'Mermaid Society' making a splash
San Marcos has a long history with mermaids.
Generations of Texas girls dreamed of such after family visits to the old Aquarena Springs resort, where “aquamaids” and “aquamen” frolicked in the crystal-clear water of Spring Lake as tourists watched wide-eyed from the Submarine Theater.
They’ve been absent from the lake since the old attraction was transformed into The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and its focus shifted to education. But word is they will be making a come- back, of sorts at least, through the Mermaid Society SMTX, billed as “an alliance of like-spirited individuals, businesses and organizations dedicated to furthering the arts, environmental concerns, economic growth, heritage and creative spirit” of our town.
The society’s founders, San Marcos native July Moreno and local artist Clay DeStefano have big plans for the Mermaid Society, having already proclaimed Sept. 10-16 as the city’s first-ever Mermaid Week.
“The mermaids of my childhood helped inform my creative senses,” Moreno said. “We’re thrilled that these new efforts will help to inspire creativity and spark new magic for imagination and entrepreneurialism among the children of San Marcos today.”
“At its core, the Mermaid movement is about building a thriving local community,” DeStefano explained. “We believe the multi- faceted platform and diverse mix of people and interests will only help enhance the momentum of existing, like-minded, but independent efforts in our community.”
They envision a variety of efforts to help build community and also to showcase the arts and music and, above all, the San Marcos River.
Mermaid Week, they say, will be a “festive and collaborative cultural arts platform” to expand awareness of the San Marcos River and river culture. Primary events will include the a downtown Mermaid Parade, the Mermaid Splash and the Mermaid Society Ball.
Though they’re absent from the lake and have abandoned their “tails,” you can still see a mermaid or two in San Marcos from time to time, primarily Shirley Rogers, who swam in the Underwater Show while her father Paul Rogers managed Aquarena Springs.
