Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Bok Tower Gardens over in Lake Wales. Wawa, an East Coast gas station/convenience store chain, sponsored several free admission days at this historic landmark this summer. I was fortunate to grab a ticket.

The 14-acre property that encompasses the top of Iron Mountain was purchased by Edward Bok in 1922. He became enamored with the area while staying at his winter residence in Mountain Lake, the nearby gated community.

In keeping with Bok’s “gospel of beauty”, he hired Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to transform the native shrub land into lush gardens, multiple ponds, and meandering pathways.

The central feature of the park, the Singing Tower, was Bok’s idea in homage to his childhood home in the Netherlands. Sparing no expense, it is one of the largest carillons in the world. The heaviest of the 60 bells weighs 22,400 pounds, while the smallest weighs a mere 16.

It’s a testament to Bok’s prestige (as former editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal) that none other than President Calvin Coolidge spoke at the opening ceremony on 02/01/1929. It was estimated that 75,000 people attempted to attend the event, completely overwhelming the tiny community of Lake Wales. According to reports, cafes ran out of food and gas stations ran out of fuel.

Perhaps that’s why Wawa sponsors these free days at the Gardens?