For Immediate Release - DeLand, Fl October 28, 2019 - The best Holiday Home Tour in Florida and 10 Best in the nation, according to USA Today, opens November 15 in Florida's most historic home, the Stetson Mansion. The privately owned High Victorian mansion was built in 1886 for Florida's first snow bird, John B. Stetson, the famed hat maker. The largest, most opulent, and technologically advanced home ever built in Florida before 1900 was one of the first homes in the world designed and built with friend Thomas Edison's electricity and first to use Edison electric Christmas tree lights in Florida. 12000 visitors from all over the world will enjoy guided tours of the mansion during the 60 day event which has a $1.5 million economic impact on DeLand and West Volusia County.
New elaborate and elegant themed displays are created each year for ten rooms. Unlike other holiday homes decorated by dozens of volunteers, the entire display is created and assembled in eight weeks solely by owner/designer JT Thompson who hand places each intricate layer of decoration. Themes this year include A Woodland Escape, A Cardinal Conclave, Heroes Tribute and Life is Wonderful. “Our goal this year is to make you feel like you came home for Christmas,” said owner Michael Solari.
Guides detail the inspiration and meaning of each room as well as share a little history of the home's builder and current owners. "The rich setting for these decorations is incomparable. All the carpets have been removed to reveal 16 intricate parquet floor patterns and there are 10,000 panes of antique window pane glass to refract the light," said tour guide JoAnn Heinle. Reservations are required at StetsonMansion.com for the hour and fifteen minute guided tour which is similar to a one man show and operates through Jan 15. Tours operate at 10:30, 1:30, 3:15, 5:00 and 7:00. $27/$15 +tax. Stetson Mansion 1031 Camphor Lane, DeLand, Fl 32720.
Media Contact: Michael Solari Michael@StetsonMansion.com