Weeki Wachee offers visitors a blend of natural beauty and unique attractions, whether exploring ancient Cypress trees via the River Boat Cruise or kayaking. Adjacent to the park, Buccaneer Bay, Florida’s sole spring-fed water park, promises more aquatic fun. The small town of Weeki Wachee, with its population of just 12, proudly boasts the distinction of being one of the nation's smallest cities, led by a mermaid-turned-mayor. Located 45 minutes north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando at the crossroads of State Road 50 and Hwy 19, the park charges a $13 admission fee for access to both the mermaid shows and the water park. After enjoying the mermaid spectacle, visitors can snorkel in the nearby spring, observing wild fish and turtles in their natural habitat.
Long before Disney World became synonymous with Florida's tourism, Weeki Wachee, known as the City of Live Mermaids, captivated visitors. Since its inception in 1947, this state park, sprawling across 538 acres and featuring North America's deepest natural spring, has drawn roadside travelers and aspiring mermaids worldwide. At its heart are the famed Mermaid Shows, where performers, trained rigorously by former Navy man Newton Perry in underwater breathing techniques, dazzle audiences in an underwater theater 20 feet below the spring's surface. Candidates from as far as Tokyo flock to this Gulf-coast destination, chasing their dreams of becoming mermaids. While the park reached its peak popularity in the 1960s, today's shows remain whimsical and nostalgic, featuring mermaids using free-flowing air tubes for oxygen and enchanting audiences with underwater interpretations of "The Little Mermaid" and the rich history of Weeki Wachee Springs.