In the 1950s, Weeki Wachee was one of the nations most popular tourist stops. Both Weeki Wachee and Buccaneer Bay have food and drinks available to purchase. "It's this big agency . Hours: The park is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm every day. Those who have seen the show have likely noticed the tubes that dangle down into the water tanks. 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 ; ). The pose that McDonald and Rose created is known as the adagio, and the statue still stands outside the entrance of Weeki Wachee today. The prince prevails, proving that love conquers all.. Mermaid Paisley loves to indulge in half-baked ice cream and play with her pet hedgehog. To mark seventy-five years of such memories, Weeki Wachee is throwing an anniversary party this week. McDonald recalls that the following week she and another girl on the synchronized team got together and drew stick figures of different poses to do underwater. Then there are the mermaids. First published in The Montauk Sun December Issue 2021. 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 Florida, these naughty monkeys live on their own mini-monkey Alcatraz. On November 1, 2008, Weeki Wachee Springs became Florida's 162nd state park. Guests will be turned away when the park is full. At the time, U.S. 19 was a small two-lane road. All the other roads were dirt; there were no gas stations, no groceries, and no movie theaters. We were excited like children when the curtains finally rolled up. 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. And we never will grow old, Mermaid Morgan loves animals and dreams of one day owning a dog rescue. Towels, picnic blankets, and tents covered pretty much all available space in this part of the park. Sadly, the spring was full of old rusted refrigerators and abandoned cars. At 8:30 (30 minutes before opening), you cant imagine how long the line was. These cookies do not store any personal information. But usually I have a Fastpass (I go to Disney a lot ; ). Its free, but availability is limited so you have to sign up when you get to the park and theyll tell you when to come back for your cruise. 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. McDonald was the co-creator of a certain pose that is depicted in "Adagio," one of the statues that can be seen in front of the park. No wonder the oldest mermaid, still performing at times, is 76 years old. Its 13 dollars for the day. Newt scouted out pretty girls and trained them to swim with air hoses and smile at the same time. 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 . The Wonders of Weeki open 365 days a year! 2023 BygonelyPrivacy policyTerms of ServiceConact Us. We were excited like children when the curtains finally rolled up. Find out everything you need to know about Weeki Wachee Springs State Park from the official website here. Weeki Wachee Mermaid show is a unique, local tradition, a part of Florida's cultural heritage. And when the mermaids recreated the adagio pose she created 75 years ago as they do in each performance, McDonalds face lit up. 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. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. The white sandy beach is shaded by palm trees and provides a number of shelters and pavilions. It was built by former Navy man Newton Perry who invented a new way of breathing underwater and taught it to some girls who were willing to perform while submerged. I personally would go to the Mermaid Show first and then head to Buccaneer Bay and try to find a spot thats a little further away from everything (the ones closest to the springs are the ones that will go first). Effective March 20-May 26: The swimming area will be open daily. So the park must hold a lot of people! However, there is only one place where you can see live mermaids swimming in those springs, often . The notion of a humanoid-like creature having the ability to live underwater for extended periods of time is somewhat of a dream for many, and in Florida, also a reality. The Mermaids of Weeki Wachee perform underwater feats from the past six decades, including eating and drinking underwater. THE SHOW WAS SO GOOD. The Mermaid Shows are the most crucial part of the Weeki Wachee Springs. . Escape From Paradise, Travel-writer & Blogger, Award-winning TV Host, Publisher, Travel Writer, Ambassador for www.Seven-Stars.com & 15 Emmy awards, Florida Governor William Sherman Jennings, University of South Florida (USF) development. 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. (850) 245-2157, Or send an email to: Mermaid Cassidy is a local to Weeki Wachee and wants to travel to Hawaii. While mermaids are only legends, these animals are very real, and entirely worth learning about during a visit to the state park. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. "Perry happened to hear about us, and that's why he invited us up to put on a show," says McDonald. Mermaid Ashley What Mermaid Ashley enjoys most is hanging out with her animals. Little Mermaid Performance at Weeki Watchi. "It's a 400-seat theater that was submerged. 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. 0.721 Acres. Mermaid shows have been playing at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, about an hour north of Tampa, since 1947. Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. And no, this is not the first time Ive waited in line to meet a mermaid. Movies were filmed at the spring, like Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid. On Jan. 12, the park unveiled 28 new mermaid statues as a part of the "Mermaid Tale Trail" exhibit. Athanason said Weeki Wachee Springs is Hernando Countys biggest tourist draw. The two young ladies who checked us in assured us that we would definitely enjoy our journey out on these gorgeous turquoise waters and reminded us that the Weeki Wachee is a non-disposable river and alcohol prohibited. One of the newest shows is Wonders of Weeki, dedicated to Perry. We made it to the front of the line and purchased our tickets (you cant buy tickets in advanceyou have to wait in the line) and we were surprised it was only $13/adult ($8/child ages 6-12 and free for children under 5). The latest news and how to stay informed. 464K views 6 years ago A Weeki Wachee mermaid has to descend about 30 feet through 'the tube' to begin each show. 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. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Related: Why Neptune Memorial Reef Is So Much More Than An Ecosystem. 19, 2021. Grassy areas, sandy areas, a few chairs and picnic tables set up, concrete walkways, snack stands, lockers, lines for slides, a packed pool, everyone running around in their swimsuits. All sorts of people stopped to see the mermaids, even Elvis Presley, Don Knotts, Esther Williams, and Arthur Godfrey came to Weeki Wachee. Make sure you have cold drinks and a little shade because it is HOT waiting out there. Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Having never been there before (and now knowing exactly how everything worked), we werent even sure if we were going to make it inside the park (let alone get to see the Mermaid Show!). After several miles through protected wild-lands as we neared the Gulf of Mexico the river widened and paddling became a little more challenging near the takeout point at Rogers Park, which marked the end of our unforgettable adventure. Oh my goddess. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Ruins of an old sugar mill sitting quietly next to a park in rural Florida. The part of the park where the shows are is kind of separate from the water park so I hadnt really seen any of the actual springs until we made our way over there. He invented a method of breathing underwater from a hose supplying oxygen from an air compressor, rather than from a tank strapped onto the back. If thats not enough, you can marvel at Weeki Wachees old Cypress trees (by way of the River Boat Cruise or your own kayak), or head next door to Buccaneer Bay, Floridas only spring-fed water park. Introducing the Mermaid Tail Trail This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Being a mermaid is a magical job. Copyright 2023 Copyright 2018 Florida Department of Environmental Protection. On that day, the mermaids performed synchronized ballet moves underwater while breathing through the air hoses hidden in the scenery. We dont have to clean an oven Rhonda Nienhuis, the owner, brewed us a fresh cup of coffee and accompanied by one of her delicious sweet creations our High Tea habit was saved. 3247 & 3229 Shoal Line Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607. These tubes were his creation; the air flowing through the tubes allows performers to breathe underwater while giving them mermaid-like qualities. In a somewhat remote part of Florida, theres a beautiful natural spring where live mermaids have been performing an underwater show for visitors since 1947. Newton and his first "mermaids." Weeki Wachee 60th Anniversary, performers in lycra mermaid fins. 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. 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 . Turns out that one of the ladies was an extra in my favorite movie. Robin Wendell/CC by 2.0 Long before Disney World became the staple of Florida 's tourism industry, there was Weeki Wachee, the City of Live Mermaids. The former mermaids may have moved on in life, but the enchantment of the Weeki Wachee Spring calls them back time and again, like a dream that cant be forgotten. Weeki Wachee celebrated its 75th year earlier this month. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. For Kourtney Ellinghuysen, Weeki Wachee was her first mermaid job. In 1997, the popular Former Mermaid shows began, bringing former mermaids back to Weeki Wachee Springs to swim in the Mermaids of Yesteryear shows, which play . 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. Seating is first-come, first-served. He just thought the pose was beautiful, and then I guess Newt Perry decided he liked the pose, too, and the next thing you know theyre making a statue of it.. Yep, MERMAIDS. Sights at the park included the mermaid shows, orchid gardens, jungle cruises, and Indian encampment and a new beach. Then they jumped into the spring to perform. Today, the mermaids perform using free-flowing oxygen . (850) 245-2157, Or send an email to: And thats the kind of swimming we did. Several times each year, Weeki Wachee Springs puts on the 'Legendary Sirens' show, which brings former mermaids back to the underwater theater to perform alongside their current-day counterparts. 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. 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. Ashley Bobo of Nashville, Tennessee, sits in a fake mermaid tail in Weeki Wachee springs, Florida, July 25, 2007. 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. Later this month, Weeki Wachee will be holding auditions for new mermaids. According to the park's Facebook page, auditions to become a mermaid will be held Sat., Jan. 28. Add these Weeki Wachee Springs Attractions to Your Bucket List. Weeki Wachee was named by the Seminole Indians. Visitors enjoy the mermaids show with the gap of just a window. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The show also includes several musical numbers. 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 . IT WAS CROWDED. The spring was named Weeki Wachee by the Seminole Indians (it means little spring or winding river) and the spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found. The mermaids wore one-piece suits and were treated like royalty wherever they went in Florida. In celebration of 75 years of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and its mermaid shows, in January the park unveiled 28 mermaid statues that were hand-painted by juried artists. 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. WUSF 89.7 depends on donors for the funding it takes to provide you the most trusted source of news and information here in town, across our state, and around the world. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! Weeki Wachee still exists, though. plus the mermaids narrate a lot about the history of Weeki Wachee springs, how the mermaid show started and give a few not so subtle pitches about protecting the springs, making good environmental choices, etc. Former mermaids belong to a proud sorority, and some return to perform in special "Legendary Sirens" shows, such as those scheduled for Labor . This wasnt running when I visited and that was disappointing because it wouldve been a great way to see the river. The mermaid brings an air hose and a lot of moxie to the chilly (72 degrees. 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. The mermaids are swimming in a natural spring; the 500-seat theater is embedded in the side of the spring 16 feet below the surface. The shows have been dazzling visitors for decades. And share my account with your travel loving friends! Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is an easy day trip from Tampa or Orlando and although it sounds a little kitschy (it IS kitschy), its also VERY popular. I wasnt really worried that I would be disappointed because I pretty much knew exactly what it was going to be, but it hits that sweet spot right in between being technically really impressive and SUPER KITSCHY. The first postcard in color of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids. See. 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. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Hey Friend, Before You Go.. It was a magical experience, recalls Buzby. Address: 6131 Commercial Way Weeki Wachee FL 34606 Phone Number: 352-592-5656 WeekiWachee.com Weeki Wachee Mermaid Show 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. He then put a sign out on U.S. 19 that read: WEEKI WACHEE. I did what I came to do and all things considered (the super long line when we got there) it went really smoothly.
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