Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by ‘mermaids,’ women wearing fish tails as well as other fanciful outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River.
 |
Weeki Wachee mermaids in the 1970s |
The spring was named ‘Weeki Wachee’ by Seminole Indians, which means ‘Little Spring’ or ‘Winding River’ in their language. The attraction was created in 1947 by stunt swimmer and attraction promoter Newt Perry, who based the show on underwater air hose breathing techniques.
First an 18-seat theater, then later a newer theater with a capacity of 50, were embedded in the lime rock of the spring with viewing windows below the surface of the water, to allow visitors to watch the mermaids perform in the spring.
Guests to the park have included Elvis Presley, Don Knotts, Esther Williams, Arthur Godfrey, Kevin Smith, and Larry the Cable Guy.
These amazing color slides were found by
Nolan Pelletier that show what the Weeki Wachee Springs looked like in the 1970s. Titles original to slides.
 |
‘Welcome To Weeki Wachee’ sign |
 |
Mermaids on theater |
 |
Colorful Patio (Weeki Wachee) |
 |
‘What the world needs now’ |
 |
A graceful leap |
 |
Double pin wheel |
 |
Double pussycat |
 |
Graceful ballet |
 |
La Bomba |
 |
Mermaids on half-shell |
 |
Pussycat does her makeup |
 |
Sunbathing underwater |
 |
Weeki Wachee |
0 comments:
Post a Comment