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Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Weeki Wachee, FL

Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsQuirky FunFamily FavoriteIconic

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

6131 Commercial Way · Weeki Wachee, FL

Why you should go…

Weeki Wachee Springs has staged mermaid shows since 1947, when stunt swimmer Newt Perry started them using underwater air-hose breathing techniques. You watch from a 400-seat theater set 16 feet below the surface of the spring while performers swim, eat and drink underwater. Beyond the theater, Buccaneer Bay has waterslides, a river boat tours the Weeki Wachee River, and you can rent a kayak or paddleboard. Florida made it a state park in 2008.

  • #mermaid show
  • #state park
  • #natural spring
  • #water park
  • #kayaking

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

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