Florida Citrus Tower
The Florida Citrus Tower is a 226-foot-tall (69 m) structure built in 1956 in Clermont, Florida. Once the most famous landmark of the Orlando area, it was built to allow visitors to observe the miles of orange groves surrounding it; developments in the citrus industry since its construction have left it providing a view of suburban neighborhoods today. With the antenna reaching over 500 feet (152 m) above sea level, it is the highest observation point in Florida. In early 2015, the Citrus Tower received a new paint job, giving it a new but retro look, with an orange line going down the middle of each side.
History
The tower opened in 1956 after 13 months of construction. During the first several years of operation, the tower was a popular attraction boasting up to 500,000 visitors a year due to being located on Highway 27 between Cypress Gardens and Silver Springs. However, in 1964 the Florida Turnpike was extended north, providing a faster route south through Central Florida. Since then the tower has exchanged ownership multiple times, each trying to regain popularity for the tour. In 1988 a tram tour was built to tour visitors of various citrus crop being grown. The tower was purchased in 1995 by Greg Homan, who intends to keep and maintain the tower.
