For almost seven decades, people on two feet have shuffled in and had a seat in anticipation of seeing the impossible.
- Yes, mermaids are still a thing in Florida
- There are daily performances at Weeki Wachee State Park
People entering the submerged theater aren't aware of the celebrity in the rear who is about to grow a tail as the curtain rises on a Florida tradition.
The famed Weeki Wachee mermaids still jump in daily and perform to the delight of the young — and the young at heart.
Sitting in the audience wasn't enough for Tracey Keim, though.
"I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, and I used to come here with my mom and grandparents," said Keim, a teacher and aspiring mermaid.
She fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a mermaid with the weekend "Sirens of the Deep Mermaid Camp."
"This is better than I thought it was going to be," she said. "There are beautiful women here of all shapes and sizes."
At Weeki Wachee State Park's popular boot camp, you, too, can take the plunge.
"Being a mermaid is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be," Keim said.
As the spring flows forth, you're transported to another world, Keim said, adding: "You just realize that when you’re in the water that nothing matters."
Except for your performance, of course.
For information on ticket costs, admission prices and operating hours, click here.