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Mermaids revived as symbol for San Marcos

Mermaids, which once appeared as attractions at Aquarena Springs, have been revived as a symbol of cultural identity and environmental protection for the city of San Marcos.

by Carol Flake

A view downstream from the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Water from the Edwards Aquifer flows from San Marcos Springs into the San Marcos River.
Credit: Jason Samfield

Mermaids, which once appeared as attractions at Aquarena Springs, have been revived as a symbol of cultural identity and environmental protection for the city of San Marcos. The city’s Mermaid Society, which sponsors Mermaid Week, celebrates the mermaid as a kind of water guardian of Spring Lake and San Marcos Springs, which are surrounded by rapid development that threatens the region’s water supply as well as its historic identity. (Texas Monthly)

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