Article and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
The Clermont Citrus Tower is hosting a special Christmas Lighting Event and a big toy drive this year. Managed by Scott and Heather Homan, the Citrus Tower remains a tourist attraction and landmark in South Lake County since being built in 1955. This light show will be on display throughout the year-end holidays.
Clermont Citrus Tower Holiday Lighting: While there was no Holiday Light Show last year, it is back and even more spectacular than ever this year with the help of their annual membership drive and some very generous sponsors! Along with the
Citrus Tower team; Wheatley Realty, the Clermont Chic-fil-A, XL106.7 Radio Station, Success Mortgage Partners, Carrabba’s, Germ Busters 911, Citrus Coffee, Jayslights as well as the Citrus Tower Arcade & Lounge become participating businesses and sponsors. This year’s event featured a wonderfully brilliant new light show with musical entertainment, fake snow, an antique car show, free use of the Citrus Tower Arcade all night, ice cream treats, hot and cold drinks by the Citrus Tower Café, free gifts for all attendees by the sponsors and much more. Hundreds of families came to enjoy the entire evening. See: https://citrustower.com/christmas/
Baby DJ Toy Drive 2020: Grand Marshal Johnny Magic flipped the Chick-Fil-A Citrus Tower Light Show switch to light up the tower. The Central Florida Baby DJ Toy Drive was added to make the Citrus Tower Light Up more significant to the South Lake community. Over 1200 toys were collected and the hope is to collect thousands of toys this year to help the local area Baby DJ Toy Drive. The event began over 30 years ago when its founder ‘Johnny Magic’ was inspired to provide assistance to families of economic disadvantage in the Central Florida area. As the host of Central Florida’s top-rated morning radio show, Johnny has had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time working throughout the community and witnessed firsthand the struggle that many families experienced in providing their children with necessities, especially during the holiday season. Baby DJ is located at 2600 Lake Lucerne Drive, Suite 400, Maitland, FL 32751. Email: info@BabyDJ.org. or for additional information visit: www.BabyDJ.org.
A major sponsor, Wheatley Realty Group, is located across from the Citrus Tower in Minneola, and services all of Central Florida including but not limited to: Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Marion, Sumter, Polk, Brevard, Volusia, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Hillsborough Counties. For more information, call: 407-702-8351, email: Matt@WheatleyRealtyGroup.com or visit: https://wheatleyrealtygroup.com/.
Clermont Citrus Tower History and View: Scott Homan’s father bought the land in a real estate deal over 25 years ago. Opening in 1956, the Citrus Tower now stands tall as a monumental showcase and tribute to the internationally famed citrus industry in Central Florida. The Citrus Tower was one of Florida’s original tourist attractions and landmarks, built here before Disney, Universal and any of the other theme parks. Built mainly through the efforts of A.W Thacker and F.J. Toole, there were over 240 founders and stakeholders involved. It was built at a height of 226 feet at the equivalent of a 22-story building on one of the highest hills here in Florida’s Ridge area. The tip of its highest antenna is about 500 feet above sea level. This beautiful landmark contains 5 million pounds of concrete with almost 150,000 pounds of reinforced steel.
The current Citrus Tower features a glass-enclosed observation deck that can be safely accessed by an elevator from the lobby. As you walk around the deck, you will see Lake County’s rolling hills with hundreds of lakes and endless new housing developments. You will see and photograph portions of Lake, Orange, Polk and Sumter Counties besides the distant downtown Orlando skyline and Disney World. On clear sunny days, you can also see parts of Osceola, Pasco, Seminole and Hernando Counties.
Ride To The Top! Take a ride to the top with your cameras for only $10. There is special new pricing for children at only $6, while seniors, military, first responders, teachers and AAA members can enter for only $9. They also offer special rates for large groups and $100 annual memberships. Citrus Tower Members receive a handful of discounts, early access to events at the tower and unlimited access to the top of the tower for themselves and four people a day. With the air-conditioned glass-enclosed observation deck, you will be safe from the environmental challenges. Morning sunrise and evening sunset photographs are fantastic opportunities. Hours are Weekdays and Saturdays from 7 AM to 7 PM, Sundays are now open from noon to 7 PM. They will be closed on Christmas Day.
Scott Homan likes to live by the words taken from 1 Thessalonians 4:11, “To make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your hands.”
For More Citrus Tower Information, contact: Scott and Heather Homan at 141 North Highway 27 at the corner of Citrus Tower Boulevard, Clermont, FL 34711. Phone: 352-394-4061. Visit: www.CitrusTower.com to check out all of their annualized events.
