What Happened to Florida’s Citrus Tower?

Video Description

For decades, the Florida Citrus Tower stood as one of the most recognizable roadside attractions in the state — a concrete monument to oranges, agriculture, and a very different version of Florida tourism. Built in 1956 at the height of the citrus boom, the tower once overlooked miles and miles of orange groves. Families pulled off the highway to ride the elevator to the top, take in the view, and grab a glass of fresh orange juice before continuing their road trip. But Florida changed. The citrus industry declined. Theme parks took over. Development replaced groves. And slowly, the Citrus Tower faded into the background — still standing, but no longer essential. In this video, I explore the full story of the Florida Citrus Tower — why it was built, how it became a top roadside attraction, what led to its decline, the years it sat closed and uncertain, and how it’s quietly reinvented itself today as a local hangout, event space, and observation deck that tells a very different story about Florida. I also share what it’s like to visit the Citrus Tower now — from the retro signage pointing to citrus groves that no longer exist, to the surprising calm of spending time at the top, looking out over modern Central Florida… and even spotting the distant Orlando skyline. 🎥 RELATED VIDEO: ▶ Where Did All of Florida’s Oranges Go? — a deeper dive into the collapse of Florida’s citrus industry. https://youtu.be/B2IzEYvUR0o 💙 Love our content? Support us on Patreon! See your name on screen, Get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, or just leave us a tip! https://www.patreon.com/sunshinestateinsider Follow us on Social Media: ☀️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateinsider/ ☀️ TikTock: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunshinestateinsider ☀️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunstateinsider ☀️ Threads: @SunshineStateInsider http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com