Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids
Welcome to old Florida, where a 1940s mermaid show is still enchanting visitors
Category Watery Wonders, Wondrous Performances, Subterranean Sites
Weeki Wachee 60th Anniversary, performers in lycra mermaid fins. 2007.
Long before Disney World became the staple of Florida's tourism industry, there was Weeki Wachee, the City of Live Mermaids. Since opening its doors in 1947, Weeki Wachee has attracted thousands of roadside visitors - and aspiring mermaids - from all over the world.
Set on 538-acres and home to the deepest naturally-formed spring in North America, this state park is best known for its live Mermaid Shows, where "half-fish, half-human" performers swim and dance in an underwater theater built six feet below the spring's surface.
Although the park's popularity peaked in the 60s, today's Mermaid Shows are equally whimsical, offering a glimpse into the old charms of Florida's rich heritage. Just as in the original shows, today's mermaids use free-flowing air tubes for oxygen and, with an array of glittering props, present underwater renditions of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" as well as the complete history of Weeki Wachee Springs.
The geological backdrop is no less stunning than the synchronized song and dance; the theater sits above subterranean aquifers that pump over 170 million gallons of freshwater per day. Though the natural pumping system keeps the water at a cool 74 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, the current at the depth of the theater is a steady 5 miles per hour, making it difficult for the mermaids to swim in one place!
If that's not enough, you can marvel at Weeki Wachee's old Cypress trees (by way of the River Boat Cruise or your own kayak), or head next door to Buccaneer Bay, Florida's only spring-fed water park. And don't expect anything less charming in the surrounding town of Weeki Wachee: With a population of 12, it's known as one of the nation's smallest cities and, of course, is proudly run by a mermaid-turned-mayor.
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- Hours Check Seasonally. September 28 - December 31, 2009: Thursday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Closed Monday - Wednesday.
- Website Weeki Wachee: Florida Park Guide
- Address 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Florida, 34606, United States
- Cost Adult: $13.00, Children (ages 6-12): $5.00, Children (5 and under): FREE
45 minutes North of Tampa and 2 hours West of Orlando, at the intersection of State Road 50 and Hwy. 19.
Comments
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Anonymous
December 15, 2009
Though you've used several of our images from flickr we noticed you've attached them with good use of the creative commons licensing we assigned by linking back to the "source." Thanks for that. Good job, Admins. robandsheila -
Anonymous
December 8, 2009
Absolutely Gorgeous!
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Anonymous
December 8, 2009
Having grown-up on Florida's West coast and only 75 miles from this and several other springs, I found it as exciting as I had hoped it would be. This was before Disney World and all the Block Buster attractions now there. Still this one is very special - its human and takes great skill to preform. Well worth the time to travel and money to see If I were a tourist to see it It would be a high on my list attaction. This spring always had special alure and now even more. The public can snorkel parts of it and take a boat ride into the depths of what Florida 'use to' look like. It is easy to see where the Spanish came and tricked by the native population believed in a fountain of youth somewhere close by in one of the myriad of Florida's beautiful, untouched (then) crystal clear spring. The water so cold and heavy with minerals and the mists that hanag on the water early in the morning and late at night making the possiblitiy of curitive waters believeable. Still the Spanish never found the secret, if there really was one. From experience I can tell you, the cold water on a hot, summer's, Florida day will take your breath away and the current will carry you downstream quickly - so be ready and have an inter-tube along so you can just float along and enjoy the natural beauty.
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Anonymous
December 7, 2009
I saw these mermaids when they came to Myrtle Beach to swim in the ray tank at Ripley's. Their routines are pretty impressive and watching them made me feel like I was a little girl again, but I think their songs are still stuck in the 60's. If possible, they should get someone in there to update their signature routines just a little so that the adults can get more enjoyment out of it and it doesn't seem so cheesy.
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