The City Of Live Mermaids Is Hiding In Small Town Florida And It's As Weirdly Wonderful As You'd Expect
By Marisa Roman|Published August 31, 2021
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
For anyone who is familiar with Weeki Wachee Springs, there is likely an association with mermaids, whether they realize it or not. Why? Because Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has offered a mermaid attraction since the 1940s that people visit from all over to watch. What’s been dubbed the City of Live Mermaids, Weeki Wachee, Florida still dazzles and delights with this one-of-a-kind show the whole family can enjoy.
Tucked away inside Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is a one-of-a-kind attraction that was born out of Old Florida roadside charm.
As history goes, a former Navy man named Newton Perry invented a way for people to breathe underwater and taught a few girls who wanted to perform while being fully submerged.
Fast-forward almost a century later, mermaids are still using this technique to put on a show! But it certainly isn’t easy, by any means. It takes rigorous training to be able to perform safely. Candidates from across the globe train to become one of the live mermaids in Weeki Wachee.
Today, the mermaids perform using free-flowing oxygen tubes, plus tons of props and costumes. Guests will be treated to synchronized song and dance as the mermaids handle the 170 million gallons of water pumped from the aquifers daily!
While the state park is now a sprawling 500+ acres of space with even a waterpark attached, many tourists still swing by to catch a mermaid show that isn’t like anything else in the world.
Have you ever been to the City of Live Mermaids in Florida before? Were you able to catch the live mermaid show? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you’re looking for more information about how to visit Weeki Wachee, Florida, then visit the Weeki Wachee Springs website.
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