Tourists visiting Florida before the Disney Days had several options regarding attractions. They could choose from World Class Water Ski Shows at Cypress Gardens or the Glass Bottom Boats at Silver Springs. There were Weeki Wachee Mermaids or a Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens. Lake Wales promised visitors they would Find Serenity at Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens offer beautiful views with miles of rolling hills through the citrus groves. These were Florida’s original theme parks, and Bok Tower & Gardens remains.
So, with the promise of serenity, Brenda and I wandered around the paths among the flowers and foliage. As we listened to the carillon music, we could feel the tension of a hurried life drip away. Our visit aligned with the week of the International Carillon Festival which features world-renowned carillonneurs performing daily concerts. These musicians played a set of bells in the tower. Many events happen at the gardens year-round.
History
We started our visit in the information center, which is a good way to learn the history of these gardens. You can pick up a map of the gardens here. The exhibit hall has historical displays on Edward W. Bok’s life, as well as the history behind the Singing Tower and Gardens. You can also see the original carillon keyboard.
Bok Tower Gardens was created in the early 1920s and was a gift to the American people from Edward W. Bok, a Dutch immigrant who became editor of The Ladies Home Journal and won a Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography. He was transfixed by the beauty of one of Florida’s highest points, rising 295 feet above sea level in Lake Wales, Florida.
During the design, Edward W. Bok envisioned a majestic Singing Tower that would serve as the focal point of the Gardens. The tower became the most recognizable element of Bok Tower Gardens. The Bok “Singing” Tower has fascinated millions of Florida visitors since its opening in 1929.
Bok Gardens
There is a certain calmness when you wander through thousands of blooming azaleas, camellias, magnolias, and other flowering plants throughout the paved primary pathways. The garden is also home to 126 bird species.
February and March are the best months to visit as hundreds of colorful azaleas and camellias make a showing. There is always something blooming in the gardens.
Kitchen Garden & Outdoor Kitchen
This garden is where you will find kitchen plants such as vegetables, tea, ginger, and many others that you would use in cooking. The plants in this area not only look pretty, they taste pretty good too.
Window by the Pond
When you open the door of this small observatory, you can sit down and look through a glass window at a Florida pond ecosystem. Observe birds, reptiles, and butterflies that make this area their home.
Wild Garden
The Wild Garden showcases Florida native plants and wildlife in ecosystem plantings. When an insect crawls down the tubes of these rare Pitcher Plants, they are often trapped and eaten, making up for the lack of nutrients these plants get in their environment.
Exedra & Sunset Overlook
The marble Exedra was a gift from friends in the neighboring Mountain Lake Community, where Edward Bok resided. This sunset view inspired Mr. Bok’s dream of the Gardens during his visits. At an elevation of 298 feet, this is one of the highest points in Florida.
Reflection Pool
Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the landscape architect who designed the Gardens, specifically designed the pathways to shield the view of the Tower until reaching this point. This grand view of the Singing Tower is the perfect place for a photo with friends or family visiting the Gardens.
Peace Lantern
The gardens are filled with secret paths and alcoves that lead to hidden treasures. So we decided to do some exploring. We discovered this Japanese stone lantern, which we learned was a gift to the Gardens, and placed it in direct sight of the grave of Edward Bok as a tribute. It symbolizes with its encircling doves, humanity’s universal hope for world peace.
Pine Ridge Nature Trail
This 3/4-mile walking trail takes you through a longleaf pine & oak habitat. This unique habitat once covered millions of acres of the Southeastern United States. The longleaf pine forest is now in danger of disappearing, but fortunately, the folks at Bok Tower Gardens preserved a portion of it for visitors to experience. The trail is also perfect for bird-watching.
Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden
Following the path, we heard the sound of kids playing in The Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, which teaches children about conservation and the connection between animals, plants, and people. There is a splash-filled river walk, a spider web to climb, a doodlebug art area to display colored drawings, a music area, and a stage for budding performers. It looked like the parents were having as much fun as the kids.
The Pinewood Estate – El Retiro
At the halfway point in the gardens, we came upon another surprise. Here, you can visit a 1930s Mediterranean-style Pinewood Estate. This 20-room mansion was the former home of Charles Austin Buck ( a prominent executive of Bethlehem Steel Holdings). He named the estate “El Retiro,” Spanish for “retreat.”
Surrounded by seven acres of lush gardens, rolling lawns, and overlooking a beautiful pond, it is clear that Charles Buck was a lover of nature as well. This 12,900-square-foot estate is now on the National Register of Historic Places. However, there is an additional charge to go inside Pinewood Estate.
Blue Palmetto Cafe
We stopped for lunch onsite at the Blue Palmetto Cafe. The cafe serves soups, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. I chose the Chicken Blueberry Salad, a scoop of their homemade chicken salad on a bed of mixed greens, blueberries, feta cheese, candied pecans, strawberries, and blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette. Blue Palmetto also serves beer and wine. I like to try craft beers from areas I visit, so I had an IPA brewed by Grove Roots Breweries in nearby Winter Haven.
The Singing Tower
The crown jewel of Bok Tower Gardens is most certainly the Singing Tower, and its Carillon shows. The Tower houses a 60-bell carillon, with concerts at 1 and 3 p.m., and short selections played on the hour and half-hour. The carillon is one of four in the state of Florida and only 200 in North America! Click the arrow below and listen to the sounds of the carillon bells.
The Tower is a majestic height of two hundred and five feet, the equivalent of a twenty-story city skyscraper. Made from Georgia pink marble and Florida coquina stone, it is in harmony with the natural landscape, even as it towers over it. As a result of Bok’s love of birds, animals, and nature, the tower is adorned with carvings of pelicans, tortoises, and foxes. It celebrates the beauty of the natural world.
Since its opening in the late 1920s, Bok Tower and Gardens has remained one of Old Florida’s favorite tourist attractions.
The gardens are open 365 days per year. Adult admission is $16, Children (ages 5-12) $5, children under 5 are free, Dogs are $5.
Bok Tower & Gardens – 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853
There are several other Old Florida tourist attractions that you can still visit. You can still visit the Mermaids at Weekie Wachee, view Manatees at Homosassa Springs, go tubing down a lazy river at Rainbow Springs, or ride the glass bottom boats at Silver Springs. These parks that were once private tourist attractions are now state parks.
While you are in Lake Wales, Visit Spook Hill
While Bok Tower and Gardens are the main attraction in Lake Wales, no trip to Lake Wales is complete until you stop at Spook Hill. The mystery of Spook Hill has fascinated generations. Park your car at the bottom of the hill and watch as gravity is defied. Your car will roll uphill all by itself. The hill in Lake Wales is the only gravity hill in Florida.
600 N Wales Drive
