CITRUS CO., Fla. — A one-of-a-kind experience is getting a new level of attention.
Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Experience in Lecanto is featured in a brand-new, four-part documentary series on Netflix called ‘Merpeople.'
The road-side attraction is known worldwide for its mermaid tales and spectacular mermaid shows.
“This is basically where, what we say, the world transforms.”
Inside the encounter, visitors are transported to another world. For owner Eric Ducharme, it’s more than a business- it’s a way of life.
“It’s just very passionate for me," he says. "As much as I love mermaid tales, I love all the marine life and I love allowing our guests to learn about them.”
Eric grew up in Citrus County and remembers watching the mermaids perform at Weeki Wachee Springs as a child that sparked his interest in making mermaid costumes. What started as a passion quickly became a life project of his.
“I just got a little bit obsessed with the aquarium thing and then I started bringing in more," said Ducharme. "Then I thought let’s open up an educational aquarium and let’s open up a small facility in Citrus County.”
That obsession turned into what you see today. A full-scale aquarium featuring not only marine wildlife but rescued macaws and other species of parrots.
And behind-the-scenes a mermaid tail warehouse.
“We do everything in house so we also print off all of our fabric and things like that. It starts off as a white base and then we actually sublimate it onto various fabrics that all of our tails are made from.”
Tails of all sorts of shapes and sizes are carefully crafted. Ducharme says they sell thousands each year.
“Whether it’s a grandparent buying something for a child or whether it’s a mom or dad who want to be mermaids. There is no age restriction on being a mermaid or a merperson.”
Just as popular as their tales are the mermaids wearing them. Shows take place where families can sit and watch as magic comes to life.
“When they put their little hands up to the glass or you can see them kind of jumping, getting excited, maybe doing a twirl- it gets you just as excited and it helps you believe there’s magic still in the world,” said Ann Marczynski, a mermaid performer.
The show takes place in the aquarium’s largest tank featuring some of its most exotic fish. From the small frys to the larger scale.
“To see a ray in your face, that close, is really cool," says Serena Stremplewski, another mermaid performer. "They’re super friendly. Even when we don’t have our mask on, you can still make out which kind of fish swimming by you and it’s really cool.”
With the aquarium being featured in a new Netflix documentary series, Eric is busy focusing on the future.
“We’ll have larger exhibits, we’ll have more room for things to grow and call mertailor its permanent home, work on more conservation projects and environmental projects as well.”
Until then, for Eric, it’s all about the simple joys.
“It’s really fun to watch families come in here and see what they’re drawn to and how they interact with various things. It’s a very fulfilling experience.”
Fulflilling for visitors and for the man behind it all.