Discover Mermaid Experience
Try mermaid swimming in a real aquarium environment with guidance from professional mermaid instructors.
Explore Discover Mermaid →
Open 11 am - 4 pm
Plan Your Visit
Plan Your Visit to Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter
Everything You Need for Your Aquarium Adventure
Sharks, stingrays, touch tanks, animal encounters, live underwater mermaid shows, and an indoor aquarium experience—all in the heart of Citrus County, Florida.
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter operates through timed admission sessions designed to give guests time to explore the aquarium, enjoy interactive experiences, and see a live mermaid show during their visit.
Please confirm your destination:
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter
4100 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter
4100 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461
Open Daily
11:00 AM–4:00 PM
Timed Sessions
Choose your arrival session when booking
Mermaid Show
Included with general admission
Indoor Aquarium
Great for Florida heat or rainy days
How Your Visit Works
Choose a Timed Aquarium Session
Mertailor uses timed admission rather than all-day open roaming. Arrive at the beginning of your reserved session to explore the exhibits and interactive areas before enjoying the live mermaid show scheduled during your visit.
Session 1
11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Mermaid Show: 12:00 PM
Arrive at 11:00 AM to begin exploring the aquarium before the noon mermaid performance.
Session 2
12:30 PM–2:00 PM
Mermaid Show: 1:30 PM
Arrive at 12:30 PM for aquarium exploration and interactive experiences before the 1:30 PM show.
Session 3
2:00 PM–4:00 PM
Mermaid Show: 3:00 PM
Arrive at 2:00 PM and explore the aquarium before the final live mermaid show of the day.
Advance reservations are highly recommended.
Walk-up admission is not guaranteed, and once a session reaches capacity,
additional guests cannot be admitted.
Included With General Admission
More Than Just Looking Through the Glass
Your general admission session includes access to the aquarium exhibits, live mermaid entertainment, touch experiences, and educational encounters throughout your visit.
Aquarium Exhibits
Explore sharks, rays, fishes, invertebrates, freshwater animals, birds, and other residents throughout the aquarium.
Ray Bay
Experience a supervised stingray touch area and get a closer look at the animals that make rays so fascinating.
Tide Pool
Discover selected tide-pool animals through a supervised hands-on touch experience.
Live Mermaid Show
Every timed session includes a live underwater mermaid performance inside the Mermaid Exhibit.
Creature Features
Learn more about animals and habitats through educational moments and animal presentations offered throughout the day.
Interactive Learning
Ask questions, observe animal behavior, and discover how imagination and education come together throughout the aquarium.
A Mermaid Show Is Part of Every Visit
See the Mermaid Exhibit Come Alive
Mertailor's live underwater mermaid performances are included with general admission and take place during each timed session.
Professional performers swim through the aquarium environment alongside marine life, combining underwater performance with the aquarium experience that makes Mertailor different from a traditional attraction.
Want to Do More?
Add to Your Aquarium Adventure
General admission already includes plenty to explore, but guests looking for an even more immersive visit can reserve additional aquarium experiences.
Stingray Encounter
Step into a shallow habitat for a guided, up-close encounter with Mertailor's resident stingrays.
Explore Stingray Encounter →
Swim with the Fish
Snorkel inside the Mermaid Exhibit alongside tropical fish, rays, and sharks for a completely different view of the aquarium.
Explore Swim with the Fish →Know Before You Go
A Few Things That Make Your Visit Easier
Reservations Are Strongly Recommended
Timed sessions can sell out during weekends, holidays, school breaks, and busy travel periods. Walk-up admission is not guaranteed.
We Are an Indoor Attraction
The aquarium experience is indoors, making Mertailor a convenient option during hot Florida afternoons or rainy weather.
Onsite Parking
Convenient onsite parking is available for aquarium guests.
Wheelchair Accessible
The aquarium is wheelchair accessible for guests who need mobility accommodations.
Touch Exhibits May Pause
Touch experiences may close briefly during live mermaid performances or when animal-care needs require a temporary pause.
This Is Mertailor—not Weeki Wachee
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter is an independently owned and operated aquarium located in Lecanto, Florida.
Visiting Florida's Nature Coast?
Minutes From Crystal River
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter is located in Lecanto, Florida, in the heart of Citrus County and a short drive from Crystal River, Homosassa, Inverness, and other Nature Coast destinations.
Many visitors combine their aquarium trip with manatee tours, springs, kayaking, wildlife experiences, dining, and other nearby attractions.
- Approximately 15 minutes from Crystal River
- Approximately 20 minutes from Homosassa Springs
- Approximately 35 minutes from Weeki Wachee Springs
Plan With Confidence
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need reservations?
Advance online reservations are highly recommended. Sessions may reach capacity and walk-up admission cannot be guaranteed.
Are mermaid shows included?
Yes. Each daily timed admission session includes a live mermaid show.
How long should we plan for our visit?
Your reserved timed session determines the available visit window. Most guests use the session to explore exhibits, touch experiences, educational encounters, and the included mermaid show.
Is the aquarium indoors?
Yes. The aquarium experience and exhibits are indoors.
Can guests touch stingrays?
Yes. Ray Bay offers a supervised stingray touch experience during designated operating periods.
Is parking available?
Yes. Onsite parking is available for aquarium guests.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Walk-up tickets may be available when capacity allows, but booking online in advance is the best way to secure your preferred session.
Is Mertailor affiliated with Weeki Wachee Springs?
No. Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter is independently owned and operated in Lecanto, Florida.
Ready to Visit?
Choose Your Session and Start Planning
Reserve your timed aquarium session and experience sharks, stingrays, touch exhibits, animal encounters, and a live underwater mermaid show at Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter.