Weeki Wachee Spring

Florida, United States

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Weeki Wachee Spring is a first‑magnitude spring and state park in Hernando County, Florida, about 55 miles north of St. Petersburg, where crystal‑clear water flows at roughly 72–74 °F and discharges millions of cubic feet of water each day.

The spring is most famous for its historic “mermaid” shows, in which performers in fish‑tail costumes swim and perform underwater routines in a submerged theater built into the limestone, a tradition that began in 1947 and has drawn visitors worldwide ever since.

Today it operates as Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, combining the classic mermaid shows with other activities such as river boat cruises, kayaking and paddleboarding on the Weeki Wachee River, and a small waterplay area called Buccaneer Bay, all set within a 538‑acre park that also protects one of the deepest freshwater cave systems in the United States and nearby wildlife.