Weeki Wachee Springs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Weeki Wachee Springs
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Entrance to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Florida |
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| NRHP reference No. | 09000843 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 2020 |
Weeki Wachee Springs is a cool natural spot in Weeki Wachee, Florida. It's famous for its amazing underwater "mermaid" shows. Women wearing fish tails perform in a special viewing area. It's like watching an aquarium, but with real people!
Besides the mermaid shows, there's a fun waterpark called Buccaneer Bay. You can also enjoy river boat rides. If you like being active, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards. Weeki Wachee Springs offers lots of exciting things to do.
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The Story of Weeki Wachee Springs
The Seminole Indians gave the spring its name, "Weeki Wachee." This means "Little Spring" or "Winding River" in their language. The attraction was started in 1947 by a stunt swimmer named Newt Perry. He created the shows using special underwater breathing techniques.
At first, there was a small theater with 18 seats. Later, a bigger theater with 50 seats was built. These theaters were built right into the spring's rock. They had windows below the water so visitors could watch the mermaids.
In 1964, a movie called The Incredible Mr. Limpet had its first showing here. It was the world's first underwater movie premiere! In 1982, Buccaneer Bay waterpark opened. It has water slides, a lazy river, and a sandy beach.
Famous Visitors and Appearances
Many famous people have visited Weeki Wachee Springs. These include Elvis Presley, Don Knotts, and Esther Williams. Even Kevin Smith and Larry the Cable Guy have stopped by.
Hollywood has also used the springs for movies and TV shows. Films like Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948) and Neptune's Daughter (1949) were filmed here. Many TV shows have also featured the mermaids.
At one time, a big TV company called ABC owned the park. This helped make the springs very famous. Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection owns the park. It is now part of the Florida State Park System. In 2020, Weeki Wachee Springs was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Exciting Recent Events
In 2005, the English rock band Supergrass filmed their music video for "Low C" at the springs. They also made a short film about the spring.
In 2006, a comedian named Thomas J. Kelly made history. He became the park's first ever male mermaid! His adventures were shown in a web show called "The Little Merman."
On November 1, 2008, the state of Florida officially took over Weeki Wachee Springs. It became a state park.
Deep Underwater Exploration
From May to August 2007, the water level at the spring was low. This allowed Karst Underwater Research cave divers to explore the underwater cave system. They went on many dives, reaching incredible depths.
The divers explored about 6,700 feet of passages. They went as deep as 407 feet! This makes the cave system under Weeki Wachee Springs the deepest known freshwater cave in the United States.
Mermaids in Music and Movies
The mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs have appeared in music videos. They were in Kelly Clarkson's video for "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)."
Key scenes from Amy Seimetz's movie Sun Don't Shine also took place at the springs. The mermaids were part of the film.
In 2017, a documentary called Mermaids featured the attraction. It also showed many of the women who have been mermaids there over the years.
Images for kids
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Panoramic view of Weeki Wachee Springs in 2012.
