late March 2017, but all agree public excursions ended that year.
Why did the Orange Blossom Cannonball close?
Public reports say only that the company went out of business in 2017 and ended its Lake County service. They do not give a detailed reason. Mount Dora Rails with Trails, a local coalition focused on the line's future, may be able to share more about what happened to the corridor.
Where did the Orange Blossom Cannonball run?
The Cannonball ran between Tavares and Mount Dora, two of the three Golden Triangle towns in Lake County, along with Eustis. Tavares sits on the shores of Lake Dora, and Mount Dora's historic downtown depot was long the heart of that town's rail service.
What kind of train was the Orange Blossom Cannonball?
It was a steam-powered excursion train. Accounts of the railroad describe its engine as a wood-burning, standard-gauge steam locomotive, unusual in Florida outside of amusement parks. Details on where that locomotive is today are not posted publicly.
What train replaced the Orange Blossom Cannonball?
A new excursion operator, the Orlando and Northwestern Railway, began service on the corridor in October 2017, offering a range of train trips. Later passenger operations on portions of the same line have also ended, so check current local news before planning a ride there.
Can you still ride a train in Mount Dora?
Not on the old Cannonball route, as passenger excursions on the corridor have stopped. The Mount Dora Rails with Trails coalition says its plan centers on restoring tourist train service between Tavares, Eustis and Mount Dora, so watch its updates for any return of rides.
What is the history of the Mount Dora railroad?
Florida's rail expansion reached the Golden Triangle in the 1880s, and the line arrived in Mount Dora in 1887. From about 1890 to 1930 it carried thousands of carloads of citrus each season, then served as a main way for residents and tourists to travel until roads took over.
What is the Golden Triangle rail route?
The Golden Triangle is the trio of Lake County towns, Mount Dora, Tavares and Eustis, joined by this historic rail line. Even as longer routes were abandoned from the 1960s to 1990s, the core track linking the three towns stayed intact, which made the Cannonball's excursions possible.
What is Mount Dora Rails with Trails?
Mount Dora Rails with Trails is a community coalition that wants to keep the historic rails in place while also building a new trail beside them, rather than removing the track for a bike path. It runs a petition and invites residents and businesses to join its effort.
Will the Orange Blossom Cannonball come back?
There is no announced return of the Cannonball itself. Mount Dora Rails with Trails says it plans to purchase the rail line and focus on restoring tourist train service between Tavares, Eustis and Mount Dora. Any new service would be a separate effort, so follow local announcements.
Who owned the track the Cannonball used?
The Cannonball ran on historic track owned by the Florida Central Railroad. The Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad was the excursion operator rather than the track owner, which is common for tourist railroads that share older freight corridors.
Did the Orange Blossom Cannonball have a Christmas train?
Holiday schedules from its operating years are not posted anywhere current, and there are no Christmas trains on the route today. For a holiday ride in Florida this season, look at operating heritage railroads and rail museums elsewhere in the state.
How can I support restoring trains in Mount Dora?
Mount Dora Rails with Trails asks supporters to sign its petition, join its Facebook group, and, for business owners, add their business to its coalition. The group shares a contact form and a mailing address at PO Box 543, Mount Dora, Florida 32757.
Is there a train museum in Tavares or Mount Dora?
There is no train museum tied to the Cannonball today. The closest operating rail museum is the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden, about 19 miles away, which makes a good substitute for families who wanted a train outing in this part of Florida.
Was the Orange Blossom Cannonball good for kids?
During its years of operation it gave families a short steam train ride between two lakeside towns. Since it no longer runs, families with young train fans should look at operating museums nearby, such as the Central Florida Railroad Museum or Kirby Family Farm's event trains.
Where can I see the old Mount Dora depot?
The historic depot sits in downtown Mount Dora, near the town's shops and restaurants, and was once described as the heart of the community. It is a pleasant stop on a walk downtown, though it does not host Cannonball rides anymore.
Are old Orange Blossom Cannonball listings accurate?
No. Travel sites and directories that still show Orange Blossom Cannonball schedules, prices or tickets are outdated. The train has not run public trips since 2017, and later operations on the corridor have ended too. Treat any old listing as history rather than a current attraction.
What train museums are near Tavares, Florida?
The Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden is about 19 miles away, Kirby Family Farm in Williston about 59 miles, and the Historic Plant City Union Depot about 60 miles. The Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa and the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish are farther afield.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.