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Weeki Wachee Springs Step Closer To Park Status

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Tony Marrero

Hernando Today

Published: January 25, 2008

WEEKI WACHEE - It's just about official: the mermaids soon will be state employees.

Weeki Wachee Springs, the landmark attraction that turned 60 years old last year, will become a Florida state park under an agreement reached late Thursday after a final 12-hour bargaining session in Tallahassee.

The agreement is contingent upon final approval of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, which owns the 27 acres on which the park sits.

Robyn Anderson, mayor of Weeki Wachee and general manager of Weeki Wachee Springs LLC, signed the deal to have the city donate the attraction to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which will run the park starting Nov. 1.

"(State officials) understood what we've accomplished, and we trust them to do what's best for park: to ensure that mermaids will be swimming forever," said attraction spokesman John Athanason. "We're very excited for the opportunity that Weeki Wachee now has.

The mermaid show, of course, will remain as part of the deal, something that even Gov. Charlie Crist indicated he wanted to see happen.

Anderson, however, also was adamant that the attraction's other employees would be protected, at least in the short term.

The deal is expected to end a longstanding legal battle between the attraction and Swiftmud. Each side claims the other violated the terms of the lease.

As the court battle last summer continued, Anderson had invited DEP officials to the park last year to explore the possibility of folding the attraction into the state park system as a way to settle the dispute and ensure the longevity of the landmark.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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