We invite you to come see our world-famous Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park as they perform their version of Hans Christian Andersens The Little Mermaid live in our submerged 400-seat auditorium. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Nostalgic Snapshots of Manchester in the 1990s, The Blizzard of 1978: Photos Show the Historic Storm That Slammed the Northeastern United States, People Living with a Normal Life with Mummies in Venzone, Italy in 1950, Fascinating Historical Photos Show Street Life of Victorian London in the 1870s, Karen Carpenter's Last Photo and the Tragic Consequences of Anorexia, Young Michelle Phillips: Gorgeous Photos Of Californian Dreamgirl From 1960s and 1970s. New themes, music, and storylines were created for shows. We actually ended up pretty close to the front of the line considering all of the people that were behind us so it would be pretty brutal if you had to be out there for 1 hour+. Top Picks Gayle King and. Brooksville is home to many historic buildings and residences, including the homes of former Florida Governor William Sherman Jennings and football player Jerome Brown. See Mermaids (and more) at Weeki Wachee Springs If I were going to make a day of it, I would probably pay the $7 to have access to that for the day. Celebrating the History of Weeki Wachee Springs It is hot, hot, hot and theres not really any shade. Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. Pack a cooler or buy food once you get there. Contact the Statewide Information Line: We dont have to clean an oven You can kayak or swim in Florida Springs and see native Florida wildlife in many places. And dont expect anything less charming in the surrounding town of Weeki Wachee; with a population of 12, its known as one of the nations smallest cities and, of course, is proudly run by a mermaid-turned-mayor. A postcard of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids in 1966 in front of the statue. Susan B. Barnes is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience writing about food, travel and lifestyle. In Florida, these naughty monkeys live on their own mini-monkey Alcatraz. Dianne Wyatt McDonald, 92, was a senior at St. Petersburg High School in the late 1940s and had joined her school's swim team at the start of the school year. The mermaids performed Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Snow White, and Peter Pan. As featured in The Montauk Sun, in print, from the Hamptons to Manhattan, Escape from Paradise with Ingrid Lemme-Chalut. Weeki Wachee mermaids take on a challenging job. And share my account with your travel loving friends! Seating is first-come, first-served. In the shows the mermaids (and mermen called princes) discreetly take mouthfuls of air from the slender breathing tubes while they perform. These 18 Magical Photos Of Florida's Live Mermaid City Will Leave You That basin - continuously refreshed from the bottomless spring below - feeds the Weeki Wachee River that winds 12 miles westward before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. The City of Weeki Wachee incorporated in 1966, putting the tiny city of Weeki Wachee on maps and state road signs. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. www.floridasadventurecoast.com. You can pack a full size cooler (no alcohol), but they also have full concessions on site. Next: Manatee Watching: When & Where To See Florida's Gentle Giants, Lianna boarded a plane by herself for the first time at the tender age of 12 to traverse nearly 9,000 miles halfway across the world. An author's private collection of quirky travel-trinkets and oddities has become a rotating mini-museum in the window of a local bookstore. The mermaids give the audience historical information (via video), and the technical aspect of the show. The attraction received worldwide acclaim. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Prince Anthony is from Springhill, Florida, and loves to eat pineapple on pizza. How to Become a Mermaid at Florida's Weeki Wachee Springs But usually I have a Fastpass (I go to Disney a lot ; ). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Weeki Wachee Florida Mermaids Beauties Seahorse Vintage Unused Chrome Postcard at the best online prices at eBay! Chinsegut Hill is actually a retreat for special events, weddings, educational seminars and gatherings of fraternal and religious groups. Mermaid Lydia is quite the artist and loves to do special-effects makeup. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A childhood dream come true on the Gulf Coast is also an ode to roadside Americana and a love letter to Floridas natural beauty. According to the park's Facebook page, auditions to become a mermaid will be held Sat., Jan. 28. Being a mermaid is a magical job. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. We went straight thereTHE MERMAIDS WERE THE PRIORITY. Weeki Wachee Springs - Wikipedia Ruins of an old sugar mill sitting quietly next to a park in rural Florida. Later this month, Weeki Wachee will be holding auditions for new mermaids. Since opening its doors in 1947, Weeki Wachee has attracted thousands of roadside visitorsand aspiring mermaidsfrom all over the world. Then there are the mermaids. Address: 6131 Commercial Way Weeki Wachee FL 34606 Phone Number: 352-592-5656 WeekiWachee.com Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show Destination Mermaids the Tail Trail celebrates 75 years of Weeki Wachee The mermaids are still the main attractions at the state park. Related: Why Neptune Memorial Reef Is So Much More Than An Ecosystem. The prince prevails, proving that love conquers all.. Once that problem was solved, the next was simply choreography. One of the newest shows is Wonders of Weeki, dedicated to Perry. he developed a method of breathing underwater from an air hose attached to a compressor (instead of a tank strapped to your back), built a small 18 person underwater theater and began recruiting young women whom he trained to breathe from the hoses and perform underwater tricks (like drinking a soda or eating a banana). www.floridacrackerkitchen.com. The Last Mermaid Show - The New York Times It was the most beautiful sight I think I ever saw. Weeki Wachee mermaid Bonnie Georgiadis is pictured on this postcard as she looked during the early days of her 37-year Weeki Wachee career. Privacy Policy. There were people around us who were getting sick from the heat and nobody was really prepared for it. www.facebook.com/enchiladasbrooksville, Wed booked the day before tickets for a self-guided kayak tour through Weeki Fresh Water Adventures, so we had the time to stop for a nice breakfast at the famous Florida Cracker Kitchen in Brooksville. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Kayak rentals have to be reserved in advance. Weeki Wachee was named by the Seminole Indians. Yearning to have legs like him, she makes a deal with the sea witch to give her what she wants in exchange for her beautiful voice. But when we went in (July 2021), they were back to operating normally. On that day, the mermaids performed synchronized ballet moves underwater while breathing through the air hoses hidden in the scenery. We were going to experience for ourselves the natural spectacular that amazes visitors since 1947. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). The latest news and how to stay informed. Weeki Wachee still exists, though. "It's this big agency . In 1946, Newton Perry, a former US Navy man who trained SEALs to swim underwater in World War II, zeroed in on Weeki Wachee as a good site for a new business. The City of Weeki Wachee incorporated in 1966, putting the tiny city of Weeki Wachee on maps and state road signs. By, Weeki Wachee Kelley_Jun22_17_2814_edited, Weeki Wachee Mermaids_performing_at_Weeki_Wachee_Springs_State, Weeki Wachee Mermaid_Kiyomi_at_Weeki_Wachee_Springs_State_Park_SPRRswGr1K8t_A9quDK2WMs18q0ABlZBh_rgb_l.jpg, Weeki Wachee Kristy__Amanda___Cheyenne_Sep27_19_8715, A Florida school superintendent keeps speaking out against DeSantis despite looming sanctions, DeSantis' appointed board approves a lawsuit against Disney, Florida LGBTQ+ lawmaker tells the GOP: 'Im literally trying to exist', New COVID variant of interest comes to Florida with a common allergy symptom: pinkeye, Arkansas woman pleads not guilty to selling over 20 boxes of stolen human body parts, A decoder that uses brain scans to know what you mean mostly, The Senate holds its Supreme Court ethics hearing this week with no justices, Tracking the impact of U.S.-China tensions on global financial institutions, Weeki Wachee River may soon become a protected spring zone, Weeki Wachee Is Being Destroyed By Docking Kayakers, Study Says, Weeki Wachee Springs Is Hiring Mermaids To Carry On A Florida Tradition. She swam in its deep blue for half a decade and, like many of her peers, unearthed something transformative below the waterline. On Jan. 12, 2023, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park will unveil 28 mermaid statues to celebrate its anniversary, in an exhibition called Destination Mermaid: The Tail Trail. These cookies do not store any personal information. Well, my thing has always been the Weeki Wachee Mermaids. However, there is only one place where you can see live mermaids swimming in those springs, often . About two or three days after school started I saw a note from The Spa (an indoor saltwater pool in St. Pete) that said any girl that would like to become a synchronized swimmer to come down, McDonald tells Southern Living. She can be reached at lianna.t@thetravel.com, Mermaids have intrigued sailors and land-dwellers alike for centuries, Why Neptune Memorial Reef Is So Much More Than An Ecosystem, Tigertail: Florida's Most Beautifully Underrated Family Beach, Manatee Watching: When & Where To See Florida's Gentle Giants. Former mermaids Barbara Wynns, then 63, left, of Weeki Wachee and Bonnie Georgiadis, then 76, of Tarpon Springs were among the first inductees in the Weeki Wachee Springs Hall of Fame. It was nothing to brag about. Mermaid Shows | Florida State Parks The pose that McDonald and Rose created is known as the adagio, and the statue still stands outside the entrance of Weeki Wachee today. Something that seemed so fantastic and wonderful as a child and as an adult you know its probably pretty silly but you just cant let go of it? The junk was cleared and Newt experimented with underwater breathing hoses and invented a method of breathing underwater from a free-flowing air hose supplying oxygen from an air compressor, rather than from a tank strapped to the back. After the show you can enjoy the water in the spring next to the aquarium. Visitors enjoy the mermaids show with the gap of just a window. We were extremely lucky to visit when the 'Former' mermaids all between their 50's and 60's, who have long retired, come once per month (voluntarily) and do a show. The mermaids, pictured here on a postcard, perform underwater acrobatics and dance. The Mermaids of Weeki Wachee perform underwater feats from the past six decades, including eating and drinking underwater. But alsowe did not rush for a spot at Buccaneer Bay and set up camp before we got in line for the show. Athanason said the park will bring together mermaids from over the decades, including 92-year-old Diane Wyatt McDonald, one of Weeki Wachees first Aquabelles.. The Mermaids of Weeki Wachee and the History of Chinsegut Hill. These tubes were his creation; the air flowing through the tubes allows performers to breathe underwater while giving them mermaid-like qualities. Rhonda pointed us out to the Floridas Adventure Coast visitor center where we got to meet John Athanason personally as well as the two ladies that work there ( he was of great help when I was researching the area). It takes rigorous training to become a full-fledged mermaid. You CANNOT do it once you arrive at the park. Mermaid shows are offered at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. You will enjoy this classic told unlike any other as The Little Mermaid celebrates her birthday and comes face to face with her prince! To mark seventy-five years of such memories, Weeki Wachee is throwing an anniversary party this week. Silly meI thought that when they said arrive early because its really crowded in the summer and sells out quickly they meant dont show up at noon ; ). FSP.Feedback@FloridaDEP.gov, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. . Mermaid Kelley enjoys listening to Brett Young and loves anything chocolate. Last but definitely not least, on the morning of our departure we received a fantastic tour of the Chinsegut Hill Manor House from Curator of Education Brian Buttafuoco, and then a tour of the beautiful grounds with Christie Williams, the Retreat Manager. Mermaid Morgan loves animals and dreams of one day owning a dog rescue. Submitted by switzarch on Fri, 08/23/2013 - 7:50pm. The Weeki Wachee Mermaids Somewhere in the bowels of South Florida, there is a campground. Chinsegut owner Raymond Robins, along with his wife Margaret, had the ears of four presidents and numerous political advisors as well as being the only US or Allied representative to have direct discussions with Nikolai Lenin during the Russian Revolution and the emergence of the Soviet regime. Inside the Waterproof Makeup Routine of a Weeki Wachee Mermaid With lifeguards watching the waters, a giant water slide, and flume rides, it's perfect for the whole family after catching an early mermaid show. In 1982, Buccaneer Bay opened with waterslides and a white sand beach. We put a 45-minute synchronized swimming show for him, she says of the first show. Turns out that one of the ladies was an extra in my favorite movie. The Mermaid Show is performed four times a day and there are two different shows: 1) Wonders of Weeki Wachee and 2) The Little Mermaid. Shows may be canceled due to weather and no refunds are issued. The mermaids wore one-piece suits and were treated like royalty wherever they went in Florida. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Guests will be admitted later in the day, when there is space. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. The Wonders of Weeki open 365 days a year! The $13 includes admission to the springs (including Buccaneer Bay Water Park), the Mermaid Show, wildlife shows, and the 20 minute river boat ride (when its operating). Weeki Wachee Springs is a tourist attraction in Weeki Wachee, Florida. Towels, picnic blankets, and tents covered pretty much all available space in this part of the park. Effective May 27: All water park attractions will be open daily for the summer. Florida Cracker Kitchen is a place to feed your soul and belly at the same time. You cant take floats. The water slides, lazy river and kiddie pool will be open Saturdays and Sundays. Weeki Wachee: City of Live Mermaids - Atlas Obscura As the mermaids sing in The Little Mermaid show: Were not like other women, 0.721 Acres. Many of them went by the wayside after Walt Disney World opened in the Orlando area in 1972. Meet the mermaids of Weeki Wachee - YouTube They had 24 of them, 12 lined up on one side of the sidewalk and 12 lined up on the other. Nestled among magnificent oaks, magnolias, and cabbage palms, we felt that wed found the old Florida, a peaceful place without a sound of the outside world. Weeki Wachee mermaids put on makeup before the 11 a.m. Former mermaids Barbara Wynns, then 63, left, of Weeki Wachee and Bonnie Georgiadis, then 76, of Tarpon Springs were among the first inductees in the Weeki Wachee Springs Hall of Fame. I am sure that yall remember my latest travel piece about Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney!? Effective March 20-May 26: The swimming area will be open daily. Florida was once known for its roadside attractions such as Six-Gun Territory in Ocala, which featured shootouts at high noon on its dusty main drag. Mermaid Paisley loves to indulge in half-baked ice cream and play with her pet hedgehog. Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best historical content straight into your inbox. Im still not sure how many people they let in, but there was a steady stream of people getting in line behind us the whole time we waited and I think they announced on social media that they stopped letting people in around 11AM. If I was a mermaid -- or I wanted to meet some merpeople-- these are places I would go. The mermaids perform four shows a day, 365 days a year and theyve been doing it since 1947. The mermaids took etiquette and ballet lessons. They also trained to hold their breath underwater for up to a minute and 30 seconds at at time. Add these Weeki Wachee Springs Attractions to Your Bucket List. Its crystal-clear blue spring waters draw about 420,000 visitors annually. Submerged six feet below the waters surface, an 18-seat theater was built into the limestone so viewers could look right into the natural beauty of the ancient spring. It turns out the shows were first come first serve. The man responsible for creating such a venue, and entertainment idea, was Newt Perry. Weve got the world by the tail! Your email address will not be published. WEEKI WACHEE Shut down for a year due to COVID-19, the mermaids are swimming again as the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park reopened this week . The Child-Eating Bunyip Haunts Australias Wetlands, The City of Live Mermaids - Only in Florida, Want to Be a Mermaid? All the other roads were dirt; there were no gas stations, no groceries and no movie theaters. That first performance was on October 13, 1947. Weeki Wachee Celebrates 75 Years Of Mermaids In 1946, Perry scouted out Weeki Wachee for his new business. Sign up for the River Boat Cruise early. . Mermaid Roster | Florida State Parks Prince Nick loves watching Star Wars movies! Fact: Weeki Wachee is home to the deepest known natural spring in North America, and the 'stage' is built a full 20 feet below the surface of the spring. The first postcard in color of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids. Unsurprisingly, McDonald watched the mermaid show when she was at the park last month, too. The popular shows featured former mermaids that returned to enchant audiences once again . For one admission fee, park visitors can also swim at the on-site water park, see an animal or reptile show, and take a boat ride down the Weeki Wachee River, where they might spot great blue herons, manatees, or alligators. Candidates from all over the world, as far away as Tokyo, come to this Gulf-coast destination in hopesof fulfilling their dreams of becoming a mermaid. You can see the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. on weekends. First published in The Montauk Sun December Issue 2021. Fortunately along the way we also found the Breadbox, a little hometown bakery. When Clairol set out to promote its Great Body Conditioning Shampoo in 1971, the brand landed on the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs, an underwater tourist attraction that could . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. On January 12, Florida's Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau will unveil the Mermaid Tale Trail, which features twenty-seven mermaid statues, hand-painted by regional artists, placed throughout nearby . The park also has a history that precedes some of the world's biggest entertainment parks, showing no signs of stopping its maritime success anytime soon. And on October 13, 1947, the first show at the Weeki Wachee Springs underwater theater opened. Lydia Dodson was a Weeki Wachee Mermaid in the 1970s and more recently joined ranks of the Legendary Sirens. ABC also developed themes for the underwater shows, with elaborate props, lifts, music, and storylines such as Underwater Circus, The Mermaids and the Pirates, and Underwater Follies. Additionally, the water is kept at a constant temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, but the current at the bottom of the spring is always moving at five miles per hour. As of September 2022: Mermaid shows are offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m. on weekends. There is an admission fee that covers both the mermaid side and the water park side of the park. I need underwater swimming. We told him that we'd be back the following week, and we would be doing an underwater show.". Yes, I waited in line to meet Mermaid Ashley. "The second the water touched my skin I felt this cold blanket of weightlessness. Its a good place to snorkel and see fish and turtles in the wild. Weeki Wachee Springs is the only place in the world where you can see live mermaids performing right before your eyes. June 16, 2017. Its thought to be the deepest underwater cave in the world. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. You may think the mermaids are swimming in a tank, but in fact its the audience thats in a man-made structure. Mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs www.weekiwachee.com, And as if our time on Floridas Adventure Coast wouldnt have been already precious enough we got to experience that evening a breathtaking sunset at Hernando Beach, on the tip of Pine Island. Athanason said first and foremost, they are athletes. We lined up for the 10AM Wonders of Weeki Wachee show and were pretty quickly let into the theater when it opened at 9:30. [ Times . The Ranger Experience is offered daily at 10 a.m., noon and 2:15 p.m. Those who wish to become a Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid have to be strong swimmers. Winter Haven had Cypress Gardens, known for water-ski shows and young women dressed in floral-colored southern belle costumes. Related: Tigertail: Florida's Most Beautifully Underrated Family Beach. Courtesy 4 of 4 Weeki Wachee Kristy__Amanda___Cheyenne_Sep27_19_8715 Our food was beyond delicious, creative, local and fresh and the service was the nicest you can get. The Mermaid Show is performed four times a day and there are two different shows: 1) Wonders of Weeki Wachee and 2) The Little Mermaid. In the 1960s, girls came from as far away as Tokyo to try out for the privilege of becoming a mermaid. WUSF Public Media - WUSF 89.7 | Discover Live Mermaids In Florida's Weeki Wachee Springs State Park The glamorous mermaids performed eight shows a day to sold-out crowds and as many as half a million people a year came to see the Weeki Wachee mermaids. And I hope they will help you in some way and maybe even lift your spirits. Weeki Wachee Springs: City Of Live Mermaids - Florida Back Roads Travel Because, of course. Weeki Wachee might be famous for its mermaid shows but that's not the only thing visitors should experience there. But this weekend, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in Hernando County will celebrate 75 years. The building provides a tangible link to many important eras in history including: the initial development of Florida during the pioneer years; the development of a Florida slave plantation and its transformation after the Civil War; the US labor movement including womens and childrens labor regulations; womens suffrage; early 1900 literature; the Russian Revolution; the Great Depression and the Civilian Conservation Corp; and the early years of University of South Florida (USF) development. It takes place inside of an actual water spring which automatically eliminates the need for any props or set design. Weeki Wachee Mermaids: Thirty Years of Underwater Photography For Kourtney Ellinghuysen, Weeki Wachee was her first mermaid job. Weeki Wachee became part of the Florida Parks Service in 2008. In the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the nations most popular tourist stops. Not only is this state home to the world's only 'real' mermaids, but it's also where those flock to who wish to become mermaids. Weeki Wachee Springs is a tourist attraction in Weeki Wachee, Florida. 3247 & 3229 Shoal Line Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607. Take shade! After every show, you can meet and get your picture taken with one of the mermaids. 6400 W Richard Dr, Spring Hill, FL 34607 - Zillow Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. IT WAS CROWDED. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Surprisingly the line moved very quickly (this isnt like Disney where each person has a 2-3 minute conversation with Ariel-everyone takes a picture and moves on pretty quickly). At 82-years young, mermaid Vickie Smith is the oldest performing Weeki Wachee mermaid. Perry was a former U.S. Navy veteran who, being familiar with the water and movement in it, came up with Weeki Wachee. Weeki Wachee 'legends' mermaid show returns this weekend - FOX 13 Tampa Bay Everybody had come ready for a day in the cool water. In 1946, Newton Perry, a former U.S. Navy man who trained Navy Frogmen to swim underwater in World War II, scouted Weeki Wachee as a good site for a new business. Cheyenne Bragg, far right, and other Weeki Wachee mermaids oversee mermaid auditions at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Like everyone else, they came to see the famous mermaidsin actuality, highly trained swimmers and divers. The Weeki Wachee mermaids put on eight shows a day to sold-out audiences, captivating as many as half a million people a year. In this campground there is a pool, and in the pool, mermaids dwell. In a world where kids are so glued to screens and devices, its nice to know that spending a day swimming around the springs with the mermaids is such a crowd pleaser. Candidates from across the globe train to become one of the live mermaids in Weeki Wachee. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The 538-acre park features a first magnitude spring and a 400-seat submerged theatre for watching the live mermaid show. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! Little Mermaid Performance at Weeki Watchi. Deep in the spring, the surge of the current is so strong that it can knock a scuba divers mask off. Weeki Wachee Springs is a state park that opened to the public in October of 1949 by Weeki Wachee Mermaid Rita King Performing at a Mermaid Reunion Rita King, a mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs, in costume, performing an acrobatic routine. Oh the Places We'd Go: The Weeki Wachee Mermaids | Stuckey's The park itself is home to more than 530 acres, and visitors are free to explore it on their own with a paddleboard or kayak rental.