Lake Helen is located in
Volusia County north of
Orlando between Orlando and
Daytona Beach along Interstate 4 near Lake Woodruff, Lake Ashby and the
Ocala National Forest. Lake Helen is part of the
Daytona Beach, Florida metro area.
Starting from a single log cabin in 1858, the area around a small lake to the southeast of Deland remained relatively undeveloped until Henry DeLand turned began the building process in 1883. He named it after his daughter Helen, established a sawmill, built a hotel and the low key boom was off and running. More recently "downtown" development surrounds an equestrian and recreational area. Dominating one side is a modern industrial complex, once the home of a leading exercise machine manufacturer (Nautilus), now occupied by Pyramax Studios.
