A woman dressed as a mermaid tubes along the San Marcos river.
Photo courtesy of July Moreno
The mermaid has been the unofficial mascot of San Marcos for decades, inspiring the townâs art, conservation and education scenes. Now, the state legislature is working to make the city's mermaid roots official.
A designation to make San Marcos the mermaid capital of Texas is expected to be voted on by Texas representatives around March. The official arrival of the title is long-awaited by many San Marcos natives, given the influence the mythical creature has had on the community.
"It's not official yet; it is on its way," says July Moreno, founder of the nonprofit Mermaid Society of Texas which seeks to unite the San Marcos community by celebrating arts, culture, heritage and fostering river guardianship.