Citrus Tower

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From: dozerbones.blogspot.com

The Citrus Tower in Clermont, Florida at one time was a premier central-Florida attraction, complete with a restaurant, gift shop, motel, and wax museum next door. Freshly picked citrus could be purchased (often from the very groves the tower provided views of), and the views from the top could only be described as breathtaking.

Unfortunately, this is the conclusion one can only come to after looking at the old black & white photos of what the Citrus Tower used to be. Though still a relative bargain at only $4.00 for adults and $2.00 for children 2 - 15 (under 2 years old are free), the tower is but a shadow of its former glory. Nowadays, it provides views mostly of unchecked urban sprawl, a legacy of the city of Clermont's lax urban planning.

First, some facts: Erected in 1956 on one of the highest hills in Florida's ridge region, this splendid landmark contains 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of reinforcing steel. The original plans specified a height of 75 feet, but when completed, the tower rose to the lofty height of 226 feet (equivalent to 22 stories), the tip of its highest antenna piercing the sky at a point around 500 feet above sea level. It was constructed to withstand winds of more than 190 miles per hour.

Now, sprawl, office buildings, strip malls and pavement blight the once magnificent views afforded by the Citrus Tower. I guess one could now call it the "Tower of Sprawl." What were once beautiful fields of citrus groves, now have all been paved over. It is this disgusting, auto-oriented, cookie-cutter travesty of development that has motivated me to study Urban Planning in college! Only a small, overgrown stand of citrus trees can still be seen, but development is quickly encroaching and soon, I am sure this final testament to Florida's once proud citrus industry will be paved over.

If anything, the views from the tower open one's eyes to the devastating effects of urban sprawl on what was once a pristine landscape of thriving citrus groves. Black and White photos at the top show what used to be. For the eye-opening experience alone, it's worth the price, because though the citrus groves are long gone, the lessons that can be learned make the trip worth while for future generations.

If You Go:

Address: 141 North Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34712 Tel: (352) 394-4061
Website: http://www.citrustower.com

Pictures and captions for the tower are below:

Some information on the Citrus Tower from a pamphlet they hand out:

The Citrus Tower stands unrivaled as a majestic and monumental tribute to central Florida's famed citrus industry and its lush subtropical groves. With the area's changing economic climate, the tower serves as a beacon guiding a burgeoning new business and population base to the scenic South Lake County region.

Erected in 1956 on one of the highest hills in Florida's ridge region, this splendid landmark contains 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of reinforcing steel. The original plans specified a height of 75 feet, but when completed, the tower rose to the lofty height of 226 feet (equivalent to 22 stories), the tip of its highest antenna piercing the sky at a point around 500 feet above sea level. It was constructed to withstand winds of more than 190 miles per hour.

The Citrus Tower features a glass-enclosed observation deck, accessed by a smooth elevator ride from the ground-floor lobby. The duck provides a magnificent panoramic view of Lake County's famous rolling hills and hundreds of spring-fed lakes. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars, as the vista from the tower encompasses portions of Lake, Orange, Polk, and Sumter counties and, on a clear day, parts of Pasco, Osceola, Seminole, and Hernando counties. Orlando and Disney World can also be seen.

In season, the tower offers fresh citrus fruit for sale, either to take along or for gift shipments. We also invite our guests to dine at Santiago's and to visit Lilly's Citrus Tower Gift Shop.

The Citrus Tower, one of Florida's first "attractions," is located one mile north of Highway 50 on U.S. Highway 27 in Clermont, approximately a half-hour's drive west of Orlando.

This is the view from the Citrus Tower looking west. Lake Minneola is in the background.

This is looking south with U.S. 27 on the right. An abandoned cul-de-sac is in the foreground. Guess it must be a victim of the housing market.

Sprawl and office buildings blight the once magnificent views afforded by the Citrus Tower. I guess one could now call it the "Tower of Sprawl." This is looking east towards Orlando.

What were once beautiful fields of citrus groves, now paved over strip malls and subdivisions. Route 27 is on the left. It's this kind of disgusting, auto-oriented, cookie-cutter travesty of development that has motivated me to study Urban Planning in college. This is looking north.

A closer look at the abandoned cul-de-sac with an abandoned motel in the foreground.

The only orange trees I could find from the top of the tower are on the center-left along Route 27. This overgrown patch of citrus trees will likely be gone soon, as development encroaches from the right as seen in this photo.