The First Enterprise Courthouse

In 1854 the part of Orange County east of the river became Volusia County with Enterprise as the county seat. The first courthouse (may be the one shown here) was built not far behind Brock’s hotel on the lakefront where the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home now stands. Brock later donated land at the site of the present Enterprise Elementary School for a second courthouse that was built around 1867. Close by on the courthouse grounds was the first official Enterprise cemetery.

The Golden Age of Steamboat Travel

After the Civil War, a new era of tourism began in Florida with hundreds of visitors “doing the St. Johns.” Enterprise was the premier destination, advertised in Harper’s Weekly and other literary magazines of the time as a “hunting and fishing paradise” with miraculous mineral springs and exciting boat excursions.

The Brock House Hotel

The 100-room Brock House Hotel became one of the most famous hotels in Florida during this era, attracting notables and celebrities from all over the world. Among its guests were Grover Cleveland, Ulysses S. Grant, Jay Gould, the Vanderbilts, James Rockefeller, and Gen. William Sherman. It was later expanded by Luther Caldwell.

In 1876 Brock, in the midst of bankruptcy due to stiff competition on the river from DeBary’s line and others, sold his property to Luther Caldwell who was involved in forming a new railroad to ship citrus from the Indian River. Caldwell was interested in attracting rail passengers to the area. The rail-pier, where five steamboats a day once docked, was located just east of Broadway Street. In 1887 Enterprise was able to access the Jacksonville Tampa and Key West Railroad by a spur from Enterprise to Enterprise Junction. The advent of these rail lines spelled the end of the steamboat era.

Comments or Questions?
Email the

VolusiaHistory.com is a partnership between the
Volusia County Historic Preservation Board
and the Volusia County Government