1960s-1970s: ABC Era
As the popularity of the park exploded, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) purchased Weeki Wachee and Silver Springs in the early 1960s. ABC added a birds of prey attraction. Built a bigger underwater theater, remodeled the entrance to the park, filmed advertisements and played them in ABC-owned theaters across the United States, dramatically upped the production value of the mermaid performances, hosted movie premieres, brought celebrities to the park, and hired many more employees. The local motel became a Holiday Inn, Weeki Wachee became its own city, and the heyday of the attraction began.