Near Land O' Lakes in Pasco County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Dupree Gardens

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 21, 2013

1. Dupree Gardens Marker

Inscription. Developed by Tampa Attorney J. Wm. Dupree, the gardens opened to the public on December 1, 1940. The attraction consisted of 900 acres of flowering trees and plants and included a lodge and a tearoom with gift shop. It also featured electric powered glass-bottomed boats on Dupree Lake.

Even though gasoline rationing had caused the facility to be "Closed For The Duration" in 1943, a New York City auction of Dupree Gardens' camellia blooms netted $250,000.00 for the War Bond effort in 1944. Dupree Gardens, still a beautiful garden spot, briefly reopened in 1946 for some civic events.

The tearoom burned in 1995. The lodge (converted to a home by the Hendrix family), the gatehouse (now in ruins) and some scattered plantings are all that remain of this early Florida theme park.

Beginning in 2003, Beazer Homes developed 468 acres as Dupree Lakes.

Erected 2007 by The Pasco Board of County Commissioners, The Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee and Beazer Homes.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1913.

Location. 28° 14.878′ N, 82° 27.113′ W. Marker is near Land O' Lakes, Florida, in Pasco County. It is on Ehren Cutoff Road (County Road

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583) 0.1 miles west of Dupree Lakes Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Land O Lakes FL 34639, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast

and on Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ehren Community (approx. 1.3 miles away); Ehren African American Community / Mount Carmel Church And Cemetery (approx. 1.8 miles away); Concord Stagecoach Road (approx. 4.1 miles away); Florida Honors and Remembers our POW’s and MIA’s (approx. 5.3 miles away); a different marker also named Florida Honors and Remembers our POW's and MIA's (approx. 5½ miles away); Samuel Pasco (approx. 6.8 miles away); Lutz Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); Isaac Washington Hudson Sr. (approx. 6.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Land O' Lakes.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Trooper James “Brad” Crooks Highway (was approx. 6.1 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Dupree Gardens original entrance station. Inbound on right, outbound on left. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, April 21, 2013

2. Dupree Gardens original entrance station. Inbound on right, outbound on left.

Photographed by Dave W, February 18, 2023

3. Dupree Gardens Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,078 times since then and 111 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 14, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on February 27, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.