LAKE WALES, Fla. – Only In Your State has released its list of the “one place you must see before you die” for each of America’s 50 states.
According to the website, this list is comprised of some of the most “beautiful” places in the country — and the Sunshine State’s selection can be found right here in Central Florida.
The Bok Tower Gardens were selected as Florida’s top pick, located in historic Lake Wales:
“This singing bell tower is a stunning work of art. A contemplative garden and bird sanctuary, Bok Tower Gardens offers over 250 acres of lush grounds to explore.
Bok Tower Gardens is open daily between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. but closed on both Thanksgiving and Christmas days. There is a visitor center, a cafe, and a store for your convenience. Admission includes access to select areas of the garden and use of the property’s 3.5-mile trail.”
Only In Your State, “Here Is the One Place You Must See Before You Die in All 50 States”
Also called the “Singing Tower,” this place was named after its creator, Edward Bok.
Along with Roger Babson (an eccentric businessman with his own strange history), Bok — an author and former editor of The Ladies Home Journal — moved to Lake Wales in the early 1920s following his retirement.
Enamored with the beauty of Central Florida’s landscape, Bok commissioned a bird sanctuary to be built at one of the highest points of the Lake Wales Ridge, Iron Mountain. It eventually evolved into a 200-foot-tall tower surrounded by lush greenery and vegetation.
But what makes the tower so strange is its built-in carillon: a musical instrument made up of 60 bells that are played with closed fists using a keyboard in the “playing cabin” below.
Even nearly a century later, the tower’s carillon is still played daily — once at 1 p.m. and again at 3 p.m.
Taking a closer look outside, the tower is inscribed with plenty of imagery involving Florida birds, which were a subject of fascination for Bok.
And the golden door that leads into the tower is inscribed with the story of Genesis from the Bible.
Of course, the tower isn’t the only reason to visit; the Olmsted Gardens surrounding the tower are comprised of acres of foliage with seasonal flowers, such as azaleas, camellias and magnolias. Fitting with Bok’s vision, over 120 different species of birds live here.
Guests can take two main paths through these gardens to get to the Singing Tower, which is about an eight-minute walk from the visitor center.
The Bok Tower Gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., only being closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
General admission costs $20 for adults, $10 for children, and free for infants 5 and younger. Visitors can also bring their dog for another $10 fee.
For more information or to plan your visit, head to the Bok Tower Gardens website here.
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