I bet you didn’t know that Central Florida has its very own Singing Tower. What does that mean exactly? How can a tower sing you ask? Well, it’s very simple. In the early 1920s, Edward W. Bok was spending his winter in what is now known as the Mountain Lake community, taking his evening strolls on top of “Iron Mountain.” He enjoyed it so much, that he decided to preserve the area and create a bird sanctuary. Bok commissioned Frederick Law Olmstead to create a subtropical garden that now attracts 126 different species of birds and architect Milton B. Medary to create an art deco, neo-gothic carillon tower.
car·il·lon
noun
a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll.
Bok Tower and the Gardens
No matter how much time you have to spend, you should definitely place Bok Tower Gardens on your list of attractions to visit when coming to Central Florida. It’s a place for people of all ages to enjoy! Located south of Orlando in Lake Wales, Florida, its open to visitors 365 days per year. Situated on nearly 50 acres, this Florida attraction boasts a 2.5 acres children’s garden and 20 room Pinewood Estate mansion, in addition to the Singing Tower and Olmstead gardens.
When you get here, make sure to stop by the Welcome Center for a short, 8 minute video introduction about the history of the gardens and the life of Edward Bok. From there, you can begin your leisurely stroll through the gardens heading towards the Singing Tower. Once there, get up close and personal to see the stunning architecture of the Tower. Otherwise, grab your blanket or chair and enjoy the carillon concert every day at 1pm and 3pm.
Pinewood Estate and Hammock Hollow
If you want to make the most of your visit to the gardens, visit Pinewood Estate. It was originally the winter residence of an American industrialist named Charles Austin Buck beginning in the early 1930s. The home includes 12,900 square feet of living area, servants’ quarters, two apartments, laundry room, three-car garage and basement (holy cow, am I right?). The grandeur and glamor of this mansion makes this a must see when visiting Bok Tower. From here, continue your stroll to the Hammock Hollow’s Children Garden where the arched gateway will take visitors (young and old!) to climb, build and explore.
Directions to Bok Tower Gardens
Visiting from Orlando? Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Boulevard in Lake Wales. Or simply head towards Tampa on I-4, then take exit 55 south to US-27 and drive for 23 miles. You’ll begin to see signs for Bok Tower, but need to turn left on East Mountain Lake Cutoff Road, then right on FL-17 South after 3/4 of a mile. The entrance to the gardens will be on your left! Bok Tower Gardens is open 365 days a year from 8:00am-6:00pm, with the last admission at 5:00pm daily. General admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children age 5-12. The combo admission for Pinewood Estate and the Garden is $21 for adults and $10 for children age 5-12.
Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.
– Edward W. Bok