Thursday,
December 8, 2005
Orlando Off the Beaten Path: The Serenity
of the Historic Bok Sanctuary and Pinewood Estate
The Historic Bok Sanctuary is located about an hour southwest of
Orlando near Lake Wales, also home to the Florida's
Natural Visitor Center that I visited earlier in the day. The
Sanctuary was founded by Edward W. Bok, who immigrated to America
in 1869 from the Netherlands when he was 6 years old. Through determination
and hard work, he became a highly successful publisher and editor
of Ladies' Home Journal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, respected
humanitarian and an advocate of world peace and the environment.
I am always fascinated by stories of industry magnates and successful
entrepreneurs who became philanthropists and donated their estates
to the public. Edward W. Bok is definitely one of those fascinating
individuals.
The Carillon Tower, a National Historic Landmark
As a successful publisher, Edward Bok, a Pennsylvania resident,
used to retreat to Florida in the winters and became enchanted with
the beauty and vistas from Iron Mountain, which, at 298 feet above
sea level, is the highest point in peninsular Florida. Awed by the
tranquility of the area, he wanted to create a place that would
"touch the soul with its beauty and quiet", and he purchased
land which he transformed into a sweeping landscape of lush gardens,
designed by the famed landscape architect, Federick Law Olmstead
Jr. The bird sanctuary houses 126 different species of birds as
well as a variety of endangered plants and animal species.
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Welcome to the Histori Bok Sanctuary |
Entrance to the Visitor Center |
The crowning jewel of the Historic Bok Estate is the Carillon
and Belltower, a National Historic Landmark, built by the
best craftsmen of the day. The splendid neo-gothic and Art Deco
tower was built using a combination of coquina rock from St. Augustine,
Florida, and pink and gray marble from Tate, Georgia. New York sculptor
Lee Lawrie's carvings adorn the tower and represent images of Florida's
native flora and faun as well as images from Greek myhthology and
the Bible.
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The guilded entrance door to the Carillon Tower,
constructed of beautiful pink and grey marble |
Beautiful ironwork surrounds the tower |
Edward Bok remembered the music of carillons from his childhood
in Holland, and he commissioned the famous John Taylor Bellfoundry
company of England to produce a world-class carillon for his "Singing
Tower" as the focal point of the garden. This carillon is one
of only 4 in Florida and its 60 bells weigh from 16 pounds to nearly
12 tons. Brief recorded carillon music is played every 30 minutes,
and recitals are featured daily at 1 and 3 pm. During my visit I
was able to catch the 1 pm performance, and just outside the Carillon
Tower is a television screen that features a live broadcast of the
carillonneur performance.
Historic Pinewood Estate, also a National Historic Landmark
Another National Historic Landmark, Pinewood Estate,
has been part of the Historic Bok Sanctuary since 1970. It represents
one of the finest examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture
in the state of Florida. The grounds surrounding it were also designed
by Frederick Law Olmstead Jr.
Originally named "El Retiro", meaning "retreat"
in Spanish, the estate was built in the early 1930s for Charles
Austin Buck, a Bethlehem Steel vice president. He had made a fortune
in the steel industry and wanted to build a winter estate where
he could be surrounded by his 9 children and 18 grandchildren during
the holidays.
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Beautiful fountains adorn the mansion |
The Mediterranean-style garden features a Spanish frog fountain
that leads guests into an enchanting stone grotto at the front of
the house. An Oriental moon gate fountain is located off the dining
room porch and an English-style country garden with a rolling lawn
and pond reflects the afternoon sunsets.
Charles Austin Buck was a great admirer of the Latin lifestyle
and architecture, his "El Retiro" Mediterranean revival
home has many characteristics of an antique Spanish villa, including
a barrel-tile roof, thick walls, substantial carved doors and woodwork,
and intricately detailed wrought iron. The entrance hall's dramatic
staircase features a different tile pattern on each riser. Colourful
Spanish-style tiles were handmade in Tunisia and much of the original
furniture was handcrafted in Cuba.
From November 25 to January 1, 2006, the Christmas at Pinewood
home tour is available to visitors as a favourite holiday tradition.
During my visit I had the pleasure of touring the villa as every
room was superbly decorated by a variety of locally sponsored designers.
Every room featured a docent that was able to provide insight into
the unique history, features and furniture of each room. Amazingly
much of the furnishings and artwork are original to the estate.
After visiting Pinewood Estate and the historic Carillon Tower
I had a chance to explore the grounds of this amazing sanctuary,
and its beautifully designed gardens indeed offer a wonderful retreat
to nature.
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White swan and lily pads |
Window by the pond |
The Pine Ridge Trail offers a unique nature experience, providing
a glimpse into the native flora and delicate ecosystem of Florida's
Lake Wales Ridge. In ancient times, when ocean levels were higher,
the Lake Wales Ridge was above water and formed a chain of islands.
As a result, many plants and animals are unique to the Ridge which
features rare plant species found nowhere else in the world. Thirteen
of the species located here are on the federal endangered list.
Many of these plants are grown in the Sanctuary's Endangerd Plant
Garden.
Being the nature lover that I am, I was enchanted by the beauty
of the gardens and a variety of plants and blossoms captured my
attention:
For me the Historic Bok Sanctuary was a real feast for the senses,
and it will delight architecure and music lovers, history buffs
and naturalists alike.
Historic Bok Sanctuary, located about 55 miles southwest of Orlando and 60 miles east of Tampa, near Lake Wales, Florida, is open every
day from 8 am to 6 pm. The award-winning Education and Visitor Center
is open 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is $8 for adults and $3 for ages
5 to 12. Members and children under 5 are admitted free. For more
information call (863) 676-1407 or visit www.boksanctuary.org.
Orlando and Central Florida travel stories:
Orlando Off the Beaten
Path
A visit to the Orange
County Regional History Center
Exploring Orlando's African
American Heritage at the Well's Built Museum
A lovely evening walk around downtown
Orlando's Lake Eola
Visual delights served
up on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
A walking tour through quaint
historic Winter Park
Our high-speed adrenaline adventure
at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours
Our picnic lunch by the Kissimmee
waterfront
Exploring picturesque Mount Dora
on the "Herbie Express"
Orlando's Loch Haven Park:
Center of culture and arts
Exploring downtown Orlando's
historic neighbourhoods and parks
Learning about citrus at
Florida's Natural Visitor Center
Architectural and natural
beauty at the Bok Historic Sanctuary
Central Florida: a haven
for naturalists and plant lovers
Central Florida's wildlife:
surprising ecological diversity..
Driving home through St. Augustine:
the oldest city in the US
Articles on Golf in Central Florida:
A first-hand
look at ChampionsGate
A first-hand look at the
Royal St. Cloud Links
A first-hand look at Timacuan
Golf and Country Club
Attending the Father
Son Challenge at ChampionsGate
An overview of golf in the Orlando area:
Orlando- Golf's Ultimate Theme Park
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