Two ‘mermaids’ visit campers at Hopkinton State Park

HOPKINTON — Eight-year-old Ben Byatt of Hopkinton asked the actresses dressed as mermaids the first question that came to mind.

“Do you have a house underwater?”

“We have a castle,” said the two mermaids in unison.

The mermaids, Amanda Luter and Kristy Madden, are part of a cast of more than 20 women for the Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs show in Florida. Women dressed as mermaids have performed underwater feats, including eating and drinking, for the past six decades, at the tourist mecca, according to its website. The popular roadside attraction is located in a natural spring.

“We have an underground theater with 400 seats,” said Barbara Roberts, park manager. The mermaids travel to different aquariums around the country.

On Friday, the two mermaids were at Hopkinton State Park to visit campers with Boating in Boston, the outfit that rents boats at the park. The campers were surprised as Luter and Madden were spotted on a dock offshore as they arrived for camp for the day.

The campers got to ask Luter and Madden questions, like how many of them are out there?

“There is about 25 of us that live in the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park,” Luter said.

Cayla Joyce, 11, of Holliston, said she was not expecting to run into the mermaids when she arrived for camp.

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