State park packed with mermaids?

A Florida official tours Weeki Wachee Springs as talks continue.

By JOHN FRANK, Times Staff Writer
Published August 16, 2007

WEEKI WACHEE - In an effort to protect the future of the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaids, attraction officials are exploring the possibility of the Hernando County landmark becoming a state park.

Preliminary talks began earlier this summer but turned serious after an envoy from the state Department of Environmental Protection toured the attraction Friday at the invitation of Weeki Wachee officials.

Sarah Williams, a spokeswoman for the state agency that manages the Florida park system, said Wednesday that the visit went well and officials saw great potential in managing the 60-year-old attraction.

"We think it could fit quite nicely into our park system," she said.

The city of Weeki Wachee owns the attraction and adjacent water park but leases the land from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud.

It's a tenuous arrangement for both parties, which are involved in contract litigation that returns to county court today.

The state park concept is just the latest development in the larger saga, but it seems to present a rare point of consensus for the city and Swiftmud.

"It being part of the state park system would be a positive thing for everyone concerned," said Swiftmud spokesman Michael Molligan.

John Athanason, a spokesman for the Weeki Wachee Springs, confirmed the attraction initiated the talks after looking at the future financial picture. "We are always looking at everything that could save this attraction," he said.

While the attraction operates at a profit now, Athanason said, officials are concerned about 10 to 15 years from now. He said the cost of the lease from Swiftmud increases 15 percent every five years.

"It's going to get to the point where lease payments are going to be more than the attraction can bring in," he said. As a state park, "financial security would remain forever. You don't ever see state parks closing."

Negotiations are in the early stages, those involved said, so it's still unknown what changes at the attraction might come with new owners.

Williams said private entities operate at a number of state parks, and state officials would strive to preserve Weeki Wachee Springs' long history.

"We realized it's a unique place and a special place in Florida culture," she said.

If the attraction were to change hands, officials want to see everything stay the same, particularly the mermaid shows, riverboat cruises and swimming area.

"We would like to see very little changes," Athanason said. But he did acknowledge that other components, such as the water slides are "inconsistent with other state parks."

It is also unclear what a new owner could mean for the pending lawsuit Swiftmud filed against the city concerning a breach of lease contract. A new judge could weigh in this morning when both sides appear in court.

John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 754-6114.

[Last modified August 15, 2007, 21:28:27]