The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Becca Grimm explains that in 1959, ABC TV purchased Weeki Wachee, injecting cash that allowed the park to expand its theater capacity from 18 to 400 seats, fund major advertising campaigns, introduce iconic 35-pound mermaid tails, and help establish Florida's mid-century tourism boom.
“in 1959, ABC TV bought the whole place.”
“suddenly, the park was not just this creative sort of interesting person's fever dream duct taped together. And suddenly, it was flush with cash. They were able to expand the theater from 18 seats to 400,”
“perhaps most exciting of all of ABC was adding the tails.”