Old Spanish Sugar Mill

What a fun place and adventure!!!! We drove 2 hours for pancakes..... I know crazy but it was so fun! The pancakes were so light and fluffy and tasty!! We also had the ham and bacon. They serve a variety of other stuff, but the pancakes were so fun! Go early so you get there when they open! We were told by park staff and a few others that as the morning goes on, it gets busy! We got there shortly after opening, and we're seated right away. Placed our order, and everything showed up pretty fast! You have a choice of toppings/ add-ins to add to your pancakes. They serve both buttermilk and a whole grain batter, and you can try both! Maple syrup, honey, and molasses are your options for topping everything off! Quit reading this and make a plan and go!!

This is a place to visit just for the experience. It's fun to sit around the table griddle with family & cook your own breakfast from pancakes & eggs to French toast. Prepare for long wait times of an hour or more. You can take a boat tour while you wait for about $10 per person, but the last tour is at 1pm & we missed it. Lots of great hiking trails too. The restaurant didn't have a/c & grills really heated things up. It's not a bad thing, but be aware if you want a place with a/c to get out of the FL heat, this isn't it. We loved the history, learning about the area & the unique experience.

I came here a month ago and I was so excited that they reopened!! I proceeded to go to the guard shack where it cost $4 for one individual in a car or $6 for up to 8 people in a car. There is a huge parking lot and if you have an RV, they have RV parking as well! It's well worth the cost considering all of the activities available on-site. First, there are miles of hiking trails, a cool gift shop with historic artifacts and information about the early origins of the "Fountain of Youth" and the swimming pool still attached to the lake. The most popular part of this park is the Old Spanish Mill where you can wander in and have some delicious pancakes that you made yourself on the griddle that is part of your table! The all you can eat pancake special most people get is 7.99 and you can add extra breakfast items to your order. They accept Apple and Google pay, credit, debit, or cash for payment. You can also buy a nice hat or t shirt to take home with you in their gift shop! The best time to come here if you are like me and don't like a ton of crowds is Monday thru Thursday 0800 to 1100 hours (lunch starts and it can get crowded). Weekends are absolutely crowded with a wait time of up to an hour. You can always join the wait-list when you get there and have a nice short hike with your compatriots. The trails are easy and short for those who have mobility issues. Put your feet into the original sought after the Fountain of Youth or take a short hike to see the artifacts in the gift shop!

We visited this place right before the pandemic and are happy that it will be reopening under new management in November of 2022. This place is unique as you can make your own pancakes right at your table. This is located right inside De Leon Springs park so you will have to pay an entry fee for the park. I recommend you arrive early to get in line to get in as this place fills up quickly, especially during the weekend. You will also have to make reservations to eat inside the mill. You can go kayaking , scuba diving and even take a boat tour while you are there. They also have a covered outdoor eating area and a free museum showcasing the local history of this location. This will keep you entertained while you wait for your table, at least that is how it used to be. I am not aware if the new management will decide to change this system of reservations or pricing. All in all it is well worth the trip.

We got there at 8:30 and there was a short line. The pancakes were great, especially the five grain. By the time we left, the place was packed and there was a long wait. Be sure to get there early if you want to eat right away. After, we took a boat your, went on some of the hiking trails, explored the small museum and cooled off in the spring. The park is absolutely beautiful and worth the drive!

I wish there were places like the Old Sugar Mill around here in Germany. I visited a couple of times with my US family and I’m grateful that they introduced me to this gorgeous place/restaurant. Everything you could ask for and second to none blueberry pancake dough, perfect bacon and for the fun of it you can take your time preparing your meal on an individual hotplate. A solid recommendation and spot to return to.

This is the new pancake place that replaced the old pancake place at the sugar mill. First off, there are two pancake mixes like before. However, they are very different. I did like the old mixes better, but of these two new types, I like the multigrain more. There is stereotypical syrup and molasses. However, there is no longer honey at the table. Speaking of tables, they all appear new as do the chairs. Maybe a new light fixture or two. There is a front hostess stand that will add you to the wait list. They don't yell out names any more but do text you and you can see your status in line on yelp. Also long line finally got into the park at 830 and we were only 4th on the waiting list, not too bad for a Saturday. MOST IMPORTANTLY PLEASE BRING BACK VEGGIE SAUSAGE IT WAS WONDERFUL.

We had a great time here today. We did our advance research and understood it's in a State Park and all state parks have entrance fees, we also knew there would be a wait. During our wait we took the boat ride, none of us expected it to be free. It was a lovely, meditative ride with some fun Florida flora and fauna facts. Our wait time was just under 2 hours for the pancake house, exactly as was quoted to us by the hostess. We got the make your own buttermilk and 5 grain batter along with pecans, blueberries and chocolate chips with a side of sausage patties. The table griddles worked just like any other cast iron griddle, you spray it and you cook on it and it cooks fast. The pancakes came out fluffy and tasty. Honey, syrup and molasses was.provided along with plenty of butter packets. The service was friendly and just the right amount of attentive to get drink refills but not feel smothered or rushed. We received a normal bill with an outline of our charges and it is very explicitly stated on the menu and the bill that 18% gratuity is included (based on some of the previous reviews I don't blame them for adding the 18% as people seem to have forgotten that servers do not make a living wage). The building is not air conditioned obviously as it is an old sugar mill but they have windows and fans so it was not unpleasant. Overall we had a fun time and would recommend the adventure to those who enjoy pancakes and old Florida charm.