The Ultimate Guide to Bok Tower Gardens

Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre area with walking trails, beautiful views, and some unique attractions in Lake Wales. It offers scenic views of the most mountainous parts of Florida and is full of native plants and trees. The gardens center around a Singing Tower designed by Edward W. Bok.

Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and the Singing Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There’s a reason for all the hype — It makes for a great place to enjoy the outdoors, so bring the kids and explore one of Lake Wales’s most incredible places!

Where Is Bok Tower?

Bok Tower Gardens is at 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, Florida. It’s on top of one of the highest mountains in the state —Iron Mountain. Bok Tower Gardens is about an hour and fifteen-minute drive from Orlando and Tampa, and approximately four hours from Miami.

Admission and Hours

Bok Tower Gardens is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hours of admission are 8 am to 6 pm (last admission is 5 pm).

General admission is $20 per adult, $10 per child (6-17), and children 5 and under are free. You can bring your dog for an extra $10.

What To Do At Bok Tower Gardens

Make sure you bring your walking shoes! There are a few trails that you can take from the gardens into the unique wilderness of the Lake Wales Ridge. 

The Preserve Trail starts at the northeastern side of the parking lot and runs for 1.5 miles. You can spot gopher tortoises and enjoy the original longleaf pine forest habitat as you walk through the trees. 

The Pine Ridge Nature Trail is also a great choice, especially if you’d like a slightly shorter walk. It’s a ¾-mile walking trail that starts inside the gardens near the Window by the Pond, wrapping around through longleaf pines and turkey oaks.

Visit the pollinator garden to walk amongst 20 to 30 different types of butterflies. The gardens are full of native pollinator-friendly plants, and there’s a plant shop where you can purchase some to take home. 

The Singing Tower

The Singing Tower, designed by Edward W. Bok is the central feature and main building in Bok Tower Gardens. The 205-foot tower is a giant instrument called a carillion, made up of 60 bells that chime every hour. The tower performs 30-minute concerts at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day. It’s extra special because it’s one of approximately 600 carillons in the entire world!

El Retiro

El Retiro is a Mediterranean-style mansion built in the 1930s for Charles Austin Buck. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 in an attempt to preserve the 20-room mansion. You can walk through the formal gardens, explore the 12,900-foot architectural wonder, and enjoy relaxing on any of the three large porches. 

Tickets to El Retiro are separate from admission to Bok Tower Gardens and cost $10 per adult ($5 for ages 6-17). The hours for entry to the Estate depend on the season, so check their website before you go.

Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden

For a magical experience for little explorers, check out Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden. It starts with a kid-sized arch entrance into the bamboo-filled park area. The fairy house trail is truly unique, where you can spot fairy houses carved into oak trees. Your little adventurer will love all the places to dig, build, and explore at Hammock Hollow!