Mermaid - Brooksville, Florida, USA - Epic Beings and Creatures on Waymarking.com

“Celebrating 75 years of ‘Mermaids and Magic’, The Mermaid Tale Trail is comprised of 27 mermaid statues hidden throughout Hernando County.

Each larger-than-life work of art displaying the talents of local artists, the mermaids can be spotted at various parks and points of interest. Finding them all makes for an exciting day trip or an excuse to go off the beaten path! Whether you go out and find all 27 mermaids in a day or discover them at a slower pace, you’re guaranteed to enjoy some beautiful sights and discover some new hidden gems along the way.

The Destination Mermaids Trail was created as a legacy to the history of Weeki Wachee Springs, and a celebration of people and memories leading to it becoming a hallmark of what makes Florida the wonderful state that it is.

On October 13, 1947, the first show at the Weeki Wachee Springs underwater theater opened. It was the same day that Kukla, Fran and Ollie first aired on that newfangled invention called television, and one day before Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. On that day, the mermaids performed synchronized ballet moves underwater while breathing through the air hoses hidden in the scenery.

To celebrate the 75th Anniversary at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, a mermaid sculpture trail was designed to cover the whole of Florida’s Adventure Coast, from the rural countryside in Brooksville to the coastal community of Hernando Beach, FL. Each of the six-foot tall statues is hand-painted by an artist who calls Florida home, with a unique tale to tell.

Discover hidden landmarks and attractions as you search for the sirens and discover works of art inspired by Florida’s history and natural wonder. Some statues are traditional and hark back to the old school, with nautical themes and references to Weeki Wachee, while others are wild and quite literally out of this world! There are plenty of surprises to find.” Source: The Mermaid Tale Trail website at (visit link)

An interesting note is the fact that the face of the mermaid is cast from a real-life Weeki Wachee mermaid.

This sculpture’s information is:
Flora
Artist: Karen Heidler
Sponsored by Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce
15588 Aviation Loop Road
Brooksville, Florida 34604
Mermaid Flora sits on a rock that reflects the Nature Coast, with a beautiful sunset at Pine Island and the winding waters of Weeki Wachee. The rock features many types of flowers, as well as butterflies found in Florida.

Time Period: Ancient Epic Type: Mythical Exhibit Type: Figure, Statue, 3D Art Approximate Date of Epic Period: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   10/18/2023 BoomersOTR visited it