As a guest you, your family, or traveling companions will be charmed, delighted, and enchanted by the rustic beauty of this natural habitat preserve and pristine water way as. This channel is dedicated to our literacy program, tail mail. For nearly 60 years, live mermaids have been the unique focal point of weeki wachee springs. In this episode, our traveling heroes visit weeki wachee and meet a girl who might be a real mermaid. Send a weeki wachi mermaid a letter and get a video. Leaving the bronx far behind, shes headed for sunny weeki wachee springs. Like many of the mermaids, she is a weeki wachee local and has a deep love for the park. Thirty years of underwater photography, by lu vickers and bonnie georgiadis. Its a 1940s roadside attraction featuring live mermaids, a modern water park at a natural spring and a gateway to exploring miles of lush nature by kayak or sup. Wander through the pages of this book and meet the mermaids of weeki wachee in their magical underwater theater.
The film features exterior shots of the weeki wachee sign, along with shots of characters enjoying the mermaid show and kayaking down the weeki wachee river. The water is brisk at 72 degrees but a delight in the summer months. Suddenly the weeki wachee mermaids, with their tails and their air hoses and their display of underwater eating, were competing with a space roller coaster, a pirate ride, a fairytale castle, a haunted mansion, fireworks, beloved characters walking around wearing giant heads, turkey legs, and much more including mermaids. Mermaids have long captured the imaginations of humans, first appearing in greek mythology more than 3,000 years ago. Even elvis presley visited to see mermaids at weeki wachee springs. The image is featured in lu vickers and sara dionnes book. Enjoy 3 bathrooms, 1 a living room, and 3 bedrooms. Looking for something to keep the kids busy in quarantine. Silverthorn country club and hernando oaks golf and country club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the areas natural beauty can explore weeki wachee springs and weeki wachee river.
A waterpark, buccaneer bay, river boat rides, kayak and paddleboard rental are some of the other activities offered at. In the city center, quality inn weeki wachee is in an area with good shopping. Its all about the thousands of young girls that became known as weeki wachee mermaids. Mysterious and enchanting, these young performers have done everything from teaching a class to typing a letter underwater. The real mermaids of weeki wachee triskelion books. Aug 16, 2016 i must also add that the presentday weeki wachee mermaids are not only spectacular, they are phenomenal. Theres probably not a little girl around today who doesnt know the story of the little mermaid. City of mermaids by lu vickers and sara dionne 2007, university press of florida, contains many illustrations of weeki wachee postcards, and preserves the names of numerous mermaids and mermen who performed there over the years. The vacation home comes with 2 bedrooms, a flatscreen tv with cable channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a microwave, a fridge, a washing. The mermaids have been swimming in these waters for over 60 years. You can have them spend some time crafting a letter to a weeki wachi mermaid.
Theres something for everyone at weeki wachee springs. Becoming a weeki wachee mermaid after auditioning five times. While there i met some older mermaids whod all been weeki wachee mermaids back in the 50s. Lu vickers has written a truly delicious, sparkling history of floridas own mermaid city of weeki wachee, one of the greatest. Weeki wachee springs is a natural tourist attraction located in weeki wachee, florida, where underwater performances by mermaids, women wearing fish tails as well as other fanciful outfits, can be viewed in an aquariumlike setting in the spring of the weeki wachee river. What advice would you have for someone who dreams of becoming a weeki wachee mermaid. The historic tail of the weeki wachee mermaids smart news. A weeki wachee springs publicity shot from about 1960 features mermaid barbara colson.
The image is featured in lu vickers and sara dionnes book weeki wachee city of mermaids. Weeki wachee springs state park, spring hill, florida. Settle down with a book in the sitting area right off the foyer, or head into the lanai to enjoy cocktails and appetizers with your loved ones. You can also embark on a paddling adventure down the pristine waterway of the weeki wachee river. Mermaids on the moon a story behind the story elizabeth. Be sure to bring the kids to weeki wachee springs, where you. They are carefully trained, completely enthusiastic, and delightful to see. Nov 10, 2009 the mermaids have their own battles with the depths and pressures involved in being a mermaid at weeki wachee. We encourage kids to pick their favorite mermaid, and handwrite a letter to them. The world famous weeki wachee attraction located just a few miles up the road from pams mermaid house opened in 1947. Discover the weeki wachee springs state park mermaid show. Dec 19, 2019 the film features exterior shots of the weeki wachee sign, along with shots of characters enjoying the mermaid show and kayaking down the weeki wachee river. From our legendary mermaid shows to our exotic river boat cruises and wildlife animal shows.
The mermaids have their own battles with the depths and pressures involved in being a mermaid at weeki wachee. Weeky wachee springs coupons 2019 printable coupons. Weeki wachee became part of the florida state park system in 2008, and today the mermaids are still going strong. This is the town of weeki wachee, which has a population of four really, and is known as the city of mermaids. Weeki wachee its good to have friendseven if you happen to be a state park. Friends of weeki wachee stand beside home of live mermaids. Weeki wachee springs by maryan pelland and dan pelland. Weeki wachee and buccaneer bay, which is the water park. Nov 17, 2017 weeki wachee looks like countless sleepy florida towns, except for one noteworthy difference, writes luke johnson for mashable. It is my pleasure to introduce you to pams mermaid house located on the main river of the famous weeki wachee springs in florida. Weeki wachee looks like countless sleepy florida towns, except for one noteworthy difference, writes luke johnson for mashable. Until june 4th, the slides, kiddie pool, and lazy river are only open on weekends and from april 312 for spring break. Tim hollis, author of selling the sunshine state just as deeply as the mermaids dove into the depths of the springs itself, lu vickers has delved into. Images of america weeki wachee springs weeki wachee.
She is currently working on another book about weeki wachee. Weeki wachee is an enchanted spring where you can see live mermaids, take a trip on a river boat cruise, learn about florida wildlife, and swim in the pristine waters at buccaneer bay. Weeki wachee springs state park is one of floridas most legendary and unique family destinations, entertaining. Knowing the mermaids were and still are real gave the book a grounded. Weeky wachee springs coupons, savings and theme park description for 2019 weeki wachee springs located in weeki wachee, florida is as unique as its name. This kitschy florida fantasyland, in which merpeople carry on their natural lives in a natural spring, is captured in the colorful weeki wachee, city of mermaids, a. Weeki wachee springs 2020 all you need to know before you. Dont expect to see mermaids but manatees are possible. You have chosen an extraordinary destination and vacation to be sought after. The friends of weeki wachee is a nonprofit group of volunteers who have befriended weeki wachee springs state park, helping operate and fund the historic home of live mermaids. Who are two people past or present you would like to have dinner with. Weeki wachee became part of the florida state park system. It began as the dream of a man named newton newt perry, who was raised in nearby ocala.
Weeki wachee was a roadside attraction and became one of floridas most popular vacation stops. The heyday of weeki wachee was the 1960s, with elaborate shows and standingroomonly crowds. Intermediate prior experience required one of our favorite downriver sup runs is the fast flowing crystal clear weeki wachee river. The weeki wachee spring offers 200 acres of natural attractions and a waterpark with an underwater theater for entertainment. Oct 07, 2018 in this episode, our traveling heroes visit weeki wachee and meet a girl who might be a real mermaid. Weeki wachee springs 2020 all you need to know before. My grandma and grandpa what advice would you have for someone who dreams of becoming a weeki wachee mermaid. The club formed in 1988 for the purpose of providing quality golf, swimming, and social events.
This attraction has lured travelers from around the glove. The historic tail of the weeki wachee mermaids smart. Theres always something going on in weeki wachee, so head to the visitors center and. See mermaids and more at weeki wachee springs 2 dads. Weeki wachee springs state park, spring hill roadtrippers. The mermaids of weeki wachee springs the new york times. Images of america weeki wachee springs weeki wachee springs. More than 60 years ago, weeki wachee springs state park invited the world to watch mermaids dance. Mar 19, 2020 weeki wachee springs are so refreshing. Aug 26, 2018 a weeki wachee springs publicity shot from about 1960 features mermaid barbara colson. If youre heading to the springs park to see the mermaids, book your tickets well in advance. By the 1950s, weeki wachee was a hot tourist destination, mostly for the mermaids, but an orchid garden, jungle cruise, and more were added.
Jun 08, 2011 so i met the very amazing 61yearold barbara wynns, former weeki wachee springs mermaid and unofficial head of the former mermaids performing at weeki now, back in january as well. But in a hamlet on the gulf coast of florida, people have been able to do just that since 1947, when newton perry opened a small roadside attraction with an underwater theater. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Barbara is the head of the sirens of the deep mermaid camp. Former weeki wachee mermaid barbara wynns i am a mermaid. Its an extremely popular attraction and tickets sell out fast.
But this weeki wachee mermaid show on floridas northern suncoast, not far from the gulf of mexico, was the first of its kind. So i met the very amazing 61yearold barbara wynns, former weeki wachee springs mermaid and unofficial head of the former mermaids performing at weeki now, back in january as well. There are currently 15 female mermaid performers and four male. Shes a worldclass diver who dives all over the world, and she lives. Past mermaids return to weeki wachee for fall events. It is the home of weeki wachee springs, which, of all the classic florida roadside tourist attractions, is one of the floridaest. Adapted from what the mermaid saw, by bonnie georgiadis, in weeki wachee mermaids.
Mermaid cheyenne loves shrimp cocktails and wants to be a pediatric oncology nurse one day. Take your family to the theater at weeki wachee springs state park and step back into an earlier era of florida tourism as reallife actors in costume perform in the natural springs crystalclear water. Popular attractions weeki wachee springs and weeki wachee river are located nearby. Book the 33 on weeki wachee river stay at this vacation home in spring hill. Weeki wachee springs, the spring of the weeki wachee river, is a florida tourist attraction where underwater performances by mermaids women dressed in fancy outfits with fins about their legs can be viewed in an aquariumlike setting. Weeki wachee springs state park is open 365 days a year from. We were extremely lucky to visit when the former mermaids all between their 50s and 60s, who have long retired, come once per month voluntarily and do a show. Her book cypress gardens, americas tropical wonder won the 2011 bronze medal for florida nonfiction. This natural tourist attraction is the home of real, live mermaids. By the late 1940s, long before disney dreamed of building a ma.
Vacation home riverfront weeki wachee home w big yard. The filmmakers knew that they wanted weeki wachee as a location, said guy balson, a clearwaterbased movie location scout that secured the films locales for the shoot, overseen by a24. While were not sure if youll see live mermaids we can guarantee and awesome sup adventure and experience. The weeki wachee mermaids have been entertaining florida tourists for more than six decades, and this book takes us into their underwater world to learn how they managed to perform such amazing featswith very little opportunity to breathe. From a historical view of what really became the icon for weeki wachee spring, this book tells the real story. A history of one of floridas oldest roadside attractions florida history and culture.
Legendary weeki wachee springs is pure florida magic. Not only are mermaids real to the visitors of weeki wachee, they eat watermelon, swing on swing sets and smoke pipes all under water. In 1997, weeki wachee called former mermaids out of retirement to celebrate the springs 50th anniversary. The official facebook page of the worldfamous mermaids. Some of the mermaids are able to hold their breath for 4 minutes, diving down to an. In the postwar explosion of domestic tourism, weeki. A history of one of floridas oldest roadside attractions florida history and culture lu vickers on. Heather golf club is a 9hole golf course located in weeki wachee, fl, about 45 minutes north of tampa in hernando county, and near the famous mermaids of weeki wachee springs. Theres always something going on in weeki wachee, so head to the visitors center and find out whats happening during your stay. Weeki wachee, city of mermaids goodreads share book.
Forget mickey and miamiin western floridas weeki wachee. Weeki wachee springs state park is built into two sections. I must also add that the presentday weeki wachee mermaids are not only spectacular, they are phenomenal. Weeki wachee river paddling trips a beautiful adventure.