The US’s deepest freshwater cave is stunning — and home to mermaids you can actually see

Long before movies like “The Little Mermaid” or Netflix’s “MerPeople”, Florida’s Weeki Wachee Springs State Park was already famous for its real-life mermaids performing underwater shows. The park first opened in 1947 as a roadside attraction. In 2008, it became a state park because it has the deepest freshwater cave in the United States.

Weeki Wachee is about one hour north of Tampa, Florida. The park has been showing mermaid performances for almost 80 years, according to CNN. Visitors can watch mermaids in a 400-seat underwater theater where women in colorful tails dance and do underwater tricks using air hoses to breathe.

Florida mermaid show history

The mermaid show is a beloved Florida tradition and part of the state’s fun, quirky history. The show was created by Newton Perry, a former U.S. Navy man who trained “frogmen” (Underwater Demolition Teams) during World War II. He used that same underwater training to design the mermaid show. By the 1950s, the mermaid shows became one of America’s top tourist attractions, with hundreds of visitors daily coming to see the “underwater ballets.”

Weeki Wachee mermaids reunion

This summer, five former Weeki Wachee mermaids — Arlene, Cheryl, Donna, Mary, and Ruth — all now in their 70s, reunited to swim together again in the spring’s clear blue waters. The reunion was arranged by Wish of a Lifetime, a charitable affiliate of AARP, which helps older adults fulfill their dreams (like Make-A-Wish, but for seniors).

The “mersisters” performed once again in the glass-walled underwater theater, just like in their younger years, 16 to 20 feet below the surface, as per CNN report. Even though these mermaids have retired, their legacy lives on. Weeki Wachee mermaids are considered Florida royalty, a cherished symbol of the state’s fun-loving culture.

Visitors can still watch live mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. The shows run twice daily. Tickets cost $13 for adults and $8 for kids aged 6–12, and include entry to the spring for swimming, paddling, boat tours, and more fun.

At the park’s Buccaneer Bay, there are two water slides that drop straight into the natural spring — a favorite for families and kids. Visitors are advised to arrive early, because mermaid shows often sell out fast due to high demand.

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