Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales: what to see and when to go

Bok Tower Gardens is a large public garden and wildlife refuge in Lake Wales, Florida, known for its 205-foot Singing Tower with a 60-bell carillon. Visitors find landscaped grounds, historic buildings, nature trails, and daily bell recitals, all set on a high point of the Lake Wales Ridge.

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Features a 205-foot marble and coquina stone bell tower
Daily carillon concerts are held in the Singing Tower
Home to over 100 species of birds and many rare plants
Includes the restored 1930s El Retiro mansion
Recognized as a National Historic Landmark

What is Bok Tower Gardens?

Bok Tower Gardens covers 250 acres and features a mix of formal gardens, natural areas, and historic structures. The centerpiece is the Singing Tower, a tall marble and coquina stone structure with a carillon of 60 bells. The grounds include shaded paths, ponds, a Mediterranean-style mansion called El Retiro, and a visitor center. The gardens are home to many kinds of trees, flowering shrubs, and over a hundred bird species.

The history of Bok Tower Gardens

Edward Bok, a magazine editor, and his wife created the original sanctuary in the 1920s to protect the area's natural beauty. They chose a high hill on the Lake Wales Ridge and hired Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to design the gardens. The Singing Tower was built between 1927 and 1929, designed by Milton B. Medary with contributions from several artists and craftsmen. The site grew over time and is now a National Historic Landmark.

What there is to see

The gardens were shaped by bringing in rich soil and planting thousands of trees, palms, and flowering plants. The Singing Tower was constructed from marble and coquina stone, with detailed sculptures and ironwork. The grounds now include nature trails, a visitor center, and the restored El Retiro mansion, each open to the public. Daily carillon performances are given from the tower.

Where Edward Bok is Happiest: In His Garden, possibly Bok Tower Gardens, Florida, still open today, but the book seems to be unclear about the location of this picture — Where Edward Bok is Happiest: In His Garden, possibly Bok Tower Gardens, Florida, still open today, but the book seems t. Photo: Edward Bok (autobiography), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Bok Tower Gardens is open every day, welcoming visitors for walks, birdwatching, and tours of the historic mansion. The carillon concerts are a daily feature. The site also hosts seasonal events, educational programs, and special exhibits in the visitor center. Guided tours of El Retiro are available most days.

Parts and collections

The gardens have expanded since their founding, now including new plantings and improved access. The Pine Ridge Trail highlights native Florida habitats and rare wildlife. El Retiro, the Mediterranean Revival mansion, has been restored to its 1930s appearance and is open for tours. The Singing Tower remains the main attraction, with its unique architecture and musical performances.

Why Bok Tower Gardens matters

Bok Tower Gardens is recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its design and cultural history. The Singing Tower is a well-known example of Gothic Revival and Art Deco styles. The gardens are linked to Edward Bok's vision of beauty and conservation. The carillon library inside the tower is one of the largest of its kind, and the site is a center for music and horticultural education.

Questions people ask about Bok Tower Gardens

Where is Bok Tower Gardens located?

Bok Tower Gardens is found near Lake Wales in central Florida, United States, on the Lake Wales Ridge.

What can visitors see and do at Bok Tower Gardens?

Visitors can explore landscaped gardens, walk nature trails, tour the historic El Retiro mansion, and listen to daily carillon bell concerts from the Singing Tower.

What is special about the Singing Tower?

The Singing Tower is a 205-foot structure made of marble and coquina stone, containing a 60-bell carillon that is played daily. Its design features Art Deco and Gothic Revival details.

Who created Bok Tower Gardens?

Edward Bok and his wife established the gardens in the 1920s, with landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and the tower designed by Milton B. Medary.

Is Bok Tower Gardens open year-round?

Yes, the gardens are open every day of the year, with an admission fee for entry and guided tours available for the mansion.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bok Tower Gardens", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sim's Park, Coonoor: Thangaraj Kumaravel, CC BY 2.0, source

Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute: No machine-readable author provided. Shyamal assumed (based on copyrig, CC BY 2.5, source

Baldha Garden: Muntasir du, Public domain, source

Hakone Botanical Garden of Wetlands: 663highland, CC BY 2.5, source

Callaway Gardens: Thomsonmg2000, CC0, source

Crested Butte: RON RAFFETY, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Garvan Woodland Gardens: Nngowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden: Joey Gannon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Bok Tower Gardens