The Carrollton Hotel is but one of several resort lodgings that wecomed visitors to central Florida. It was a landmark feature in the thriving town of DeLand. This community in West Volusia County became quite popular during the boom of the steamboat era. Located a few miles east of the St. Johns, this community steadily grew after its founding by New York State chemical merchant Henry Addison DeLand. DeLand immediately realized the potential of the hilly long leaf pine forested area after seeing similar land elsewhere being used for growing citrus.

A steamboat landing on the St. Johns River west of town or other such landings to the south served as the major access points for the earliest travelers to DeLand. Well maintained roads were not established for decades, so the waterway served as the major route for most settlers and visitors. Many of those that stayed to develop the land and the city became involved in the evolving citrus industry. The pine forest steadily gave way to open up land for planting citrus. As the pine trees came down to clear the land, the same wood was used to build the expanding town.

In 1882, George Augustus Dreka built a two story department store that later expanded to four floors. The Carrollton Hotel was above the store. Dreka's store and hotel barely escaped the virtual destruction of most of the town during a fire in 1886. Everything in the building was kept damp with water from the rooftop water tank, and wet blankets hung from the balconies. Dreka then relocated his store and built one of the first concrete fireproof buildings in town. Dreka later discontinued operation of the hotel and utilized all four floors for the department store. Dreka’s Department Store became the largest department store in Central Florida. It operated in the present building on the corneer of New York Avenue and Woodland Boulevard until 1949. The building still stands today and bears historic markers indicating the significant role of Dreka's in DeLand's history.

Excerpt from, Grand Hotels of West Volusia County

Written by, Larry French