Along with a group of investors, Newton Perry opened Weeki Wachee Springs to the public in October of 1947. At the time, roadside attractions were becoming popular stops along Florida roadways. The attraction consisted of an amalgamation of vendors, an orchid garden, a river boat tour, as well as the star attraction: a mermaid show that took place in an underwater theater. Eventually, the May Museum of the Tropics, an "abandoned Seminole village", a show called “Birds of Prey”, and a petting zoo were added. After peaking in the 1950s and 1960s, attendance began to decline as theme parks and highways changed the dynamics of Florida's tourism. The State of Florida took over the attraction as a state park in 2008. Since then, the park has focused on appealing to a modern audience while preserving its history.]]>
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Weeki Wachee, Florida.]]> RICHES]]> Weeki Wachee Collection, Hernando County Collection, RICHES.]]> Weeki Wachee Springs State Park and is provided here by RICHES for educational purposes only.]]>
Gunston Hall, at Little Creek, Virginia.

After three and a half years, Ennis trained at aircrew school in Pensacola and then Millington, Tennessee, to become an Aviation Warfare Sensor Operator and rescue swimmer for Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. He also joined the fleet replacement squadron aircrew for Helicopter Squadron 1 in Jacksonville, and then reported to his first fleet squadron, Helicopter Squadron 5 (HS-5), also in Jacksonville. After completing his service for HS-5, Ennis reported to the helicopter wing as an instructor. After three years instructing, he transferred to Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Yamato and Ayase, Japan, for sea duty with Helicopter Squadron 14.

This interview was conducted by Kendra Hazen and includes topics such as Ennis' background and family, RTC Orlando, his Navy life after training, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), and the simulation industry in Central Florida.]]>
0:02:40 Family service members
0:04:12 Recruit Training Center Orlando (RTC Orlando)
0:08:08 Daily life at RTC
0:13:05 Classes and training
0:19:08 Social life
0:22:14 Co-educational training and Competition Week
0:24:18 Instructors
0:25:57 Marching and proudest moments
0:29:03 The Grinder and the USS Blue Jacket
0:33:54 Graduation
0:36:14 Navy career after RTC Orlando
0:42:49 Assignment with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) in Orlando
0:46:29 Simulation at NAWCTSD
0:53:22 Future of the simulation industry in Central Florida
0:56:03 Most valuable lessons learned in Navy
0:58:58 Photographs
1:03:31 Closing remarks]]>
Ennis, Marc. Interviewed by Kendra Hazen, February 22, 2014. Audio/video record available. Item DP0014894, UCF Community Veterans History Project, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]> Veterans History Projects, Library of Congress.]]> Ennis, Marc. Interviewed by Kendra Hazen, February 22, 2014. Audio/video record available. Item DP0014894, UCF Community Veterans History Project, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, Orlando, Florida.]]> UCF Community Veterans History Project, Orlando, Florida.]]> UCF Community Veterans History Project Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Flash Player]]> Java]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> RICHES of Central Florida]]>