Clermont’s Citrus Tower proves a timeless Florida monument

This story is the first in a recurring series called “On The Road,” which details Florida history through the lens of attractions and historical sites.

Set in the rolling hills of Clermont, the Florida Citrus Tower has stood the test of time as a monument to the state’s citrusy heritage, towering over Lake County since opening in 1956.

It has borne witness to decades of growth and change in the region, once overlooking thousands of acres of citrus groves and an estimated 17 million trees. The view has changed considerably, as those farms have given way to sprawling development, but the attraction has remained largely the same for the millions of visitors that have made the journey to the top over the years.

The Citrus Tower once ranked among the highest points in Florida — now beaten by Miami high-rises — standing 226 feet tall with its highest point at more than 500 feet above sea level. In terms of the bird’s eye perspective visitors get from the top, it can’t be matched for miles around.

Though the groves that were once a staple of Central Florida are few and far between, modern-day visitors can catch panoramic views of the Orlando skyline and Disney hotels, not to mention hundreds of spring-fed lakes.

Florida forged

One of the Citrus Tower’s first mentions in the Orlando Sentinel was on the cover of the paper’s Lake-Sumter edition in August 1954.

“It has been called a castle in the sky; it certainly could be another diamond to swell Florida’s tourist trade, and especially a rich gain for all Lake County,” wrote staff correspondent Joe Sanchez.

At the time, the tower was slated to stand 165 feet tall and the developers, A.W. Thacker and F.J. Toole, had $63,700 on hand toward the estimated $150,000 they wanted to raise for construction. Soon after, the planned height rose to 216 feet.

The attraction was poised to bring in tourists traveling between Silver Springs, Cypress Gardens and Bok Tower. A Florida highway traffic count from 1953 reported that 3,500 cars passed the tower’s parcel on U.S. 27 every day.

In 1955 and 1956, newspapers around the country told readers of the coming attraction, with stories printed in The Cincinnati Enquirer, Kansas City Star, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and more.

On July 14, 1956, the tower, forged with 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of reinforced steel, opened to the public and ultimately cost $300,000 to build. Gov. LeRoy Collins and other state officials attended the grand opening, according to an Associated Press report.

Newspaper stories detailed that between 500 and 1,000 daily visitors went to the attraction shortly after its opening. According to Scott Homan, the operator of the attraction and son of current owner Greg Homan, approximately 500,000 guests visited the Citrus Tower in its first year of operation.

When it opened, the tower featured carillon bell concerts, a large gift shop with a citrus-packing house and a restaurant.

Growing pains

The Citrus Tower, which predated Disney, was among Florida’s top roadside attractions during its heyday. However, the monument of Sunshine State citrus soon fell on hard times, much like the area’s farmers.

When the Florida Turnpike found its way into Lake County in the 1960s, tourists no longer had to drive along U.S. 27 and past the Citrus Tower. While the roadway made travel more efficient, it also proved detrimental to the towering attraction and the surrounding economy.

Meanwhile, hard freezes in three separate years during the 1980s almost completely destroyed Central Florida’s citrus crops. By the time the third freeze hit, many farmers couldn’t afford to replant. The focal points (citrus groves) seen from up high in the tower were all but decimated.

According to a Sentinel article from 1986 regarding a sale of the Citrus Tower, attendance numbered close to 150,000 in the years prior to the consecutive freezes. Then, visitors dipped to around 50,000 in 1986.

In 1995, Greg Homan and business partner Bob Thompson purchased the tower with aspirations of sprucing up the place and attracting local visitors. Homan gave the gift shop a facelift with the help of his family, just in time to celebrate the tower’s 40th anniversary and grand “reopening.”

A lasting lookout

Twenty-five years later, the Homan family still owns and treasures the tower as the community focal point and gem it’s always been. Events like Christmas lights displays and rocket launches bring Lake County residents together at the tall gathering place.

Scott, the younger Homan, takes on day-to-day operations and the task of reimagining what the Citrus Tower looks like going forward. A coffee shop has replaced the gift store, plus the lobby provides access to an event space, a community meeting room and a bar arcade.

“The tower definitely has a historical following and it’s a community space now since we’ve added the coffee shop and members can work upstairs,” Homan said. “This is still a continual project, in our mind, of how we can be a better fit for the community.”

During the tower’s closure due to coronavirus restrictions, the facility received a much-needed elevator modernization project. In the last several years, the observation deck has transformed into a comfortable space for hanging out, thanks to air conditioning, seating and a fresh coat of paint.

In 2015, the 226-foot monument also got an exterior makeover with an $80,000 paint job, which restored the brilliant white base with orange stripes accenting the sides, reminiscent of when the attraction first opened.

While the citrus groves once viewed from the top are a remnant of the past, the perspective from more than 200 feet up remains as stunning as ever. On a clear day, visitors can see for 30-40 miles, view a swath of Central Florida encompassing 2,000 square miles and perhaps catch glimpses of eight different counties.

Those 17 million trees have given way to shopping plazas, busy commuters on bustling roadways and widespread urban development. But if you close your eyes on the observation deck, it’s not hard to imagine an earlier and simpler period in Florida’s history while atop an attraction that has stood the test of time.

If you go: The Citrus Tower is open daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) at 141 North Highway 27 in Clermont. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children. Advance tickets are available online or walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 352-394-4061 or visit citrustower.com.

Do you have suggestions for my next destination or want to get in touch? Find me on Twitter @PConnPie, Instagram @PConnPie or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.