The sunshine state is home to some of the best attractions that the United States has to offer. However, in central Florida, it almost gets lost compared to all of the sights that exist with the theme parks and sports stadiums. The citrus tower is a way of rekindling that sense of discovery and isn’t something that everybody is going to do when they go to Florida. It’s one of the tallest buildings in the state, which definitely lets that area of Florida feel more distinct.
Where is The Citrus Tower
The tower is approximately 24.4 miles away from the heart of Orlando, Florida. That’s around a half an hour drive which shouldn’t be that much of a commitment for someone visiting the area. The exact address of the area is 141 S Hwy 27, Clermont, FL 34711 which is something you may be able to visit if you’re visiting the Orlando area. It would be hard for people in the other parts of Florida to visit it, however, residents in the area should have a pretty smooth time driving to get to the citrus tower.
What can you do there
Standing at 228 feet tall, the citrus tower allows you and the guests traveling with you to have a view across miles of Florida. Unfortunately, on some of the busier days of the summer, you’re going to have to reserve a position so that you’re able to go there. It may not be that way all the time, but do that in advance in case you’re going with family or friends. There are also other things you can do while you’re there like drinking coffee. There are other drinks, but there’s also an iconic restaurant named Kenny’s BBQ which is completely worth checking out.
You’ll need to look at their menu if you want the options in detail, but they do offer entrees such as pork, brisket, ribs chicken, and some of the greatest BBQ sauces you’ll ever taste. If you’ve ever been to a Texas BBQ, you’ll feel right at home at this restaurant. The Happy troll games area is also available for you to rent area for you to have fun with friends. You won’t be able to have massive, full-scale block parties, but you will be able to play some board games with your friends. If you live in Orlando, it’s worth trying out at least once.
Opening hours and fees
The citrus tower is open every day unless they announce anything else on social media. However, the Sunday hours are open from different hours that the rest of the week runs through. On Mondays through Saturdays, the Citrus Tower is open from 7 am till 7 pm. Meaning that the people of Clemont and Orlando have 12 hours to view the state of Florida 6 days a week. On Sunday, the Tower opens up at 12 pm and closes at 7 pm. That’s a lot less time, but still a full 7 hours to use the Tower;
History of the tower
The citrus tower was built in 1956 as a way of showing Florida’s citrus groves that residents of the state had grown so fond of. It may not be as big of a deal now, but back then the tower meant a lot to people in the State. The blueprints of the project were originally conceived by AW Thacker and Jack Toole. The project was publicly funded and would take about a year and a half to fully complete. The project also used a lot of resources when compared to even some of the fancier buildings around the area.
Some sources estimate that 5 million pounds of concrete and 150,000 pounds of steel were needed to finish the project. The sight was an instant draw for residents as well as people outside of the state. At one point in its peak, the citrus tower would even draw half of a million visitors a year. The value of the tower has fluctuated constantly for many years. It would constantly get sold and resold by other companies over the past half-century. In 1988, a few harsh freezes killed most of the citrus groves that people would get to see, so not as many people would visit anymore.
Related questions
What’s the tallest building in Florida? Despite the citrus building being one of the tallest buildings at the time, the Panorama building is the tallest right now at 862 feet tall.
Where is the citrus Tower located? The citrus tower is located in Clermont, Florida. Around 30 minutes away from downtown Orlando.
What can you do at the citrus tower? The Citrus tower offers looking ower many miles of Florida. There is also a BBQ for you and the visitor’s that you’ll be traveling with. You can even rent out a room for you and your friends to play board games.
How much are the tickets to get into the tower? Right now tickets for adults are $10. Tickets for children are $6 and tickets for seniors and people in the military are $9 each.
Can I rent out the tower for a private event? Yes, you can make reservations on the site, but the dates for when you can do so may not be very flexible.
Short summary
The citrus tower is something of a forgotten icon but still has a ton of beauty, history and chamr, making it absolutely worth a visit. After getting back from your roadtrip of the state, there’s nothing better than chilling by the beach or sipping some wine in your own private oasis. You can experience all this and more at the Eiko’s Beach House.
