Florida's Mermaids: The History of Weeki Wachee Springs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- This is Weeki Wachee Springs. It is just one of over 700 springs located in the state of Florida, yet this one is special because you see, Weeki Wachee Springs is home to mermaids.
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Sources
“Sportsmen Syndicate Plans Weekiwachee Springs Development”, Tampa Bay Times, Jun 30 1946
“Weekiwachee Lease Approved; Piper-Fuller Squabble Renewed”, Tampa Bay Times, Nov 6 1946
“Weekiwachee Spring To Become Resort”, The Miami News, Jun 16 1947
“Florida’s Newest Wonderland”, Tampa Bay Times, Sep 14 1947
“Underwater Theaters State’s Latest Promotion To Lure Visitors’ Dollars”, Tampa Bay Times, Oct 19 1947
“Company To Film Scenes At Weekiwachee Springs”, Tampa Bay Times, Dec 10 1947
“Universal Group Arrives For Film Scenes At Weekiwachee”, The Tampa Tribune, Dec 30 1947
“Today in Tampa”, Tampa Bay Times, Dec 31 1947
“Mermaids Soon Apt To Be Part Of Florida Scenery”, The Tampa Tribune, Jan 11 1948
“On the Waterfront”, Tampa Bay Times, May 9 1948
“Tarpon Springs Girls Lend Beauty To Weekiwachee Springs Water Show”, Tampa Bay Times, Jun 28 1948
“Bathing Beauties To Compete At Park Theatre Premiere of “Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid”, Tampa Bay Times, Jul 30 1948
“Mr. Peabody’ Filmed in State”, Tampa Bay Times, Jul 31 1948
“Mermaid Splashes in Pool To Herald Movie Debut”, Tampa Bay Times, Aug 3 1948
“FCC Examiner OKs Theater, Radio Merger”, The Miami Herald, Nov 14 1952
“Weeki Wachee Maidens Get Enlarged Theatre”, Tampa Bay Times, Jan 31 1960
“Home of the Mermaids”, The Orlando Sentinel, Nov 13 1960
“Weeki Wachee Slates Jolly Good Jolly Roger”, Orlando Evening Star, Sep 29 1962
“Remember the Weeki Wachee Premiere? It Make You Wish You Were A Fish”, The Orlando Sentinel, Jul 19 1964
“Sparkling Spring Mermaids Bridge Water-Land Environment”, The Tampa Tribune, Dec 23 1968
“Ocala’s New Perry: The Human Fish”, Ocala Star-Banner, April 11th 1982
“The Last Mermaid Show.” The New York Times, 5 July 2013
Kat Eschner. “The Historic Tail of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Nov. 2017
One time when my mom and I were eating lunch at Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs we got into a conversation with a woman who worked there and it turned out she used to be a mermaid at Weeki Wachee back in the day!
(with a disapproving sidelong look at Ariel and her covetous horde of "treasures") and I bet her autograph was the one worth getting!
All the mermaids and princess now are all certified scuba divers. We are blessed to have this great beautiful place in my state. A must see when in Fl
"government funded mermaids" now there's a phrase I wasn't expecting to hear today
Ma tax dollars going on fish-hussies!
does that mean Trump has a tank full of them purely to feed to Piranhas?
You know, neither was I. But, as state employees, they likely get all those fun benefits like state retirement, state health care, etc. It sounds like it might have ended up being a good deal for them.
I saw these shows as a little girl in the early 1960's while on vacation with my parents. It was wonderful.
I was a mermaid loving child, and when I was little we visited Weeki Wachee and saw the mermaids. That is one of my fondest childhood memories.
I lived in the Clearwater area of Florida and went many times to Weeki Wachee as a child in the 60's. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up it was a Weeki Wachee mermaid. That never happened but I am so glad to see the mermaid show is still around after all these years.
It's rare that stories like this have a HAPPY ending as opposed to Disney running them out of business
Disney is demonic literally, plain and simple!
Sadly it's not like it use to be :(
I remember that when I watched Mr Peabody and the Mermaid for the first time I was mesmerized by the underwater scenes, I thought they had built some kind of massive pool or something, I never imagined it was a set built in natural springs that were actually used for it!
I live 12 minutes away from this park and every time family comes to visit we take them to watch the mermaids. It’s a wonderful experience each time. It never gets old. You can also paddle board weeki wachee year round. I love it.
Mr. Limpet! My dad loves Don Knox so I grew up watching his movies all the time. Thanks for the great memory reminder! 💜🐟
Now we need Rob’s history of Cypress Gardens, the ‘original” Florida theme park. The fact that Disney essentially killed the park is a great tie in to the channel and us, the viewers.
Cypress Gardens is now a part of Legoland and parts of the original park still exist.
I'd like a video on Cypress Garden's too. I don't think Disney really caused them to close. They last 30 years after WDW opened in 1971. It was possibly more about lack of new interesting entertainment and the drop in tourism after 9/11 that they called it quits. But I'm not an expert, Rob can find out for us :)
Theres loads you could do. For example there was a never complete park called Little England, then there was Splendid China, Gatorland, Marco Polo Park, etc
If I can piggyback with my own gradually developed but pretty resolved notion that yes, Disney ruined a lot of things down there, I will say that Ariel and the shallow smile she offers from whatever ersatz plasticine throne in her cement-bound chlorinated realm will never hold a light to these young ladies as they smiled and frolicked in these clear warm waters
@@bronxbearbud272 Ariel is still hot. So many big words for so little.
It’s wild to see my home town being talked about anywhere on TH-cam
I enjoyed it when I went there back in the late 80s. I wanted to grow up to be a mermaid.
Video Suggestion: The history of MagiQuest.
MagiQuest was a real world interactive adventure game. It was originally located in Myrtle Beach, and later spread across the world, and then became partially defunct after being bought out by Great Wolf Lodge. There is a ton of interesting history behind it, but not a lot of good videos telling it’s history. There is a great MagiQuest discord server and subreddit that can answer pretty much any questions about it.
One still exist in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
Clay3613 Yup! I actually just went there too. Unfortunately, it is the only stand-alone location left. All the other ones reside in Great Wold Lodges, which don’t have nearly the same amount of content and immersion as the original locations (although they are still great)
I remember that!! It was at Mall of America when I visited as a kid. I only ever played the free demo but I can still recall it pretty vividly. Haven’t seen many people talk about it though :0
I've wanted to go there since I was 10 in 1963 and didn't make it until I was age 66, 2019---IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT--how blessed that it still exist unlike so many other great Florida attractions AND IT IS WORTH THE DRIVE! It is still the best value in Florida for family fun and I can't wait to go back...from Orlando where I live it's about a 90-minute drive. It is the oldest Florida tourist attraction and we also love the next oldest, also blessed it still exists, that's Gatorland, southeast of Orlando. It was very sad when we lost the very popular Ocala's Six Gun Territory attraction, across the road from Silver Springs-home of the glass bottom boats (also once owned by ABC) and has a long & rich history, but sadly closed and re-opened as a state park, blessed we can still visit but it just isn't the same thrill as it was before. So there are lots of things to do in Florida besides the amusement parks and when we have visitors as living in Florida you tend to get a lot, we try to introduce them to the more NATURAL parts of Florida's wonders and all of the amazing springs are always appreciated! A favorite is north about 90-minutes from Orlando, Blue Springs State Park, where we go every winter to visit the incoming manatees that winter there in the warmer waters, no mermaids, but a magical place.
Thank you for posting
Awesome topic, I love the classic roadside attractions, especially mermaids. Weeki Watchee is on top of my bucket list.
Wow.
These women putting in the time and dedication to put on these shows and did it for.... Bathing suits and food? That is so unimaginable today.
I LOVE DISNEY!!! But I am very happy that this place is still going. It’s far enough away to be its own attraction.... like many others who have been around for decades. I went here as a child... it was magical to me as a little girl. Gatorland in Orlando has also been around for a long time and still growing and thriving. Living in Florida is like a perpetual vacation.
Up in North Fl we have Wakulla Springs... swim with the gators!! Well, they are on one side and you swim on the other side.... I remember going to Weeki Wachee when I was a kid. and that was 60 years ago.
If there's one thing my childself would've loved to see would be mermaids.
Kind of surprised you didn’t talk about it’s water park, Buccaneer Bay. I grew up living close to this place so it will have hold a place in my heart. Thank you for featuring this place in one of your videos.
who is the 1 monster who gave this a thumbs down? great video!
It sucks that there are 5 now :(
Always loved Weekie Wachee !
Living in Florida 52 years. ..
I am glad you brought this place up. I have been wondering about the history of mermaid shows for a while. I will definitely go if I ever get the chance to go to Florida.
So magical that a place like that existed naturally, and they it was used for such a neat thing. I wish Disney could bring the merfolks back, at least once in a while ;o;
Ayyy I live there, my friend’s mom is a mermaid. Cool video!
Ah! This brings back such good memories! I was obsessed with mermaids in elementary school, and when I went down to visit my grandparents in Florida circa 2007, they took me here! It was so enchanting and mesmerizing. Glad to hear they're still running and getting the funding!
i was there in 76 and really thought they were real. Such a good memory.
Great video, I live here and drive by this every day.
The Weeki Wachee river/spring was the highlight of my teen years. We lived floating down the river as teens since i lived in the area. It’s an awesome place. We also had plenty of field trips there. My childhood was great. Thanks for this video about one my favorite things about my hometown.
When I was a kid, I was entranced by the Weeki Wachie commercials (on our b&w TV).
A 1982 trip to Clearwater, FL gave me the chance to see the new Epcot. But the mermaid show was on my "must do" list. I loved it, cheesiness and all!
This was fascinating! Would really like to visit and see the mermaids for myself!
I live like a half hour from here. Used to go here on school field trips and to the attached water park buccaneer bay with my mom. It's cheap to go there. It's a nice day out if you're in the area
Great video! I LOVED WW as a child. I visited there about 7 years ago and "The Little Mermaid" was the show. It was fantastic! The visit was so much fun. Thanks for showcasing WW. It's still a cool place to go.
I really enjoyed this video. Another awesome video you have made. I really enjoy your channel and always look forward to you new videos. Thank you so much
if my 2021 trip to Florida happens, I will be going to see those mermaids.
Going there is one of the best experiences of my life❤
My dad was always promising to take me here as a child. We never did end up getting to go and he passed when I was young. Seeing this made me nostalgic of all the stories he told me of visiting here.
Im so glad that other people know about and remember this place. I LOVED going there when I visited my grandparents in Sarasota. It was such a charming and fun visit, all the mermaids were so friendly and fun!
oh yes i remenber that park i havent been there since i was 5 years old i am now 50 wow how time has flown and how i miss my florida
this was a defunctland episode with a happy ending
Looking forward to when it reopens! We definitely have it on out list! So glad they kept the Mermaids!
I love that the government literally owns Mermaids! This is what your taxes are funding folks lol! In all seriousness great video Rob, this place has been a staple of my childhood and it was fun to hear its history!
Happy memories of childhood days at the government-built and operated Playland in Rye, New York leads me to observe "Taxpayer money well spent!"
but I like this channel and want to behave, we can match over politics somewhere else some other time
bronxbearbud isn’t it so fun to see some of the things your taxes pay for lol!
Sure, especially when those things are raining waves of the delight and happiness down on the taxpayer instead of bombs and misery on an enemy we shouldn't have in the first place
bronxbearbud lol!
@@FunDisneyFan teehee! It was very funny the way that one girl was eating a ham sandwich underwater, indeed (wink)
I absolutely love weeki wachee springs and have since I was a kid. It's the best place to swim and enjoy a hot day in Florida. They have a water park on the other side included in admission
Been there several times and its a fun trip. I am surprised you didn't touch on buccaneer bay.
I love your videos! Please make one on VMK the Virtual Magic Kingdom online game that used to take over my life in my teen years lmao
It’s still around Btw. Albeit non-Disney ran but they even put out new content regularly.
I have a mac and it only works on my fiances PC that recently died so I don’t get to play the remake often!
Jerpica.d it should work fine on Mac even. I’ve gotten it to work on my IPhone. If you need help you can always add me on Twitter @figmentforever and id be happy to help. They have so many events daily
Jerpica.d also, I’m very sorry for your loss 😢
Honestly, Rob, I miss the intro. Maybe it's because I grew up watching network television with the teaser-theme song-show format, but it feels like something is missing when you plow right through into the story.
This was great! Nice video. Weeki Wachee water is my veins and appreciate your efforts. I learned some new things about my region/history.
i remember when paris hilton and nicole richie went there on the simple life lol
Ahhhhh Memories of the good ole days. Such an experience
That was great Rob. I heard of it before but never seen such an in-depth account. Can't wait to see more.
Great video. Weeki Wachee Springs kind of reminds me of Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, TX. They had an underwater theater also.
I used to visit Weeki Wachee Springs as a kid when I visited my grandparents! The water slides were awesome and the mermaid shows were amazing!
I’ve been to central Florida about seven times in the last twenty years, but never knew where exactly this place was (I never knew it was much closer to Tampa than Orlando)...also I had assumed it was no longer open since I never saw any advertisements for it when I stayed in Orlando...Wish I had made the drive; my girls would’ve LOVED this!
I drive right by this theme park at least twice a month. Interesting history.
I love going there :) such a nice slice of nature and magic
Fun show. Fun park. Fun river to float. Great place to catch the native mermaids, too.(manatees)
this is a great video, as usual! thank you for creating such compelling stories with AMAZING archival footage.
I loved this, and always love your videos. My only complaint is they could be longer, haha.
I went there two years ago, I recommend it to anyone. It has the shows and a water park
How great is that song!!??
The hubs and I lost it when the song came on ...... such a gem!! Lol
This one was a lot of fun!!!
Thank you, We will be going there as soon as we can.
I used to live ten miles from there so many childhood memories. Well actuly we lived super close we lived in spring hill
Newton Perry is my great grandpa omg!!!
My grandparents lived in Holiday, about 30 minutes south of Weeki Wachee. As we were 4 sisters, it was a touchstone of our summer visits. I wonder if my brother has any memories of it?
I did not go into this video expecting it to follow the entire backstory of Radiator Springs
Thanks! Very informative and well done.
I am here because we had seen the Weeki Wachee Mermaids when I was a kid and I was reminded because I was reading a book in which one of the characters used to be one of those mermaids, lol.
Great video!
Excellent work!
It's a drive but it is awesome
I think this is the only remaining Disney focused channel that I follow, having become so demoralized by the way so many of them have urged what I think is a foolish and dreadfully consequential rush back to the parks,. and because of your consistently intriguing and detailed content. Now let me go see what those mermaids are up to, thanks!
Have you seen Yesterworld or Defunctland? Both of them cover Disney parks history as well. I use them as substitutions for when I can't go to the parks (which is all the time.)
I know how to freedive and that place is a dream freediving spot for me... 💖
It's right down the road from me. We love it. Unfortunately the park has been closed for months due to covid
Grew up going here in the early 2000’s, the mermaid shows were my favorite but I always got so scared when the bad guy would pop out of the porthole at the top of the underwater stage 😭
Very cool episode Rob!
I remember going there when I was younger. I don’t remember much, but I do clearly remember the gator viewing boat ride. It was great, but terrifying. Lol
Disney was never conceived this way. Imagen a underwater Disney them park. Or a sunken Disney's castel tour.
This is so interesting to find out the history of the area. I'm from St Pete and I have always wanted to go see the mermaids
Interstates really did kill a whole lot of small businesses... and open up space for others. Remember marine land? or Wigwam Village? (well both of them?)
Unless a person was dishonorably discharged from US military service, it is customary to refer to them as "former," not "ex." Unless they're retired, which is in itself an honor, then they're "retired commander" (or whatnot). Just fyi.
......................love that place...........
This is awesome
I just rewatched the episode of Simple Life where Paris and Nichole went here and that brought me and I wasn't even on youtube
I went in 2008 with my parents, since I didn't know anything about it until they brought me to it. Haven't been back since.
The airreal photos are awsome
Could you possibly do one of these videos about Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida, or one about Sarasota Jungle Gardens in Sarasota Florida? Thanks!
Our parents took us there in the 60's- still remember the mermaids
wow, usually there are 10000+ before i get to see your videos.
Ive gone to weeki watchee a million times
Rob, here’s an idea for video- Jazz Clubs at Walt Disney World. There was the village lounge, top of the world and pleasure island jazz co, also jazz was featured throughout the parks.
I love it It's history intrvew review years it's good I am fun
I can’t tell you how much this video makes me paranoid as an Australian who is terrified of swimming in natural bodies of water, due to all the crocodiles
Loved Ann Blyth
I was taught to swim by one of the mermaids. She and her husband owned a place in homasassa.
Took my family there when my daughter was still the perfect age for this. Grateful they kept this running, I always tell my friends about it
2:04 oh yeah
Id like to add that the town of Weeki Wachee was dissolved last month (July 2020). It is now apart of the neighboring city of Spring Hill. I wonder if the outcome would had been different for the town had it held on to the springs
Weeki Wachi only has 13 residents apparently and the dissolving has no effect on the state park
Love how retro this place is! Don't let Disney anywhere near this place. They'd triple the price and make it a Little Mermaid attraction. Also glad it hasn't turned into a dumbass condo development. Enjoy it while it lasts!