The Citrus Tower is a structure unlike any other. It is square, with an observation tower 226 feet above Central Florida's sea-level landscape. It once stood as a monument to Florida’s biggest export: citrus in general, oranges in particular. These days, the tower stands as a reminder of times gone-by. Harsh, freezing weather killed orange trees in the 1980’s, causing many grove owners to sell their land to developers, who had other, non-citrus ideas in mind. Where orange trees once stood in neat, deliberate rows, hundreds of cookie-cutter houses have arisen—ironically, also arranged in neat, deliberate rows.
The Citrus Tower’s History
In 1956, A.W. Thacker and Jack Tool sold stocks to the public to raise the money to build a structure tall enough to show tourists the breathtaking, seemingly endless view of the miles of orange trees in Lake County and neighboring Orange County, Florida. According to Orlando Weekly, the original plans called for a 75-foot tower, but when completed, the ceiling of the observation deck was 226 feet high, with an antennae rising to 500 feet. The structure is comprised of 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of steel, and can handle 190 mile per hour winds. The tower was painted white, with a distinctive orange stripe flowing from top to bottom.
Tourists flocked to the tower in the 1950’s all the way through the 1970’s. When Walt Disney World opened in the late 1970’s, many tourists would take US Highway 27 to the park, passing countless citrus trees and the Citrus Tower. It became a tradition for many families to stop at the tower on their way to Orlando’s more publicized attractions. Tourists would have breakfast or dinner at the Citrus Tower’s restaurant, buy kitschy souvenirs at the gift shop, drop a penny down the wishing well and choose a bountiful bag of oranges to enjoy on the trip home. The elevator ride to the tower’s observation deck was an added bonus to a day of Florida fun.
The 1980’s were particularly hard on the citrus industry in Central Florida. Freezing weather killed scores of trees; frozen oranges hung on fragile branches. Many grove owners in Lake County decided it was time to sell their properties and pursue groves further south, or other industries. As the trees died, so did the popularity of the Citrus Tower.
The Citrus Tower Today
The tower is now on its fourth owner, who has developed the surrounding acreage for shops and businesses. The restaurant is still open, and caters banquets and wedding receptions. A fresh coat of paint changed the tower’s distinctive orange stripe to a blue one. The wishing well still stands too, but now the coins are donated to Green Isle Children’s Ranch. A sign on the wishing well reads, “we do not guarantee the wish, but you will hear coin all the way down.” The tower’s once unrivaled height is now challenged by water towers and buildings.
The biggest thing that has changed about the Citrus Tower since its heyday is the view from the observation tower. The orange trees are gone, and in their place are miles of subdivisions and other developments. The view is still striking, as the lakes that once supplied water to the orange groves sit mostly unchanged, if not for more boat traffic.
Visiting the Tower
The Citrus Tower is easy to find, as it can be seen for many miles around Clermont. It is located one mile north of Highway 50 on US Highway 27. The tower is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $4.00 for adults, and $2.00 for children under 11. Visitors should be aware that the observation deck is not air conditioned, and the windows are nailed shut. The temperature in Clermont can rise to over 100 degrees on summer afternoons, so it may be best to visit the tower in the morning in the summer months. More information can be found on the Citrus Tower's Web site.
Katie Evans - Katie Evans is a former community college English professor. She spent several years as Senior Editor of a search directory before making ...
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