Weeki Wachee has new leader

The bosses in Tallahassee dropped the interim label last week.

Toby Brewer is now the official manager at Weeki Wachee Spring State Park, becoming the second person to hold that position since the roadside attraction was taken over by the state last November.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Park Service announced the selection Monday.

"There's a lot of excitement over here," he said, emphasizing Weeki Wachee's future as a state park more so than his appointment. "The state seems really committed to it."

Brewer was asked to take the helm on an interim basis in May following the suspension of Tommy Ervin, who was investigated amidst allegations of sexual harassment and falsifying payroll documents.

The job became vacant following Ervin's termination a few weeks later.

The 538-acre attraction was founded in 1947 and includes live mermaid shows, a water park, river boat cruises and a natural spring that pumps 117 million gallons of fresh water per day.

"Weeki Wachee is different compared to what is traditionally done at state parks," Brewer said. "The (mermaid) shows add another element."

Brewer has been the park manager for Werner-Boyce Salt Springs in New Port Richey and will continue to hold that job until a replacement is named.

"When they hire somebody for that job, I can exhale," he joked.

Brewer grew up in Naples, attended school in Florida and began his parks career in 1977. He spent 20 years at Caladesi Island State Park before taking over at Werner-Boyce.

"The staff here is definitely service-oriented," he said of Weeki Wachee. "They're excited about the future. We're going to see some improvements here that have been due for a while."

His first big project will be to oversee the roof replacements at several of the buildings, he said.

"Toby is exactly what the park needed," said Weeki Wachee spokesman John Athanason. "He commands respect ... We couldn't have asked for a better manager."