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Spring Break with the Weeki Wachee Mermaids

Weeki Wachee Mermaid Ashley B

Weeki Wachee Mermaid Ashley B

Spring is in the air and I’m hearing families talk about trips to the south, along with all the spring break buzz, which reminds me of Florida. Having lived there, traveled there on the 2008 Believe It Tour, and visiting grandparents for many years as I child, Florida is one spot I consider home. That could be the reason people ask me what they should do or where they should go when they visit Florida on vacation. The challenge is not coming up with an itinerary of suggested stops, but figuring out what they might enjoy the most as there are so many different levels and types of excursions to be had.

All of the stops could take pages to list. However, there’s one place in particular that was part of the 2008 Tour that I do get questioned about more than you’d think. No, it’s not Disney World or Gatorland Zoo. It’s the Weeki Wachee Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs. Yes, the “only city of live mermaids” where even the mayor was a Mermaid.

According to the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park site it was the Seminole Indians that named the spring “Weeki Wachee,” which means “little spring” or “winding river.” The spring is so deep that the bottom has never been found and it has more than 117 million gallons of clear, fresh 72-degree water surging up from subterranean caverns.

The history of the shows in Weeki Wachee Springs dates back to 1947 when the mermaids performed at the underwater theater. In the 1950′s Weeki Wachee was one of the country’s most popular tourist stops. Then when ABC purchased the spring in 1959, Weeki Wachee and the mermaid shows were taken to a new level. Bringing in half a million people per year to watch the Weeki Wachee mermaids. Including the King himself, Elvis Presley.

Weeki Wachee Springs remains a wonderful family experience where visitors can pose with mermaids or swim in the spring at the Buccaneer Bay area of the park. Children can even attend the summer Mermaid Camp and fulfill their dreams of becoming a little mermaid or a merman.

What a great way to allow children to believe in the magic of the Weeki Wachee Mermaids and escape the Florida heat.

April 6th, 2010 | Comments are closed | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: believeitology, folklore, michael esordi

Testing the Waters at the Fountain of Youth

Ponce de León display at the Fountain of Youth

Ponce de León display at the Fountain of Youth

While cruising through St. Augustine, Florida on a recent survey trip, I have to say the top billing went to the Fountain of Youth. After some searching Believe It Tour found the long sought after landmark in the city of St. Augustine. The city has a rich history that is intimately tied to the Fountain of Youth and the people who have quested for it over the years. St. Augustine has the pleasure of being the oldest city in the United States as it was founded in 1565. This was roughly 50 years after the conquistador, Juan Ponce de León, landed in what now is the state of Florida in 1513.

Not necessarily historical fact, but as the story goes, Ponce de León was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he set out on his journey that brought him to our shores. It’s not recorded that he ever found the fountain, but he became forever attached to the legend. Ever since that time stories have been passed on about many of the natural springs found in Florida.

Those of us exploring Florida today will find the Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park. The park is located at the spot where Ponce de León and his men were said to have landed. The park was created in 1904 by Luella Day McConnell, who contributed to the idea that this was the original Fountain of Youth.

Having wondered about the Fountain of Youth stories as far back as I can remember I was excited to check out the Florida landmark. When I arrived I just let my childhood belief emerge, so that I could fully appreciate the experience. With an open mind to the possibility that this magic liquid would give years back just by taking a drink, I had a moment of fun as I took a swig from the fountain.

I have to admit I haven’t noticed any changes from the outside just yet. However, I feel that on the inside something changed. From the short time I spent visiting the Fountain of Youth Park and reading about its history, I thought about just how cool it would be if the fountain really was the real thing and the legends were all true. Maybe taking a drink from the fountain didn’t give me back literal years, but it did give me many hours of being reminded of my youth.

That alone was worth the sip.

January 21st, 2010 | Comments are closed | Tags: , , , , , | Category: believeitology, folklore, michael esordi

Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine, FL

While on the road searching for adventure and scouting out locations for our upcoming tour, Believe It Tour stumbled across Tolomato Cemetery in St. Augustine , Florida.  This is one the nations oldest cemeteries as it dates back to the early 1700s.  It’s also one of those places you don’t have a hard time believing is haunted with it’s old headstones and Spanish moss dripping from the trees.

Tolomato Cemetery

Tolomato Cemetery

The cemetery grounds have a varied past as they started out as the site for a Tolomato Indian village. When the Spanish arrived, Christian missionaries took over the village in 1763 and you can still see the chapel that was erected around that time.  When Great Britain acquired Florida , the village was abandoned for a period of time until 1777 when Father Pedro Camps took over the burial grounds for his parishioners.  For the next 115 years the cemetery was an active burial site with the last burial being in 1892.

While there are many town citizens and missionaries buried at the cemetery one of the most well-known is Chief Tolomato.  The village’s original chief was buried just outside of what are today’s cemetery boundaries. At some point after his burial the town drugstore was moved atop his grave.  If you visit the cemetery today you can still see the old building, which is still standing.

The ghost stories abound about the cemetery and range from a child that has been seen over the years playing around a large tree to a ghostly specter that stands watch at the entrance of the cemetery chapel. Who knows maybe when we have the Tolomato Cemetery as one of our upcoming tour stops we might even have our own ghostly encounter. Stay tuned to find out if we do.

January 21st, 2010 | Comments are closed | Tags: , , , , , | Category: believeitology, diana smith, paranormal

Muck Monster Mystery Exposed

Manatee Tail or Muck Monster (photo courtesy: FWC)

Manatee Tail or Muck Monster (photo courtesy: FWC)

For those of you that follow us on twitter and facebook you’ll know I just returned from a road trip down to Florida. Some exciting stops were made along the way to gather information and meet with several people in preparation of future Believe It Tour adventures.

Tonight as I sat down to research Altie, one of the creatures I learned about while passing through Darien, Georgia, I came across news from the WPTV site in West Palm Beach, Florida. Apparently, Florida Fish and Wildlife biologists think they have solved the mystery of the sea monster known as the Muck Monster. News of this underwater creature was spread on the internet and featured on an episode of MonsterQuest.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has discovered a manatee who’s tail had been severely disfigured by a boat propeller. After the injury the manatee’s tail healed in such a way that there were three parts rather than the normal single flat tail. This deformity causes an unusual wake on the surface of the water as the manatee swims.<

Could this be the answer or do you believe that there’s still an unknown creature lurking in the waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon?

January 15th, 2010 | Comments are closed | Tags: , , , , , , | Category: believeitology, cryptozoology, michael esordi