What to See in Lake Wales - Top Sights and Attractions

Garden in Polk County, Florida. Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre contemplative garden and bird sanctuary located atop Iron Mountain, north of Lake Wales, Florida, United States. Formerly known as the Bok Mountain Lake Sanctuary and Singing Tower, the gardens' attractions include the Singing Tower and its 60-bell carillon, the Bok Exedra, the Pinewood Estate, the Pine Ridge Trail, and the Visitor Center.

Bok Tower Gardens is a National Historic Landmark. The 205-foot (62 m) Singing Tower was built upon one of the highest points of peninsular Florida, estimated to be 295 feet (90 m) above sea level, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The national significance of the gardens and its tower come from their associations with Edward W. Bok and his team of designers. The adjacent Pinewood Estate is separately listed on the National Register as El Retiro.

Bok Tower Gardens is open daily and an admission fee is charged.^[1]

Historical landmark in Lake Wales, Florida. Spook Hill is a gravity hill, an optical illusion in Lake Wales, Florida, where cars appear to roll up the spooky hill.

Spook Hill is located on the Lake Wales Ridge, a geologically significant range of sand and limestone hills, which were islands from two to three million years ago, when sea levels were much higher than at present.

The attraction is adjacent to Spook Hill Elementary School, which adopted Casper The Friendly Ghost as their school mascot. The attraction is also close to the Bok Tower.

Spook Hill received national media attention when an article about it appeared on the front page of the Wall Street Journal on October 25, 1990, and it was featured in a segment on CBS Morning News with Charles Osgood on November 5, 1990. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.^[2]

Building in Lake Wales, Florida. The Lake Wales City Hall is a historic site in Lake Wales, Florida. It is located at 152 East Central Avenue. On August 31, 1990, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

In 2007, Polk Community College began a $3.6 million renovation of the historic structure, converting it into a modern academic center. When complete in 2009 the building will be outfitted with a 50-seat Student Success Center, one 30-seat computer classroom, four 30-seat general classrooms and a 30-seat classroom/community room, which could be used as a meeting room for local civic groups. The center will initially serve 125 students.

At the groundbreaking on May 14, 2007, PCC President Eileen Holden announced that the new 16,000-square-foot (1,500 m2) facility will be called the JD Alexander Center after State Senator Alexander, who was instrumental in securing Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) monies that will fund the renovation of the historic building.

PCC plans to partner with the Lake Wales Charter High School to create a "Bridge to College" program and with the Lake Wales Literacy Coalition.

The Mediterranean Revival style building opened in 1927. It served as the Lake Wales City Hall until 1998 when offices moved to a new administrative building. A new section was added to the building in 1970, which included a fire station. The old City Hall suffered severe water and wind damage from the 2004 hurricanes. The fire station addition received the most damage.

The following year, State Senator J D Alexander was instrumental in securing funds that paved the way for the City to donate the historic building to PCC for use as an academic center.

PCC officials have said the remodeling of the building's exterior (windows, roof and brick work) will honor the architectural history to the greatest extent possible.

During the final days of 2007, demolition of the interior and exterior of the building was completed. PCC has rented a store across from the Alexander Center. During 2008 it will serve as both a construction office and a welcome center. It will be staffed during normal weekday hours, so residents can visit and receive information about PCC classes and registration.^[3]