On the Lake Wales side of a Kissimmee stay, Bok Tower Gardens offers a change of pace: a historic garden landscape centered on the 205-foot Singing Tower and its 60-bell carillon. Its garden paths, tower views and Pine Ridge Preserve trail make it a day trip for exploring outdoors.
- Location: 1151 Tower Boulevard, Lake Wales, Florida 33853
- Typical opening pattern: daily, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; last admission is at 5:00 p.m.
- Admission: adults $25, children ages 6–17 $12, children ages 5 and under free; dogs $10
Why visit Bok Tower Gardens
Bok Tower Gardens combines a landmark tower with a historic landscape designed for unhurried walks. Edward W. Bok established the Gardens in 1929 as a gift to the American people, and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. designed the grounds. President Calvin Coolidge dedicated them on February 1, 1929; the Gardens are now a National Historic Landmark.
The Singing Tower is built of marble and coquina, with a 60-bell carillon. Daily visitors cannot go inside the tower, but the carillon can be heard across the Gardens. Concerts take place daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., with shorter selections on the hour and half-hour, and do not require an extra ticket.
Live concerts by carillonneur Geert D’hollander run from mid-October through mid-May, Thursday through Sunday. Historic recordings play during the summer months until mid-October.
A relaxed route through the grounds
Allow at least three to four hours for the Gardens, carillon, an El Retiro tour, museum exhibits, café and gift shop. The landscape is an informal woodland setting, with places to rest, open vistas and views of the Singing Tower.
Start with a walk through the garden areas and take in the tower from the surrounding paths. The grounds include the Endangered Plant Garden, Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden and Wetland Boardwalk. If you want a longer walk, garden admission also includes access to the 3.5-mile Pine Ridge Preserve hiking trail.
El Retiro is a separate tour with an additional fee. It is closed on Mondays. From the day after Thanksgiving through April 30, it operates Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; from May 1 through Thanksgiving, its hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Leave time to stop at the Visitor Center and Chao Exhibit Hall, the Blue Palmetto Café or The Shop at Bok. The Visitor Center, café and shop are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How do you get from Kissimmee to Bok Tower Gardens?
From Home 1 Suites Extended Stay - Kissimmee, drive to Bok Tower Gardens at 1151 Tower Boulevard in Lake Wales; the post lists the Gardens as about 26.7 miles away.
A drive time is not provided, so check navigation before setting out. At the Gardens, pair a walk through the grounds with the 3.5-mile Pine Ridge Preserve hiking trail, included with garden admission.
Kissimmee’s downtown and neighbourhood stops offer a different kind of outing closer to town.
If your trip starts with a flight, the transport options from MCO to Kissimmee cover the airport leg.
Bok Tower Gardens tickets, hours and accessibility
Garden admission covers single-day entry and the Pine Ridge Preserve trail, but not an El Retiro tour. General admission is $25 for adults, $12 for children ages 6–17, free for children ages 5 and under, and $10 per dog; members enter free.
El Retiro tours cost an additional $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6–17, while children ages 5 and under enter free and the member rate is $7.
You can buy garden admission at the Entrance Gate or online in advance. Admission and special-event tickets are non-refundable. Reciprocal admission is honored for participating gardens and cultural institutions; bring your membership card to present at the gate.
Most areas are accessible, though the historic grounds can be challenging. The incline to the Tower is paved, while most pathways are mulched. Wheelchairs are available on request, and mobility carts can be rented at The Shop at Bok.
Ask at the shop on arrival about availability and current rental details. The Visitor Center front desk also provides a Social Experience Guide and sensory kits, which include noise-canceling headphones, crayons, paper and fidgets; kits are first come, first served.
Dogs must stay on a leash no longer than 6 feet. They are not permitted in Hammock Hollow, the Alexander Discovery Center, El Retiro, the Blue Palmetto Café, or ticketed special events, weddings and receptions. The Gardens also prohibit smoking and vaping, bicycles, skateboards, hoverboards, drones, amplified or recorded music and several other recreational items.
What to confirm for your visit
Opening hours are daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with last admission at 5:00 p.m.; the Gardens close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission prices and some visitor services can change, so check the official site before you go.
Parking areas and picnic spots are marked on the Gardens’ map. There is a west picnic area near the Visitor Center and another picnic area on the south side of the parking lot.
FAQs
Can you go inside the Singing Tower?
Daily visitors cannot go inside. Eligible Brass Door-level members may attend Founder’s Room tours on scheduled dates.
Are carillon concerts included with garden admission?
Yes. Concerts can be heard throughout the Gardens without an additional ticket.
Can you bring a dog to Bok Tower Gardens?
Dogs are permitted on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with restrictions in some garden areas, the café and ticketed events.
Does garden admission include the El Retiro tour?
No. El Retiro tours require an additional ticket, and the tour operates Tuesday through Sunday.