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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.