Inside the Mermaid Motel Florida: Meet the Other-Worldly Owners Pearl and Rae Current

Step into the whimsical world of the Mermaid Star Motel, a true Florida gem that's more than just a place to stay, it's a portal to a captivating narrative woven with mystery, ancient lore, and a touch of the extraordinary. At the heart of this mermaid motel in Florida are its intriguing owners, Pearl and Rae Current, whose personal histories are as rich and fantastical as the motel itself.

Pearl Current: The Mermaid's Legacy and Guardian of Florida's Waters

Pearl Current isn't your average Florida motel owner. A retired mermaid performer, her family lineage is steeped in the ancient traditions of the Merpeople and the heritage of the Seminole Indian people. Her family, long known as "keepers of the water," has protected Florida's vital aquifer system, believed to be the legendary Fountain of Life, often conflated with the mythical Fountain of Youth.

Family lore tells a romantic tale of her great-great-grandparents: Nerida, a name meaning "mermaid" in Greek and "water" in Miccosukee, rescued a rumored pirate named Jose Pepe Gaspar from a shipwreck.

Pearl herself possesses extraordinary powers, capable of communicating with water and animals, including an extraterrestrial panther named CAT5. Her great-great-grandmother, Nerida Ooki, is even considered the world's oldest living mermaid, a living tie to the deep, mystical roots of Florida’s watery underworld.

Rae Current: Inventor, Astronomer, and Unraveler of Mysteries

Complementing Pearl's mystical connection to Florida's depths is Rae Current, an astrophysicist and inventor with a fascinating past. Growing up in Fort Myers, Florida, Rae apprenticed under none other than Thomas Edison, sparking a lifelong passion for invention and cosmic exploration.

Rae's inventive spirit is evident throughout the Mermaid Star Motel. His Lampscape Lab, tucked into one of the motel rooms, overflows with "weird oddities and doodads of the pre-computer/radio engineer era."

When he's not tinkering, Rae is researching:

• Pearl's mer-heritage

• The mysterious Furidians (space-faring cats that evolved into Florida panthers)

• The metaphysical properties of Florida's spring water

He even "discovered" and named the Mermaid Star constellation in Pearl’s honor, believing it to be linked to a forgotten extraterrestrial civilization.

Fun fact: the very land where the motel sits was inherited from Rae's uncle, Newton A. Perry, creator of the original Weeki Wachee mermaid attraction.

Inside the Mermaid Motel Florida: A Hub of Enchantment

This isn’t just another roadside stop, it’s a fully immersive hotel experience in Florida, where the architecture tells a story. Designed in a charming 1950s-60s style, the Mermaid Star Motel embraces retro roadside motel vibes with a layer of mythos just under the surface.

Guests are greeted by:

• A spring-fed swimming pool (rumored to have restorative properties)

• An ice machine dispensing "magic water"

• Rooms decorated with subtle clues about ancient civilizations and the Mermaid Stars

You won’t find a traditional concierge here. Instead, Pearl and Rae invite you to follow the mystery. Each room contains hidden details, maps, or puzzles connected to their larger world, a signature of FloridaRAMA’s storytelling style.

From Folklore to Future Tech

What makes this mermaid motel in Florida truly special is the seamless blend of folklore and futuristic imagination. Pearl embodies tradition and myth, a living legend of water magic. Rae, meanwhile, channels invention, science, and interstellar curiosity.

Together, they turn each stay into a surreal encounter with:

• Florida myths and legends

• Ancestral memory and Indigenous symbolism

• Extraterrestrial ecology

• DIY retrofuturism

It’s not uncommon for guests to leave wondering if what they saw was a prop... or a clue.

Why It Belongs on Every Weird Florida Bucket List

If you're the kind of traveler who searches for weird places to stay in Florida, the Mermaid Star Motel should be your next destination. It stands proudly alongside iconic Florida roadside attractions, while offering a deeper experience:

• Part sci-fi, part sacred

• Equal parts retro kitsch and cosmic mystery

• A place where every object is a portal

Whether you're here for a night or just to explore, you're stepping into a narrative-rich space that rewards the curious.

Plan Your Stay at the Mermaid Star Motel

FloridaRAMA invites you to experience this enchanting location yourself.

📍 Located in St. Petersburg's Warehouse Arts District

🌟 Booking includes immersive exhibits and access to the Motel Mystery Map

🚑 Perfect for solo explorers, date nights, or creative inspiration getaways

Ready to check in to the weirdest, most wonderful mermaid motel Florida has to offer?

Explore the Mermaid Star Motel and Book Your Visit