The Florida Citrus Tower can still be visited today. Check out their site http://www.citrustower.com/.
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Citrus Observation Tower, Florida's finest attraction located on U.S. Highway 27 at Clermont, Florida, heart of the citrus belt.
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Aerial View Citrus Tower
located on U.S. Highway 27 at Clermont, Florida. Elevator to the observation deck, 542 feet above sea level, where visitors may view numerous beautiful lakes and hills and thousands of acres of citrus groves.
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Citrus Observation Tower, Florida's finest attraction located on U.S. Highway 27 at Clermont, Florida, heart of the citrus belt.
An electric elevator takes you up to the clouds where beautiful lakes and hills and thousands of acres of citrus groves may be seen. The top of the tower is 542 feet above sea-level and is the highest spot in Florida.
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Citrus Observation Tower, Florida's finest attraction located on U.S. Highway 27 at Clermont, Florida, heart of the citrus belt.
An electric elevator takes you up to the clouds where beautiful lakes and hills and thousands of acres of citrus groves may be seen. The top of the tower is 542 feet above sea-level and is the highest spot in Florida.
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Citrus groves and lakes as seen from the top of the Citrus Tower, one of the latest attractions in Florida.
I have many happy memories of using this place as one of our choice rest stops on family trips to Gainesville once my brother started attending UF. We continued the tradition through my own years of attendance a decade later. I can't recall for certain if we ever went up the tower, but I think so.
ReplyDeleteRanney and I saw it again when we went to a wedding in 2007. Very run-down now. Of course, Florida orange groves have suffered many losses over the years, which undoubtedly impacted the attraction. Of course, it always seemed quaintly behind-the-times, even in those better days of the 1980's.
Aside from I stop I made there last year to snap a couple of pictures (which I can't seem to find), I don't recall ever visiting. I do want to try on my next visit down since it's only $4 to ride up to the observation tower. While the view may no longer feature the endless groves of the past, it should be fairly interesting.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea it was so inexpensive. Hopefully, it's been freshened up since 2007. I'm willing to go with you, if you like.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep you posted.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these vintage pictures of Clermont Fl. I grew up in Clermont in the early 1960s. My dad and mom had two Badcock stores. One on Montrose St. and one in Winter Garden. We lived on Sunrise or Sunset. I think it's named Sunset off of Lake Shore Drive. We used to go to the Drive In. and get BBQ Beef burgers and pickles. I used to water ski on Lake Minnehaha. I used to walk all over beautiful Clermont when I was 8 years old. I miss it badly and wish to move back. I think about it everyday. It just became too expensive. Thanks for bring back my childhood memories. Mike
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Clermont and have to ask... When was this pic taken?! It looks sooooo different now!
ReplyDeleteIf I had to guess, judging by the cars, the fifties or early sixties.
ReplyDeleteMinneola/Clermont was a wonderful place when I grew up there, many fond memories, see my postcard that was taken in 1956 when the Tower was built, it's on ebay now - really surprised to see it there after all these years - the area has certainly changed and not all for the better, we owned the Freezette that was on the corner of Highway 50 and 27, it was originally owned by Lottie and her Son, Roy Baker. As we get older, we certainly miss the good ole days and long for our children and grands to have such a wonderful full life as we all had - so simple back then with all the Slumber Parties, Football/Basketball and all the hanging out at the Hut on Lake Minneola
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