Bok Sanctuary: A Place Above the Rest
Bok Sanctuary is, by far, our favorite get-away-from-it-all destination in Central Florida. Bok is in Lake Wales, about one and a half hours south of Orlando, or one hour south of the Disney area, on Highway 27. There’s not a whole lot between here and there. However, because it is perched on the tallest topographical point in Peninsular Florida, even miles before your arrival, Bok Tower literally rises out and above its surroundings. Bok Sanctuary is the perfect destination for a picnic or a peaceful afternoon. Philanthropist Edward Bok, who made his money in the publishing industry and spent his summer months in the nearby Iron Mountain Community, commissioned famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., designer of Central Park, to create a sanctuary nearby on the top of Iron Mountain. He wanted it to be transformed into a “spot of beauty second to none in the country”. And was it ever! The sanctuary is like nothing else, full of hundreds of different beautiful plants and birds. The grounds are so lush, beautiful, and peaceful and contain so many spaces in which to discover or get lost. We even made a special trip there for ideas when we planted our courtyard. The carillon tower, or “Singing Tower” as it’s known to many, stands proudly in the center at the very tip top of Iron Mountain. Its pink marble exterior harkens back to the era of Art Deco which dominated the 1920’s when the tower was erected. Before heading up the hill, be sure to spend a few minutes at the visitor’s center. I recommend watching the short video in the room behind the information desk. It was brief but very interesting and informative. Then from your first step onto the entry path, you’ll feel like you’ve been taken someplace else. Bok Sanctuary is one of those places forgotten by time and overlooked by many theme park attendees. It’s well worth the drive, and I absolutely recommend it. Take a camera and plan to relax and enjoy the abundance of serenity and surrounding beauty. Address: 1151 Tower Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853 Phone: 863-676-1408 Website: Views: |
