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The 1940s Mermaid Show That's Still Pulling Crowds

2018-03-26

[public] 451K views, 28.0K likes, 106 dislikes audio only

channel thumbTom Scott

In Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, Florida, there's a mermaid show -- and there has been for 70 years. It's one of the United States' oldest roadside attractions, and it still does three shows a day. At least, provided the local wildlife doesn't get in the way.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park: https://weekiwachee.com/

Their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/weekiwacheesprings

Articles on the mermaid auditions:

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/weeki-wachee-springs-state-park-is-holding-mermaid-auditions

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-weeki-wachee-mermaids-20171228-story.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/weeki-wachee-mermaid-search_us_5a4576cbe4b025f99e1aa10b

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/a14521836/dream-job-alert-you-can-get-paid-to-be-a-mermaid/

New York Times article from 2003, before the state of Florida took over the park: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/12/us/sad-days-for-mermaids-of-the-sequined-sort.html

A more recent and positive article from 2013: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/14/rise-of-the-mermaids-weeki-wachee-florida

Edited by Michelle Martin (@mrsmmartin)

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