Tag Archives: mermaids

Road Trip Day 2: Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Mermaid ShowWhat’s that? You’ve got a weird, campy roadside attraction? Well, I want to see it. Weird, campy attractions are my jam.

Weeki Wachee When I was a kid my parents took us to Florida most summers. One summer we visited Weeki Wachee Springs and I’ve been in love ever since. Weeki Wachee is a natural spring with the clearest water I’ve ever seen. The water is a cool 74 degrees year round. You can swim in the springs, but the best part of the park is the mermaids! Real, live mermaids!

Weeki Wachee MermaidsThe park was opened in 1947 by a man named Newton Perry. He was a former Navy Seal. He built an underwater theatre at the springs, then taught beautiful women how to swim with air hoses and perform underwater ballet. The park really took off when ABC purchased it in 1959. In the 1960s, girls came from all over the world to try out for the privilege of becoming a mermaid. Back then the mermaids performed eight shows a day to sold out crowds! (Read more about the history of Weeki Wachee here.)

Weeki Wachee The Little MermaidThe crowds aren’t as big now, but the mermaid show is still swinging. It’s really a site to see and if you’re anywhere near central Florida it’s worth a detour.

The show we watched was The Little Mermaid and I felt like I was 10 years old again. Learning to be a mermaid is my new life goal.

Me as a Mermaid!

Transformation complete!

George as a merman

Merman!

Riding a DolphinSo.Much.Fun.

Have you ever heard of Weeki Wachee? Let me know in the comments!

love,
melanie