Business View Magazine | Volume 9, Issue 2

146 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 C entrally located between a number of thriving metropolitan areas, Lake Wales in Polk County, Florida is an area that’s booming. Every year, countless tourists are drawn to Bok Tower Gardens, which is a peaceful, contemplative garden and bird sanctuary. Well known for its citrus farming, Lake Wales is also home to the world headquarters for the Florida’s Natural juice company. In addition, renovations are currently taking place in the city’s downtown to give new life to old attractions and boost the quality of life for residents, while inspiring businesses to set up shop. Lake Wales Municipal Airport is blessed to be situated at Florida’s highest elevation point of 127 feet. While it does not accommodate commercial traffic, general aviation keeps it busy. The majority of traffic into the airport is general aviation and jet traffic of various sizes that are travelling to the Lake Wales area for business and leisure. In 2019, the airport extended one of its two runways, Runway 06/24, to 5,400 feet – allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft. There are plans for renovating the second runway, Runway 17/35, but those are on hold until the new airport master plan is finished. That completion has been hampered due to knock-off effects from COVID-19 involving the FAA, FDOT, as well AT A GLANCE LAKE WALES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WHAT: A busy, general aviation airport WHERE: City of Lake Wales, Florida WEBSITE: www.cityoflakewales.com/airport For business and pleasure