The Olde Spanish Sugar Mill & DeLeon Springs State Park

NOTE: You may see online that this restaurant is closed. That was true for a short while but it is now under new ownership. We visited there in January 2023 and it was open and back in business..

For decades our family has enjoyed a special place nestled in DeLeon Springs State Park, just 1.5 hours north of Walt Disney World. It’s a cozy little restaurant called The Olde Spanish Sugar Mill.

What makes it special is that you get to make your own pancakes complete with yummy mix mix-ins. Each table has a griddle in the center where everyone can reach it. You pour either regular or whole-grain pancake mix on the griddle then add mix-ins like fresh fruit, nuts, chocolate chips or granola. And not to worry if you not a pancake person, they have sandwiches, burgers and fries too.

The wait can be long, up to 3 hours for us sometimes, but usually it’s about an hour. Thankfully there’s a lot to do while you’re waiting. The grounds alone are beautiful with a canopies of Live Oaks and Azaleas. Just wandering around there is spectacular. They also have a boat ride that you can take that goes out into Spring Garden Lake. If you’re brave you can rent a kayak, but I don’t recommend it because of the alligators.

And if you’re cold-hardy, the swimming pool is a wonderful place to cool off. It’s a natural pool that’s fed directly from the spring and the water temperature runs around 68 degrees year round. It’s great especially in the summer, but it’s still way too cold for me. What I love about the pool is that it’s separate from the lake, so no alligators there!

They also have a hiking trail, gift shop, and a side food window where you can get a snack if the wait time is too long. And my favorite thing while waiting is looking at the old sugar mill machinery which dates back to the mid 1800’s.

If you’re ever visiting the central Florida area and love historic things, this is one place you won’t want to miss. It’s a step back in time away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and beaches. And make sure you come hungry because the pancakes are all you can eat!