Health Care

Lake Wales Medical Center, Inc. is a modern, 154-bed facility that provides a comprehensive range of in-patient and out-patient services. A new Emergency Room complex and Energy Center was completed in May 2003. Additional medical facilities within an hour's drive of Lake Wales include Florida Hospital in Orlando, Winter Haven Hospital, Lakeland Medical Center and Orlando Regional Hospital. Lake Wales is well-positioned in the area of health care.

Education

The Lake Wales area is served by:

• Five elementary schools
• One Middle School
• One High School
• One public (regional) Special Education School
• One private (national) Special Education School
• One Community College
• Two four-year Colleges

The community is exploring the feasibility of changing the present school system from a county school board operation to a local charter school system to provide more community involvement and an emphasis on careers, in association with Polk Community College.

In addition to Warner Southern College and Webber International University, the University of South Florida is planning to build a new campus within a 30-45 minute drive. Florida Southern College, with the largest collection of buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is also within a 45 minute drive.

The Arts

Lake Wales Arts Council, Inc. is a private, tax-exempt nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and encourage the arts for the enhancement of community life. Its beautiful and historical home is the former Holy Spirit Catholic Church, one of the finest examples of Spanish Mission-style architecture in the state of Florida. Programs include rotating exhibits, concerts, workshops, Family Days, a film series, and sponsorship of the annual Lake Wales Art Show, a juried fine arts festival held on the shores of Lake Wailes.

The Lake Wales Museum and Cultural Center (The Depot) is housed in a restored 1928 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot. The Lake Wales Museum & Cultural Center serves as the city's primary resource for the collection, conservation, exhibition, and study of materials relating to the history of Lake Wales and features an extensive collection of railroad memorabilia.

The Lake Wales Little Theatre is an independent, community theatre company that provides Lake Wales and the surrounding communities with fine dramatic, comedic, and musical productions for adult audiences, as well as an active program for young people and drama students, offering several plays each year, including one summer performance. Little Theatre productions are performed in an intimate 139-seat theatre, and volunteers are invited to audition for roles in upcoming productions or participate behind the scenes.

Lake Wales is home to Historic Bok Sanctuary, one of America's most famous landmarks, which is located on the peninsula's highest point. The gift of publisher and author Edward W. Bok, the gardens and tower were created because Bok, a Dutch immigrant, wanted to make America more beautiful because he had lived in it. The historic bell tower houses one of the world's great carillons. The Gardens offer many and varied events for local families and visiting friends. Some of the events are moonlight recitals, the International Carillon Festival, lectures and workshops, and visiting musicians. This National Historic Landmark is the guiding light for the serenity, heritage, art, and culture surrounding the city.

The cultural life of the community is enriched by a variety of area museums and galleries that include the Melvin Gallery Florida Southern College, Polk Community College Art Gallery, Polk Museum of Art, Ridge Art Association, Ridge Artisans Gallery, and Sun ‘n Fun Aviation Museum.

Special Events are a large part of the community's celebration spirit. One of the colorful and "jazziest" is the annual Mardi Gras celebration which has grown into a major social and tourist event. Other special events such as Celebrate Lake Wales and Pioneer Days, which celebrate the fall season and the history of Lake Wales, and the Christmas Parade, are planned throughout the year.

Recreation and Leisure

One of the advantages of living and working in the Lake Wales area is the availability of a wide variety of parks and facilities for leisure activities. The City of Lake Wales maintains 110 acres of parks and community recreational facilities. The Lake Wailes Bike Trail was completed in the fall of 1998, and construction has begun on the Mimi Hardman Recreational Complex which when completed will house a gymnasium, public swimming pool, tennis courts, and performing arts center. A combination of a newly renovated historic downtown, with its many antique and specialty shops, and a new half million dollar investment in the redevelopment of Lake Wailes, located in the heart of the city, makes the community a place to work, play, and spend more time with your family.

Other parks for outdoor activities include Lake Kissimmee State Park which consists of 5,000 acres bordered by Lakes Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie. Activities include hiking trails, picnic facilities, boating, fishing, camping, and nature study. Tiger Creek Nature Preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy, is a 4,400 acre biological treasure which is home to plants and animals that have survived only in this location.

Shopping and dining are also a pleasure in Lake Wales, whether it's antiquing in the historic downtown, or visiting the Eagle Ridge Mall. Lake Wales offers shops and restaurants for all palates and pocketbooks.

Lake Wales is home to one of the premier restaurants in the State of Florida, the Chalet Suzanne Country Inn and Restaurant. Chalet Suzanne has been voted one of the state's top 20 restaurants for 30 consecutive years and is a member of Florida Trends magazine's prestigious "Golden Spoon Hall of Fame."

The Lake Wales Municipal Airport is located one mile northwest of the Longleaf Business Park with an entrance at SR 60. This is a general aviation airport with two paved 4,000 by 100 foot runways. The airport is home to the Florida Skydiving Center, and spectators are welcome to watch the colorful parachutes in the sunny blue Florida skies.

Located between Orlando and Tampa, residents of Lake Wales have world-class entertainment within an hour's drive: Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, and many other Central Florida attractions. Sports fans have professional football, baseball, basketball, and hockey in the region, with the 2003 Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Orlando Magic, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Additionally, the City is close to the Lakeland Center which offers events from ice shows and hockey to Broadway musicals and plays.

City Government

Lake Wales operates under the city manager form of government with a five-member City Commission. The Lake Wales city administration oversees the operation of the fire and police departments, development services, public services, utilities, leisure services, a municipal airport, the public library, a community redevelopment agency, and the Depot Museum.

Chamber of Commerce

The Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce promotes the economic well-being of the entire community in partnership with the City Government. This strong public/private partnership is progressive in its efforts to blend heritage with progress.