Bok Tower, Central Florida

Off US 27, Bok Tower was build at the edge of the great depression in Central Florida. As the editor of the Ladies Home Journal, he he had the money to build this art deco tower as a bell tower, or carillon, as a reminder of his youth in Scandinavia. The tower is visible from US 27, just South of the I-4, highway, which runs into the Disney area. The tower entrance fee is $10 but for an extra $6, you can gain entrance to the Buck Mansion. The Buck Mansion, built and owned by the President of Bethlehem Steel, PA, is a beautiful house built at the edge of the property of the Bok tower, although the tower was built first. The names of the owner of the house and the tower are quite close, Bok and Buck, however, it has been said that the two never really knew each other. An interesting story...since the Bok tower had such beautiful gardens, the owner of the house asked that the same company that did the gardens of the tower be used to plant the gardens of his mansion, then the house was built with the gardens in place. The house is wonderfully preserved and well worth the visit to see the interior and the grounds around it. The Bok tower has carillon concerts 2x a day, as well as once a month at night, when the full moon shines on the flowers in the garden and illuminates the sky. The carillon looks a bit like a piano/organ, but is used to strike bells in the large bell tower at the top of the tower. It is played with both the fists, yes, fists, as well as the feet. There is a nice cafe on the grounds that serves a nice lunch, at reasonable prices. The area also has an interesting "inn" called the Chalet Suzanne, an inn and restaurant. Built in the 40's, it has been host to many famous people. The restaurant also made a soup that was taken to the moon with the astronauts, which still sells at the restaurant and is now known as "moon soup". The rooms of the inn are all in different styles and the rooms are named after plants and trees. The restaurant serves gourmet food and entrees start go for about $50. The area is well worth a visit and the tour of the gardens and the tower takes about 3 hours. Due to various reasons, the tower does not admit visitors. (Not to be mistaken with the Citrus Tower, about 20 miles up the road, north of Orlando.) This art deco treasure is a must see if you are in the area, and want a break from the Orlando area.