Mermaid Performers Swim Together after Nearly 50 Years

Along Florida’s Gulf Coast within Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, visitors come to explore nature—and often discover a little magic along the way. There, deep within a natural underwater limestone cavern, spectators have been watching young performers captivate audiences in Mermaid Shows since 1947.

Ruth, Donna, Jo, Arlene, and Cheryl all hoped to become one of those performers when they traveled to Weeki Wachee in the 1960s. They tried out for jobs as mermaids and were thrilled to make the final cut.

For Jo, her job as a mermaid provided for her young daughter and helped her discover the person and mother she wanted to be. Cheryl began working as a mermaid right out of high school and considered it her college experience. For the others, it was a job that taught them about hard work and determination at a young age before they went on to pursue other passions and careers.

“Being a Weeki Wachee mermaid is my biggest accomplishment. Having that seed planted [at age 4] and getting to live out my dream—nothing was going to stop me,” remembered Ruth. “I was able to accomplish what I set my mind to.”

An enduring sisterhood

But even more extraordinary than the underwater show in which they performed was the sisterhood that grew among these young women performers. The sense of belonging created through their shared experience was often hard for the performers to describe to outsiders.

“We have a connection that can be made with a word, an action, or a smile,” Arlene explained. “We are MerSisters now and then.”

The years after Weeki Wachee Springs brought marriages and divorces, the births of children, cross-country moves, health scares, and countless other moments of both celebration and heartache. Their lives took different directions, yet their bond remained.

In Washington, Ruth became the second female journeyman at an energy company. Arlene remained in Florida where she worked as a legal aid, which she continued while her husband completed law school in Virginia. Donna, who eventually settled in Oregon, joined the circus and worked as a stunt woman, but was most proud of creating a volunteer Scrabble program at her son’s school. Jo, now a caregiver for her husband in Georgia, dedicated her time to helping others in need. In California, Cheryl transitioned to a career in real estate and travels frequently to visit her grandchildren.

A wish to relive their dream

Decades later and spread across the country, the MerSisters longed to relive the shared joy of their unique history, all at the same time.

“To get back in the springs…would be a dream come true, especially getting to share the experience with the girls,” Jo said.

Wish of a Lifetime was honored to help the MerSisters get back to Florida to reconnect with each other and with some of the most memorable times of their lives. The five women gathered in Weeki Wachee, donning mermaid tails and gliding through the water together after nearly 50 years. Some of the women had not seen one another in a long time, but as the weekend progressed and they reconnected, nervousness melted away.

When they weren’t swimming, they shared stories over ice cream, were recognized by strangers, and laughed together at a watch party for a TV news segment that highlighted their experience. Handwritten cards poured in from local elementary students, encouraging their return to the springs after so many years.

“I am still reliving the great feeling of swimming in the spring again,” said Jo. “I hope this goes to show other seniors that you are never too old to dream! This experience will always be on my mind.”