Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelOne of the Harris twins -- Dolly or Holly -- as a mermaid of Weeki Wachee springs.
Orlando SentinelOld publicity still photos at Barbara Wynns'. Local photos of former mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelOne of the Harris twins Holly or Dolly, Id to come. Former mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelOld publicity still photos at Barbara Wynns'. Local photos of former mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelOld publicity still photos taken at Weeki Wachee.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater. Pictures is Miriam Tribou, 4, or Orlando.
GARY BOGDON, ORLANDO SENTINELA mermaid at Weeki Wachee Springs gets suited up for the show.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelThe show stage is far below the surface of Weeki Wachee Springs and the partially submerged auditorium is to the left. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelThe grand finale of the combined former and current mermaid show is practiced at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelFormer mermaids Vickie Smith, left, and Barbara Wynns, right, have just lifted current mermaid Marcy Terry up in her ballerina costume.The grand finale of the combined former and current mermaid show is practiced at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelBrianna Hankins, 14, of Nashville, Tenn. sits in a fake mermaid tale for a photo opportunity. She was traveling with friends and family. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park opened in 1947 and features mermaid performances in the Mermaid Theater as well as live animal shows and river cruises plus a small water park with slides that send riders right into the springs. Read more.
Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelMermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater. Pictures is Miriam Tribou, 4, or Orlando.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaids of Weeki Wachee springs practice for the reunion show.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelAshley Bobo, 14, of Nashville, Tenn. sits in a fake mermaid tale for a photo opportunity. She was traveling with friends and family. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelFormer mermaids Vickie Smith, left, and Barbara Wynns, right, have just lifted current mermaid Marcy Terry up in her ballerina costume. The grand finale of the combined former and current mermaid show is practiced at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
GEORGE SKENE, ORLANDO SENTINELMermaids of Weeki Wachee springs. Chief Mermaid Sativa Smith strikes a pose.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTA mermaid performs in the original mermaid show at Weeki Wachee in Florida. The attraction is one from the golden age of Florida tourism.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelThree year old Makenizie Cole looks at mermaid tales in the gift shop as she visits with her grandfather Art Womble. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
ORLANDO SENTINELTheir mermaid days. Holly (left), Dolly spent 4 years after high school flipping and splashing at Weeki Wachee. They pose here in a 1968 photo.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs. Ginger feeds the fish.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTA reptile is displayed at the State Park in Weeki Wachee, Florida. Home of the original mermaid show that harks back to the golden age of Florida tourism, it is now a state park.
GARY BOGDON / ORLANDO SENTINELA chilly Sunday morning lured manatees inland to the warmth of springs. This one surfaces at Weeki Wachee Spring, an attraction about 50 miles north of Tampa.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater. Pictures is Miriam Tribou, 4, or Orlando.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTA reptile is displayed at the State Park in Weeki Wachee, Florida. Home of the original mermaid show that harks back to the golden age of Florida tourism, it is now a state park.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTUmbrellas decorate the gift shop at the State Park in Weeki Wachee, Florida. Home of the original mermaid show that harks back to the golden age of Florida tourism, it is now a state park.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelChildren watch the show in the underwater theatre. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park features mermaid performances.
ORLANDO SENTINELMermaids at Weeki Wachee.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelFormer mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs Dolly Harris Hetsley and sister Holly Harris Hall at their sports bar in Casselberry holding a photo from their Weeki Wachee years.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTVisitors watch as mermaids perform in the original mermaid show at Weeki Wachee in Florida. The attraction is one from the golden age of Florida tourism.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs. Ginger sits at right.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater. Pictures is Miriam Tribou, 4, or Orlando.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTVisitors take photos of a mermaid at Weeki Wachee in Florida. The attraction is one from the golden age of Florida tourism.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaid Danielle DeMonaco sits in the park to great visitors between shows. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTA mermaid performs in the original mermaid show at Weeki Wachee in Florida. The attraction is one from the golden age of Florida tourism.
GEORGE SKENE, ORLANDO SENTINELMermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs. The underwater theater where patrons watch the show.
GARY BOGDON / ORLANDO SENTINELNicole Marino, 23, a mermaid in the show at the Weeki Wachee Spring attraction was getting in some early morning swimming practice before performances started. She is in the company of a group of manatees that visit the spring for its warmer waters during the winter month's. The attraction is located on State Road 50 and U. S. Highway 19, about 50 miles north of Tampa.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaid Danielle DeMonaco sits in the park to great visitors between shows. She is greeted by 8 year old Jasmine Bloomingdale from the Netherlands, right, and her mother Maria. They made the trip to the US specifically so that Jasmine could see the mermaids with whom she is infatuated. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelFormer mermaid Barbara Wynns, right, performs with current mermaid Marcy Terry up in her ballerina costume for the grand finale of the combined former and current mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaids Cyndi and Sativa, making a last minute phone call, prepare to jump down the long tube to the underwater stage to begin a show. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
Jill Schensul/The Record/MCTA mermaid performs in the original mermaid show at Weeki Wachee in Florida. The attraction is one from the golden age of Florida tourism.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaid Danielle DeMonaco gets picked up by performer Eric Ducharme. Mermaids don't walk. She had been sitting in the park to great visitors between shows. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
Richard Tribou, Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs. Ginger feeds the fish.
Joe Burbank / Orlando SentinelWeeki Wachee Springs mermaids (from left) Crystal, Jessica, Megan and Kelle, during a performance of the "Little Mermaid" underwater show at the spring in Weeki Wachee, Fla., Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Open since 1947, the spring is one of Florida's oldest attractions.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
JOE BURBANK, ORLANDO SENTINELWeeki Wachee Springs mermaids (from left) Crystal, Jessica, Megan and Kelle, during a performance of the "Little Mermaid" underwater show at the spring in Weeki Wachee, Fla., Friday, Sept. 12, 2003. Open since 1947, the spring is one of Florida's oldest attractions.
GARY BOGDON, ORLANDO SENTINELNicole Marino, 23, a mermaid in the show at the Weeki Wachee Spring attraction was getting in some early morning swimming practice December 31, 1998 before performances started. She is in the company of a group of manatees that visit the spring for its warmer waters during the winter month's. The attraction is located on State Road 50 and U. S. Highway 19, about 50 miles north of Tampa.
GEORGE SKENE, ORLANDO SENTINELThe mermaids of Weeki Wachee Spring, both current and past, join together for the July reunion show finale. Click here to see more photos from Weeki Wachee.
GARY BOGDON, ORLANDO SENTINELA manatee and a mermaid glide through the crystal clear warm (72 degrees) spring at Weeki Wachee. Nichole Marino shares the water with visiting manatees.
George Skene / Orlando SentinelThe show stage is far below the surface of Weeki Wachee Springs and the partially submerged auditorium is to the left.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelOld publicity still photos at Barbara Wynns'. Local photos of former mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaid Danielle DeMonaco gets picked up by performer Eric Ducharme. Mermaids don't walk. She had been sitting in the park to great visitors between shows. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelMermaid Sativa drops through the tube to get ready under the underwater stage for show. Scenes of life at Weeki Wachee Springs in preparation for 60th reunion. July 25, 2007.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs. Ginger takes a dive.
George Skene, Orlando SentinelPhotos from the albums of Ginger Stanley Hallowell show the early mermaids of Weeki Wachee springs.
Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel
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Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is an attraction in Hernando County located near the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 19. The attraction that opened in 1947 features performers dressed as mermaids and an underwater theater.
ExpandBy Richard Tribou | [email protected] | Orlando Sentinel
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If you’ve got the lung capacity and don’t mind trading legs in for a tail, Weeki Wachee Springs could use your help as a mermaid.
The attraction that’s about a two-hour drive west of Orlando has put the call out for mermaid tryouts this week on a post on its Facebook page.
Mermaids earn at least $12 an hour.
So what does it take to be a mermaid? First will be a swim test. Then those who pass that move on to an underwater audition. Don’t worry, it’s not a speaking role, at least underwater.
Before taking the 2-hour test, though, candidates that are at least 18 years old need to send a resume, headshot and state employment application to [email protected].
Auditions will be Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m.
The attraction that opened in 1947 became part of the state park system in 2008. While the springs are open now as is the small water park on the weekends, the signature mermaid shows as well as wildlife show and river cruise won’t return to the park until June 15 as the attraction is undergoing renovation.
When the mermaids do return, they will put on multiple shows a day and be available for photo ops.
The shows feature the performers, who learn to breathe compressed air through a tube, in choreographed underwater theater productions battling the 5 mph current coming up from the springhead that flows out to the Gulf of Mexico.
TV network ABC bought the park in the 1950s, building the current 500-seat theater and giving the park and its famous inhabitants national attention. The park still attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year.
If you go:
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee
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