2/13/2024 0 Comments Sip n dip weekly specials![]() " She's like, 'Oh, that's so cool.' It's a Great Falls thing." "My teacher is really impressed by it," said Heryla. ![]() How many teachers can say they worked as a mermaid? Later in the year, the young swimmer will finish her student teaching in New Zealand, before becoming a full-fledged teacher. Russell High School in Great Falls, the same school she graduated from. Her day job is as a student teacher at C.M. "My love is Elvis."Īquamarine the mermaid's real name is Kate Heryla. "I played with a dance band," she said, "in dance halls all up and down the Hi-Line."Īs a single mom with three kids, Sponheim had a day job for 35 years as a medical transcriptionist at the Great Falls Clinic. Miss Pat, as Hern calls her, is a Rudyard native who has played piano since she was 12 years old. She's cut back on the number of nights she performs, but the entertainer packs them in on the evenings she plays. At 80-plus years, Sponheim has no plans to retire.īefore the musician began her routine, she took time to talk to NBC Montana. She's been a popular fixture at the Sip ever since. It was in 1963, that Pat Sponheim came on as a fill-in for a piano player who went on vacation.īut he "left town and never came back," said Sponheim, "and so I stayed here." Thares' stepdad and his business partners bought the hotel with its Sip 'n Dip in 1968. With its tropical decor of thatched roofs, bamboo and soft lighting, the Sip 'n Dip has the atmosphere of a South Sea island, even on a winter night in Great Falls. "The Sip 'n Dip is a true, authentic 1960s tiki bar," said the O'Haire Inn's general manager, Sandi Thares. "It's one of my favorite things to do."īut the mermaid's graceful moves in the water were enthralling kids and parents.Ĭamron Hern was at the bar making exotic drinks like Kiss of the Mermaid and the Drunken Monkey. "Their faces will light up if you blow them kisses," said Aquamarine. The little girl cupped her hand over her chin, and blew a charming hello to the beautiful creature with a purple tail. Here on a Wednesday night, Piano Pat was entertaining patrons.Īquamarine the mermaid welcomed the dinner crowd.įrom the glassed-in pool over the bar, the mermaid blew kisses to a little girl. In our Montana Moment, we visit the Sip 'n Dip at the O'Haire Motor Inn. But for more than 50 years, a tiki bar in Great Falls has been captivating customers from all over the world. It's not what you would expect to find in Montana's heartland.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |