Being a Mermaid is No Day at the Beach

BEING A IS NO DAY mermaid ENTERTAINMENT AT THE BEACH

story by Camille Graham photos by Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Long before mouse ears ruled central Florida, mermaids captivated the hearts and pockets of tourists. Just 100 miles south of Gainesville lay a place so unique, so quintessentially Florida, that it hardly seems real. Mermaids swim freely, and the whimsy of old Hollywood is around every corner and under every surface.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is home to the famous mermaid show. Since the 1940s, visitors from far and wide have come to see living, breathing, swimming mermaids perform underwater in the natural spring. “That shock of cold water in the morning, you never get used to it,” Goodlet says.

As a child visiting Weeki Wachee, Goodlet was infatuated with the beauty and wonder of it all. Like so many little girls, she dreamed of being a mermaid when she grew up. When Weeki Wachee advertised its cast openings and the job posting went viral, Goodlet knew it was her one chance to be a real mermaid. While dozens of hopeful mermaids auditioned for spots, Goodlet was one of only three to advance to the training phase.

The name Weeki Wachee means “little spring,” according to the Seminole Indians. For a little spring, it gushes more than 110 million gallons of crystal clear water in sub-75 degree temperatures.

For Morgan Goodlet, a mermaid who has been performing at Weeki Wachee for over a year, every show is a new opportunity to be the best mermaid she can be. Every time feels like the first time, she says. Before every show, the mermaids spend some time in the water just breathing and getting comfortable. The training process for the Weeki Wachee mermaid show is no day at the beach. Before even thinking about getting in front of the crowd, mermaids start surface training, figuring out how to move around under the water and getting scuba certified.

Mermaids spend two weeks practicing breathing and getting comfortable before learning the choreography for shows. They train for four-to-six months before ever performing in public. Though vigorous, this process ensures that every mermaid can perform safely and to the best of their abilities.

Weeki Wachee has lured tourists for decades. In the mermaid theater, different languages and accents overlap each other in an indeterminable chatter that falls silent once the curtain goes up.

A visitor from Tampa, Christina Davison, said she was in awe of the mermaids. Davison had never seen them perform but came on a whim when she learned that Weeki Wachee was only an hour away from her home. She says she’s been a mermaid lover since she was a kid and went to the show to “embrace her inner child.”

“I can’t believe that they can put on a 30-minute show underwater,” Davison says. “In comparison, I could hold my breath for maybe a grand total of 40 seconds.”

To remain buoyant, the mermaids are trained to use the air hoses to determine when to sink lower or float to the surface. If they need to go up, they take a bigger inhalation of air. To sink, they exhale more. Goodlet says that everyone’s center of buoyancy is different.

In a state known for both its beaches and magical tourist attractions, it seems only fitting that the mermaids would make a home for themselves in Florida.

The mermaid show all started with Newton Perry, a former U.S. Navy Frogmen, who stumbled upon the spring when it was still a local dumping ground full of discarded appliances and rusty cars.

Perry envisioned a place beyond the dumped trash and into the potential of making the deepest freshwater cave system in the United States – a tourist destination on par with Disney World.

He had the spring cleaned and developed a method of using air compressors and underwater hoses to allow “underwater breathing.” This process allows mermaids, after months of vigorous training, to spend long periods below the surface, breathing from hoses.

On Oct. 13, 1947, Weeki Wachee opened its doors and premiered the very first live mermaid show. Performers dazzled crowds in retro one-piece bathing suits and simple tails, eating bananas underwater and drinking old-fashioned soda pop. Multiple shows are performed during the day, ranging from a history of Weeki Wachee, a cast of old school all stars and a reinvention of none other than “The Little Mermaid.” As pop hits and nautical ditties play over the speakers, all the elements come together in a modern display of childhood magic, no matter what show it is.

When asked about a favorite part to play in the mermaid show, Goodlet says each role has its own perks and drawbacks.

“Some days you want to be the [character of] the witch,” Goodlet says. “And some days you just want to feel pretty and be a mermaid.”

ABC purchased the spring from Perry in 1959 and rebuilt the theater to accommodate 400 seats. In its heyday, Weeki Wachee employed about 30 mermaids and attracted the biggest stars at the time. The 1950s saw Don Knotts, Esther Williams, Arthur Godfrey and even Elvis Presley. These days Weeki Wachee is open 365 days a year, playing three shows a day. For those who prefer to stay above water, glass-bottom boat tours are available in addition to a playground and a snack shop. Settle in, soak up the sun and watch tails flip as Florida magic comes to life. O&B

Gone are the days of simple costumes and gimmicky acts. Now, the costumes involve more Lycra and glitter than a figure skater. While the mermaids still perform gravity-defying tricks like snacking underwater, these days they also dance, flip and act with a whimsy that the little mermaid herself would be jealous of.