Weeki Wachee

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has been on my list of things-to-do-when-I-have-a-free-day forever since it's only about an hour north of where we live in Tampa. So Maddy and I took the trip up today to check it out. The spring (there's only actually one there) was developed into a roadside attraction by Newton Perry in 1947. He was a former U.S. Navy man who had trained Navy SEALS to swim underwater during WWII. He invented an airhose to allow performers to spend sufficient amounts of time underwater in order to provide entertainment to an audience seated in a special underwater viewing area. The concept flourished throughout the 50s and 60s and even Elvis himself paid a visit during Weeki Wachee's heyday.

Today, Weeki Wachee is kind of like a cross between a tiny Sea World and Butlins (the Brits will know what I mean) with absolutely no effort made to modernize in any way. There's a peculiar charm about the place and I can honestly say that we had a great day out there!

Me and Maddy outside the water park area...

Do mermaids eat Doritos? They certainly should...

We loved the little boat ride on the beautiful Weeki Wachee river...

Maddy started getting a bit fed up of all of the photos on our boat ride. Evidently the woman behind us had had enough too...

The mermaid shows take place in a small underwater viewing area which looks out at the spring which is supposedly the deepest in the world and they have never been able to reach the bottom :)...They show old moviereel of the mermaid performers during the 1960s on the TV screens throughout the shows in case you needed any reminder that there has been absolutely no modernization since that time :).

The sea turtles are just part of the show at Weeki Wachee...

Then just when we were having a good laugh about the whole thing they demonstrated an amazing stunt that the mermaids have been doing for over 50 years. Basically one of them swims 117 feet down into the spring and then gives up her breathing tube at the very bottom before coming up to the surface. Our mermaid held her breath for 2 minutes and 28 seconds. It was totally amazing!

Then just as we were starting to feel impressed they added some live music to the show ;)

No expense spared on the costumes either...here's Chester the turtle...

Can the cheese-o-meter get any higher? Hang on we could always...

You know, for some reason, I just feel the urge from time to time to watch an old black and white Godzilla episode or Tarzan movie or drink a real Dr. Pepper out of a bottle with a straw. If you know exactly what I mean and ever feel nostalgic that way too, you'll love crazy Weeki Wachee - we did!