Lake County, Florida • Est. 1925

Discover
Montverde

This is a dump of all the great things Montverde has to offer.

Explore the Town
1925
Year Incorporated
1912
Academy Founded
70+
Nationalities at MVA
1,900
Acres at Bella Collina
⛰️
Monte Verde
"Green Mountain" in Spanish — named by a visitor from Vermont struck by the rolling hills

The Town

A Century of Small-Town Florida Living

Nestled on the western shore of Lake Apopka, Montverde is one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Named "Green Mountain" for its rare rolling hills — a landscape almost unheard of in flat Florida — this small town has been home to settlers since 1865.

First known as "West Lake Apopka," the town was settled by homesteaders including John W. Harden, who received a 200-acre Federal Land Grant from President Chester Arthur for his service in the Seminole Wars. Incorporated in 1925, Montverde has maintained its easy-going, rural character while quietly becoming home to world-class institutions.

Location
Lake County, FL
Near Orlando
~30 Miles West
ZIP Code
34756
Centennial
100 Years

What to See & Do

Attractions & Landmarks

From championship golf to lakeside parks, Montverde packs remarkable experiences into a small-town setting.

Luxury

Bella Collina Golf & Resort

A stunning 1,900-acre luxury gated community featuring a Sir Nick Faldo-designed championship golf course, full-service spa, fine dining, and Italian-inspired architecture overlooking pristine lakes.

Visit Bella Collina
Nature

Lake Apopka & Wildlife

One of Florida's largest lakes borders Montverde to the east. The Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive offers world-class birding, and the scenic shoreline provides fishing, kayaking, and unforgettable sunset views.

Town Website
Heritage

Historic Downtown Montverde

Walk the streets of a town largely unchanged for a century. The historic cemetery, original rail line paths from the Tavares and Gulf Railroad (1887–1969), and Native American archaeological sites tell centuries of stories.

Explore History
Recreation

Parks & Green Spaces

Kirk Park, Truskett Park, and Lake Florence Park offer peaceful escapes with scenic trails along Montverde's signature rolling green hills — a rare landscape for Florida that inspired the town's name.

Discover Parks
Education

Montverde Academy

Founded in 1912 as a two-room schoolhouse, now an elite international college preparatory school with 1,400 students from over 70 countries. Home to one of the most dominant high school basketball programs in history.

Visit Academy
Innovation

Birthplace of the Snapper Mower

Montverde is the birthplace of the iconic Snapper Mower, originally called the "Snappin' Turtle," developed right here by local inventors Alex and Neal Smith. A piece of American industrial history.

Learn More

The NBA Pipeline

From Small Town to the Big League

Montverde Academy has produced more NBA first-round picks than almost any high school in America. These athletes walked the same streets as the town's 2,000 residents.

CC
Cade Cunningham
#1 Overall Pick, 2021
BS
Ben Simmons
#1 Overall Pick, 2016
DR
D'Angelo Russell
#2 Overall Pick, 2015
SB
Scottie Barnes
#4 Overall Pick, 2021
RB
RJ Barrett
#3 Overall Pick, 2019
MM
Moses Moody
1st Round, 2021
DW
Dariq Whitehead
1st Round, 2023
FL
Francisco Lindor
MLB All-Star (Baseball)

Montverde Academy's athletic program extends beyond basketball — MLB All-Star Francisco Lindor is also an alumnus. Learn more at montverde.org

The Montverde Dump

Environmental Records & Data

Public environmental data and historical information regarding the Montverde dump site in Lake County, Florida.

📋

Recent DEP Data from 2026

Access the latest environmental records from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Review electronic documents, facility reports, and compliance data through the DEP Nexus public portal.

View DEP Records
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Former General Dump Location

View the historical location of the former Montverde general dump site on Google Maps. This interactive map shows the precise geographic coordinates and surrounding area of the former facility.

View on Google Maps

Plan Your Visit

Experience Montverde

Just 30 miles west of Orlando, Montverde offers a rare glimpse of old Florida — rolling green hills, lakeside sunsets, and a century of history waiting to be explored.