Description: Edward W. Bok, Dutch immigrant, writer, publisher and humanitarian, built the Bok Tower Gardens and dedicated it to the American People in 1929. Why? He wanted to provide a sanctuary for people and animals. Once you visit the Gardens in Lake Wales, you’ll see that Bok accomplished that and more.
The focal point of the Bok Tower Gardens is the Bok Singing Tower, an incredible 205’ tall. It includes a 60-bell carillon and is made of pink and gray marble. The carvings show illustrations of fish, flowers, seahorses, jellyfish, cranes, pelicans, Adam and Eve, and several other images representative of what can be found in Florida.
Philadelphian Architect, Milton B. Medary designed and built the carillon tower, using as his primary inspiration Gothic towers and churches of Europe. Lee Laurie, a New York stone sculptor designed the marble sculpture that adorns the Tower.
Recitals are heard daily at 3 p.m. with clock music on the half-hour starting at 10 a.m. Know before you go that the Tower itself is closed to the public, but visitors may enjoy permanent exhibits in the Education and Visitor Center depicting the interior of the Tower as well as the carillon instrument. The gardens leading up to the magnificent Tower are captivating as well as serene.
The Bok Tower Gardens is worth a visit and you’ll learn as much detail as you wish about architecture, the blooming gardens, and the carillon. It is also the site for many weddings. Special events are ongoing, year-round, and include special breathtaking flower displays, carillon recitals, storytelling festival, New Year’s celebration, and more.
The Pine Ridge Preserve offers a one-mile trail where visitors may enjoy the rare plants and animals of Florida's ancient sandhill, as well as the more common longleaf pines and turkey oaks. Window By the Pond nature observatory gives a glimpse of daily life in a freshwater pond.
Pinewood Estate, a 20-room Mediterranean Revival-style villa, is open seasonally. Offering guided tours to the public, the estate stands as one of the finest examples of this type of architecture in the State of Florida.
General Information
http://www.boktower.org
Bok Tower Gardens Information: (863) 676-1408
Hours of Operation:
Bok Tower Gardens is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with last admission at 5 p.m.
Admission:
Adult: $6.00
Children 5-12: $2.00
Under age 5: Free
Members: Free
Saturday admission 8-9 a.m.: Free
Group Rate: Available with a minimum of 15 or more people and pre-registration.
Bok Tower Gardens
1151 Tower Boulevard
Lake Wales, FL 33853-3412
(863) 676-1408
For more information, visitor guide and brochures, contact the Central Florida Visitor and Convention Bureau to help plan your trip: http://sunsational.org/ or call 877-877-1430.
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