This is The 1940s Mermaid Show That’s Still Pulling Crowds Today

Technically, Weeki Wachee is a city in the state of Florida. In practice, well, suffice to say that the city has a population measured in the low double digits, meaning that it is not exactly what would come to mind for most people when the term “city” comes up. Regardless, it is important to note that its population size is not what makes Weeki Wachee well-known to a surprising number of people out there. Instead, that would be its tourist attractions, with an excellent example being the mermaid shows held at the Weeki Wachee Springs on a regular basis.

There are a number of reasons that the mermaid shows held at the Weeki Wachee Springs should be considered remarkable. For example, the performances are incredible feats of athleticism, seeing as how each performer is responsible for completing routines that would be challenging enough on their own but become much more so when their legs are stuck in the lycra tubes that serve as tails. Furthermore, there is the fact that the performers are performing in a natural environment, meaning that they have to keep a constant watch out for the water moccasins that are known to inhabit the region. Moreover, there is the sheer amount of time that the performers have to remain underwater, which is made possible by a combination of oxygen tubes and experience, as shown by the fact that some of the performers can hold their breath for up to four minutes.

However, what might be most interesting might be the fact that the mermaid shows started up in the 1940s. In those times, the mermaid shows were even more impressive than they are now, seeing as how public pools hadn’t become commonplace. As a result, they became more and more successful, so much so that they actually claimed some international success. For proof, look no further than the fact that while most of the performers were locals, the mermaid shows received applications from places as far away as Tokyo. Unfortunately, the mermaid shows started declining in 1971 as a result of the opening of Walt Disney World, though they managed to continue until 2008, when they were bought out by the state of Florida so that Weeki Wachee Springs could be turned into a state park.

Currently, the mermaid shows are undergoing something of a renaissance, though the exact reason remains unclear. Some people suggest that it could be that they have lasted long enough that they have crossed over from being something old and obsolete to something that appeals to the sense of nostalgia that is so powerful in the world of entertainment at the moment. Meanwhile, other people have suggested that their increasing popularity might be connected to the increasing popularity of mermaids in pop culture, which are showing signs of being the next monstrous metaphor to see widespread use. Whatever the case, there can be no doubt about the fact that the mermaid shows have become popular once more, as shown by the fact that there are even mermaid camps running on a regular basis.

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