Visit the Historic Bok Tower Gardens and Singing Tower

On February 1, 1929, President Calvin Coolidge addressed hundreds of visitors at The Singing Tower. Hundreds of cars parked beneath a pine forest. Guests dressed in formal black garb braved Florida’s heat for the dedication address. Pines and oaks surrounded the tower and the temporary wood shelter erected for the President’s visit. Palms and palmettos spread across the ground between the trees.

The gardens which would give the sanctuary the name Bok Tower Gardens had yet to be completed. It’s purpose, though, stood in brilliant glory against the Florida sky, much as it does today – a gift for the American people, a testament to the quiet majesty of the trees and the sparkling waters of the reflection pool mingled with the music from the tower.

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Perched on the highest piece of ground in central Florida and surrounded by native pines, oaks, and palms, the Singing Tower we now call Bok Tower was the inspiration of Edward Bok. In the years since, extensive gardens, a Mediterranean-style home, visitor center museum, and café have only added to the wonder and beauty of Bok Tower Gardens.

“The main purpose of this sanctuary and tower is to preach the gospel of beauty. Although they have been made possible through the generosity of Mr. Edward W. Bok, he does not wish them to be considered as a memorial or a monument. While it has been his purpose to give some expression here to his own love of the beautiful, in form, in color, and in sound, he has also sought to preserve the quiet majesty of the trees, increase the display of coloring in the flowers, and combine stone and marble in the graceful lines of the tower, all in a setting surrounded by green foliage and reflected in sparkling waters over which the song of the nightingale will mingle with the music of the bells.“

After a two-hour drive, I followed the GPS (Lisa-Lisa) through a quiet and shuttered downtown Lake Wales, past Spook Hill, and to a pine-lined street with signage pointing up the road. Past the main, gated entrance, the road wound through a planted pine forest.

On the mile long drive to the main parking area, the Singing Tower peeked above the hills and trees. It grew larger as pine trees gave way to acres upon acres of orange groves.

At the end of the road, an oak-shaded parking lot sat mostly empty and inviting. I carefully chose a spot to keep Scarlett shaded most of the day, grabbed water and the camera bag, and nearly ran to the building.

Once inside I found the information desk and squeaked, “Bathroom, please.”

A Brief History of Bok Tower Gardens and the Singing Tower

Edward Bok was an immigrant who came to the United States as a child of poor parents. Despite his impoverished upbringing, he found a lots of success in his adult life. He was an internationally renowned author and publisher, as well as a social reformer and philanthropist.

In 1922 he purchased land on Iron Mountain, the hill he could see from his home in nearby Mountain Lake, Florida. His idea was to create a sanctuary of nature for birds and people. He hired famous landscape architect to create his sanctuary.

Visitor Center and Chao Exhibit Hall

This main building houses the museum and visitor center. In it, guests learn the history of the Singing Tower and the Mountain Lake community. Visitors find a lot of biographical information about Edward Bok, landscape architect Frederick Olmstead, architect Milton Medary, and the rest of the team Bok pulled together for construction of his tower and gardens.

The museum also features artifacts such as construction items, copies of blueprints, old photos, and a geological history of this unique part of Florida.

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Outside the museum, a wide courtyard separates it from the café and gift shop. Visitors can access the gardens directly through the courtyard. From there, all paths eventually lead to the Singing Tower. The first carillon concert started in three hours away so I took that time to explore each of the gardens.

The Gardens

In all, several miles of trails and paths wind through native and exotic plants. The curving paths exemplify the relaxed idyllic lifestyle Bok and his guests enjoyed while vacationing at Mountain Lake. Edward Bok purchased 14 acres on Iron Mountain and turned it into Mountain Lake Sanctuary. He hired the esteemed landscape architect, Frederick Olmstead, Jr to transform the sandy hill into a lush oasis. Today, Bok Tower Gardens encompasses 250 acres.

Oval Lawn

The Oval Lawn serves as a central open area from which many of the other gardens – or paths to other gardens – branch off. A concrete walkway encircles a grassy area (hence, the name) which is the perfect place for children to run, tumble, and play. Benches pushed towards the back edge of the walkway take advantage of the shade provided by adjacent trees.

Pollinator Garden

Beside the café’s outdoor seating area, the pollinator garden displays native Florida plants which attract pollinators. Dozens of butterflies flit from blanket flower to spiderwort. Coreopsis’ sunny yellow faces dance gently in the breeze. Two pollinator hotels stand cheerfully beneath pine trees. The majority of Florida’s native bee species are solitary bees which live in natural settings that the bee hotels mimic. Meandering paths invite visitors to enjoy the flowers and revel in the beauty of the plants and pollinators.

Kitchen Garden

The kitchen garden at Bok Tower Gardens showcases a number of raised beds in which vegetables grow. Giant cabbages and onion greens spilled over the side of the beds reaching for the gravel walkway. Fruit trees lined up in straight rows in the orchard, and a grape vine climbed over an arbor. An outdoor kitchen has several tables, a central island counter, grill, and stone oven. And for cooler nights, low-slung wood chairs wait around a fire pit. Walking through this garden sparks a picture of how a home garden can look with a little planning and a great deal of care.

Hammock Hollow Childrens’ Garden

One of the newer gardens at Bok Tower Gardens, Hammock Hollow lights up the imagination of children and adults alike. The expansive and playful nature of this garden made me want to be a kid again! At one end, a boardwalk winds through grasses and trees with rock outcroppings perfect for climbing. Beyond that, several playgrounds, a walk-through arbor, and a splash pad create spaces where imagination and fun run wild.

Pine Ridge & Preserve Trails

Two hiking trails at Bok Tower Gardens transport visitors through some of the most unique ecosystems in Florida. The Pine Ridge Trail winds for 3/4 of a mile through longleaf pine and turkey oak habitat which is quickly disappearing in Florida. This ecosystem supports endangered animals such as the gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake, and Florida mouse.

The longer Preserve Trail connects to the Pine Ridge Trail. It winds through the pine forest and orange groves for 1.5 miles to the entrance gate. Interpretive signs along the way engage and inspire hikers with information about tell about the plants and animals found in a longleaf pine forest, the ecological role of fire, and the natural history of the Lake Wales Ridge. In all, the two out-and-back trails cover 4.5 miles.

Wild Garden

I’m always excited and proud to find a native plant garden in a park, especially one in which the grounds were previously made more “exotic”. Decades ago, when people thought Florida’s natural flora was too boring, hundreds of tropical plants were imported. Thanks to the state’s subtropical climate, many of those thrived and became naturalized in our wild areas. In some cases, like the water hyacinth, those exotic plants displaced the native ones. In others, the exotics thrived alongside natives. Over the past decade or two, conservationist have placed an emphasis on revitalizing Florida’s disappearing native habitats.

The Wild Garden at Bok Tower Gardens four planted ecosystems on eight acres, including a pine savanna, oak hammock, and wetland prairie. On the pine savanna, native flowers waved in the morning breeze. Tall grasses spanned the distance between a variety of trees, and a thicket of oaks, palms, and pines provides dense cover at the edges .

Wetland Boardwalk

The wetland prairie that is part of the Wild Garden also has a bog and an impressive boardwalk which passes over both. This was one of my favorite gardens. A manmade stream drains the bog into a pond and bog plants such as pitcher plants grow throughout the wetland prairie. An interesting and unusual habitat, cute signs and benches along the boardwalk invite kids of all ages to engage, observe, learn, and maybe just sit to watch all of the wildlife activity.

Endangered Plant Garden

The Endangered Plant Garden showcases thirty endangered plants in Florida. The list of Florida’s native protected plants includes 448 endangered plant species. Of those, 54 are on the federal endangered species list. Strangely, the ghost orchid which is rare and grows only in Florida and Cuba, is not on that list. Though we spent a day chasing the ghost orchid last year at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, somehow I missed this endangered plant garden at Bok Tower Gardens.

The Singing Tower at Bok Tower Gardens

The gardens at Bok Tower spread beauty across the property; however, the Singing Tower steals the show. Standing at 205 feet, it can be seen from nearly everywhere in the gardens and surrounding community. The tower originally held the 60-bell carillon, water tanks to irrigate the gardens, and Edward Bok’s study. Though the interior of the tower is closed to the public now, it houses the carillon, archives, the carillon library, and a workshop.

Architect Milton Medary constructed the tower of pink Etowah marble and gray Creole marble mined in Georgia as well as coquina from St. Augustine. The tower is built in a Greek Revival style. A team of artisans brought to life Florida’s fauna and flora in Art Deco details, and famed metalwork Samuel Yellin contributed the metal work. The entire tower is a work of art. Benches around all sides invite visitors to sit and take in every detail. The carillon bells chime on the hour with full concerts every afternoon.

El Retiro at Pinewood

El Retiro is a 1930s Mediterranean Revival Mansion with 21 rooms sitting on eight acres of lawn and gardens. The mansion was built for C. Austin Buck and his family, neighbors of the Boks. In 1970, Bok Tower Gardens acquired the property, and in 1985 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Like Bok, Mr. Buck revered nature and Florida’s natural beauty. He hired the Olmstead Firm to design and build his gardens. Once the gardens were in place, the mansion was designed around them to bring their beauty into the home. The mansion, first named El Retiro, was called Pinewood Estate for several decades. However, with the mansion restored to its original splendor, the Gardens also restored its name. Daily guided tours allow visitors to experience El Retiro’s unique features, such as the original built-in refrigerator, beautiful floors, original furniture, and hand-carved cypress doors.

Other Points of Interest at Bok Tower Gardens

Several other points of interest lie tucked in different parts of the gardens. These hold significance as markers or commissioned pieces to honor Bok or special places from which to observe nature.

Exedra

In honor of Bok’s contributions to the Mountain Lake community, Bok’s neighbors commissioned the semi-circular bench. It is constructed of the same pink and gray marble used to build the Singing Tower.

Window By the Pond

A small observatory opposite the pond from the Wetlands Boardwalk allows visitors to observe the pond and its wildlife in a manner that doesn’t disturb the wildlife. Observe birds, butterflies, fish, dragonflies, and the mammals which use the pond as a water source.

Peace Lantern

Usaburo Tsujita commissioned this traditional Japanese tōrō as a tribute to Bok’s efforts towards world peace. The lantern arrived at the Gardens in 1955 with the simple request that it be placed within sight of Bok’s grave.

1929 Dedication Marker

This marker dedicates Edward Bok’s creation of the sanctuary and gardens. It also marks the original entrance to the Gardens near El Retiro.

Information About Bok Tower Gardens

If you plan to visit these beautiful gardens (and you should!), you can purchase tickets in advance on their website. Note that touring the inside of El Retiro is not included in the cost to enter Bok Tower Gardens, though the exterior and gardens are open to everyone. Bok Tower Gardens is open 365 days a year from 8 AM to 6 PM.

Hotels Near Bok Tower Gardens

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