One of the most popular and well-known Florida roadside attractions was
Weeki Wachee,
the Spring of Live Mermaids, located at U. S. Route 19 and Florida Route 50. Since 1947, the lovely Weeki Wachee Mermaids performed in a unique underwater aqua-theater, presenting a new themed show each year.
As noted on its Wiki entry, "The spring was named "Weeki Wachee" by Seminoles, which means "Little Spring" or "Winding River" in their language. The attraction was created in 1947 by stunt swimmer and attraction promoter Newt Perry, who based the show on underwater air hose breathing techniques. First an 18-seat theater, then later a newer theater with a capacity of 50, were embedded in the lime rock of the spring with viewing windows below the surface of the water, to allow visitors to watch the mermaids perform in the spring."
Did you know that one of those mermaids during the attraction's heyday was from Lorain?
The story below in the September 2, 1964 edition of the Journal tells the story.
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Lorainite's Aim Known--Mermaid
She learned to swim in Lake Erie at the age of 6 but today a native of this city has realized a long ambition – she is a "mermaid."
The native is Debby Poore, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Poore, former Lorain residents, and granddaughter of Frank Poore, 2557 E. 38th St.
This story actually begins when Debby was eight years old and, with her parents, paid a visit to [sic] Weekiwachee Springs in Florida. Having just learned to swim, she made the remark while there: "I want to be a mermaid."
Her unusual ambition was fulfilled 10 years later when she was accepted for mermaid training at Weekiwachee, 50 miles north of Tampa. After two months of rigorous work, she became a "swimmer," a participant in the water show.
Then several weeks ago she performed the deep dive, climax of the underwater swim show which graduates "swimmer" into the ranks of the mermaids.
The dive, 117 feet down into the spring, is made with only air hose and flippers. When the dive is completed the hose is pulled away, leaving the mermaid on her own for a 3-minute underwater routine.
Mermaids never surface during the 45 minute performances, relying on their air hoses. Their act requires training in breath control and underwater rhythm with very little conventional swimming.
According to Debby, learning to eat and drink under water is not as difficult as maintaining the proper level – audience eye level – a feat accomplished by controlling the exact amount of air intake.
To learn on these tricks of the trade is a tough job. Taken under the wing of older girls, the trainees learns acrobatic maneuvers and underwater routines. It means practice and more practice, three times a day, six days a week. Trainees must learn control of the air hose and how to hold their breath for three minutes – and to smile while doing it with eyes wide open.
Debby is a graduate of Northeast High School in St. Petersburg where she practiced in the pool and taught charm school after school.
Her father, William, was former manager of the National Cash Register store on Seventh St. in Lorain and is now employed in St. Petersburg as a salesman for a detergent firm. Debby at one time lived in Sheffield Lake.
Having realize her ambition, Debby, like any true mermaid, is in love with the sea and plans to stay at Weekiwachee "as long as they will have me."
It certainly appears that Debby had a great career with Weeki Wachee. There are several internet references to her performing at the famed attraction in the 1960s, including this photo (below) from Flickr. That's Debby on the right on the bicycle built for two.
The caption reads, "Lovely Weeki Wachee Mermaids, Tammy Gyamarthy and Debby Poore enjoy an excursion on their "Bicycle built for two" in the depths of Florida's Underwater Grand Canyon at Weeki Wachee. The girls and their special bicycle are all part of Weeki Wachee's new 1966 underwater Mermaid Show, "Mermaid Follies."
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UPDATE (Sept. 2025)
Click
here to read my update to this article, in which we check in with Debby in 2024!
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