Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens is a botanical garden and historic site in Port Orange, just south of Daytona Beach. Its grounds pair the remains of a 19th-century sugar factory with varied plant collections, a nature trail and concrete dinosaurs.
- Location: 950 Old Sugar Mill Road, Port Orange, Florida
- From this Daytona Beach inn: about a 9-minute drive
- Admission: free; donations are appreciated
- On site: historic mill remains, garden areas, a nature trail and restrooms
What to see at the gardens
Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens brings together historic ruins, botanical collections and distinctive outdoor features. Start with the sugar factory remains, then follow the paths through the garden areas and look for the concrete dinosaurs commissioned for a former amusement park on the property.
The collections include azaleas, camellias, ivies, magnolias, native plants, palms, succulents, ferns and tropical plants. You can also find an Asian garden and a demonstration area. A children’s garden sits near full-size stone dinosaurs, while a human sundial and an herb garden shaped like Florida add other stops along the way.
The sugar mill ruins and site history
The garden’s central historic feature is a sugar factory that formed part of the former Dunlawton Plantation. The plantation occupied part of a 995-acre land grant awarded to Patrick Dean on August 31, 1804. The sugar works were first constructed in 1832 and rebuilt in the 1840s.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Dr. Perry Sperber created Bongoland amusement park on the property and commissioned its concrete dinosaurs. The site was donated to Volusia County by J. Saxton Lloyd in 1963. Botanical Gardens of Volusia Inc., a nonprofit with no salaried employees, has operated the gardens since April 1988 and continues to maintain them.
Paths, plants, and outdoor features
A roughly 0.6-mile route through the gardens connects the sugar mill ruins with the butterfly garden, sundial, Audubon Trail and Florida Hammock Trail. Volusia County identifies a nature trail and restrooms as amenities at the site.
Stay on the paths: the garden operator warns that poison ivy and other hazards may be present. Picnicking is not allowed. Maps are usually available in a green mailbox just left of the bulletin board, which can help you follow the grounds and choose which features to visit.
Hours, admission, and visitor access
Admission is free, and donations are appreciated. Published hours differ: the garden operator’s homepage gives daily hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., while Volusia County gives daily hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county also says the gardens close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, so confirm the current schedule before planning your visit.
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 8 AM–7 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Parking is limited, and event groups are capped at 50 people. For hours and access details, check the official site before you go.
How do you get to Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens?
The gardens are at 950 Old Sugar Mill Road in Port Orange, about a 9-minute drive from Sunshine Inn. From I-95, take Dunlawton Avenue east for 2.1 miles, turn left onto Nova Road, then turn right onto Herbert Street after 0.8 mile. Keep left after 0.1 mile onto Old Sugar Mill Road; parking is on the right.
If you’re planning other stops around town, the Museum of Arts & Sciences guide covers another Daytona Beach attraction.
For a longer day of sightseeing, the one-day Daytona Beach itinerary sets out a car-free plan.
FAQs
Is admission to Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens free?
Yes. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated.
How long is the walking route?
The roughly 0.6-mile route passes the sugar mill ruins, butterfly garden, sundial, Audubon Trail and Florida Hammock Trail.
Can you picnic at the gardens?
No. The garden operator does not allow picnicking and asks visitors to stay on the paths.