Before Disney World became the main tourist attraction in Florida, there was Weeki Wachee Springs. The park was most known for its live mermaid shows. During these shows, “half-fish, half-human” performers would act out intricate underwater dances in an underwater theatre that was 20-feet below the spring’s surface. It took extensive training to become one of these mermaids and was a well sought after job, with hopefuls travelling from all over the country and even over the world.
A young woman training to perform as a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida. Lessons include breath control, underwater ballet, synchronized swimming, graceful movement, and underwater dining etiquette. Audiences watch the mermaids perform from an underground theater embedded in the side of the spring.
Learn the history of Florida’s roadside attractions and how retired mermaids fought to keep the Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show alive.
“During World War II, tourism was declared ‘an essential industry for entertainment of service men and women in the state.’ Many of the veterans who had been stationed in Florida returned there to settle after the war. Weeki Wachee Springs was opened in 1947 by an industrious Navy frogman instructor who had experimented with underwater breathing techniques. Combining the natural beauty of the crystal clear water, the drama of theater, and the draw of dazzling young swimmers, the attraction was dubbed the ‘City of Mermaids’ (Figure 1).”
“Of Mice and Mermaids: The Fight to Save Florida’s Early Roadside Attractions” by Sherry Anderson, from
Van Damme, L., Randl, C., Slaton, D., United States. National Park Service., Historic Preservation Education Foundation. (2006). Preserve and play: preserving historic recreation and entertainment sites. Washington, DC: Historic Preservation Education Foundation. Full text available via HathiTrust.
Driving from the southeast corner of Florida northward, there comes a point in the north-central portion of the peninsula where hills appear. For most people, hills probably aren’t that big of a deal – but for a couple of south Floridians, they are.
We don’t have hills in the southern part of the state – unless you count the overpasses that cross I-95. Beyond those paved arches, it’s flat, from…
If you’re looking for the perfect way to spend a warm day in Florida, look no further. Buccaneer Bay in Florida is a place that is jam-packed with fun, from the sandy beaches to the high-flying flumes. This incredible attraction outside of Spring Hill is one part waterpark, one part natural spring. Who’s ready for some family fun?