Bok Tower Gardens offers visitors Florida's most abundant opportunities for aesthetic, cultural and personal enrichment. The lush landscapes of the Olmsted gardens, the majesty and music of the Singing Tower with its 60-bell carillon and the splendor of Pinewood Estate create an experience that inspires all who visit.
Nearly 50 acres of Olmsted gardens surround Pinewood Estate, a 1930s Mediterranean-style mansion, and the 205-foot art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower housing one of the world’s finest carillons with 60 bells that ring every half hour and during daily concerts. The National Historic Landmark was dedicated in 1929 as a gift from Dutch immigrant Edward Bok, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and world peace advocate.
In 1921, Edward W. Bok was spending the winter months in the residential mountain lake community located adjacent to one of the highest hills of Florida’s Lake Wales Ridge, 298 feet above sea level. He enjoyed taking evening walks to the top of “Iron Mountain,” among the virgin pines and sandhill scrub, to enjoy Florida’s dramatic sunsets and bird life. The idea came to him to preserve this hilltop and create a bird sanctuary – a place of beauty, serenity and peace.
The Pine Ridge Nature Preserve and Trail is a Longleaf Pine-Turkey Oak habitat. Similar pine communities once covered millions of acres in the southeastern United States. Now in danger of disappearing, a small portion has been preserved in the Pine Ridge Nature Preserve. This habitat is an upland ecosystem typified by an overstory of Longleaf Pine and a dense groundcover of Perennial grasses. Visitors can experience this natural habitat on a 3/4-mile trail that begins at Window by the Pond and terminates at the parking lot. Many shaded benches along the way serve as places for relaxation and reflection. Along the trail you will see a bog garden, an open glade and a sandhill forest community that is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.
Pinewood Estate is open to self-guided tours Monday – Saturday from noon – 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the Entrance Gate and Visitor Center Information Desk. Tickets can also be purchased at the Pinewood Estate front door (cash or checks only). General Gardens admission is required to tour Pinewood Estate.
At the Sustainer Level Membership and above you will receive an invitation for two to one of the four annual Founder’s Room tours! Find out more about becoming a member of Bok Tower Gardens!
As a member of Bok Tower Gardens, you too can share Edward W. Bok’s dream of helping to preserve and sustain his gift of beauty for future generations. With annual membership, you’ll receive benefits that allow you to enjoy Bok Tower Gardens as often as you wish. Some membership levels receive complimentary admission as well as advance notification and reduced admission to many special events, educational programs, concerts and much more.
Historic Bok Sanctuary, a National Historic Landmark, maintains for visitors nearly 250 acres of gardens and grounds featuring beautiful historic Olmsted-designed landscape gardens, a majestic 205 ft. belltower with world-renowned carillon, a Mediterranean Revival Mansion and a nature preserve. Education and other programs, cultural events and conservation activities for members as well as the general public reflect the scientific, horticultural, cultural and aesthetic role of the Sanctuary. A visitor center, cafe and gift shop are available.
Bok Tower Gardens presents a range of educational opportunities both for adult life-long learners as well as for families and school children in the forms of workshops, classes, excursions, concerts, field trips and Girl Scout programs. Through these enriching programs and events an appreciation for the environment, history and culture, art, music and social studies is presented in a fun and interactive way creating personal memories to cherish
We make it our job to accommodate groups with all the conveniences and services they require:
■Open 365 days a year with special concerts held on selected holidays
■Reduced rates for groups of 20 or more:
■Admissions
■Scheduled private tours
■Pre-ordered dining options
■Free parking
■Personalized planning services
■Visitor Center with full amenities including restrooms, staffed information museum and theater
■Guided walks available seasonally for an additional fee
■Meeting rooms and special catering services available for additional fees
Imagine a secluded garden where beauty and serenity combine to provide the perfect setting for your special day. The sun streams through a canopy of trees to illuminate lush plants and delicate blooms. The gentle sound of the wind carries the songs of many birds as the enchanting sounds of 60 carillon bells resonate throughout the gardens. Bok Tower Gardens invites you to celebrate your wedding day and reception in a truly natural setting. The splendor of nature provide an exquisite backdrop for your wedding, making memories that last forever.
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