The Mermaids of Ventura
By Kalena Massey
It has been many years since Andy Soter last heard his daughter Andrea say her favorite phrase: “It’s just another day in paradise.” Yet those words still echo along the shoreline of Ventura, where the ocean meets the harbor and memories linger in the salt air.
Andy and his family settled in Ventura in the 1960s. Like so many families drawn to the coast, their days often revolved around the beach – surfing, playing in the sand, and soaking in the beauty of what they proudly called their coastal paradise.
When Andy’s mother first visited Ventura, she had just one wish: to put her feet in the Pacific Ocean. The moment she saw the water, she ran to the shoreline, kicked off her shoes, and stepped into the waves. It was a simple moment, but one that captured the joy and wonder the ocean has always inspired in the Soter family.
Today, that same stretch of coast features two elegant mermaid statues at Soter Point. The statues stand as a memorial to Andy’s daughter Andrea, who passed away 18 years ago.
The vision for what would become Soter Point began more than two decades ago, during a difficult time in Andy’s life. Andrea was bravely fighting cancer, and Andy often found comfort in the company of two close friends who met each morning at a local donut shop.
Andy Soter, Sam Tovar, and Alec “Benke” Benke gathered there over coffee, sharing stories, supporting one another, and talking about their love for Ventura. All three men were deeply connected to the community, and their conversations often turned toward ways they might make their beloved city even more beautiful.
One morning, Benke shared an idea. He dreamed of cleaning up an area along Front Street and transforming it into a small park in memory of his wife. With their collective connections and determination, the three friends worked with the city to bring the project to life. Soon, a charming park was created, complete with a memorial bench honoring Benke’s wife.
After completing that project, their conversations turned toward something even bigger: creating a welcoming entrance to the Ventura Harbor.
Andy had already been thinking about a way to honor Andrea as her illness progressed. The idea slowly began to take shape among the three friends.
Benke, a skilled mason, had come across several mermaid statues at an open-air market in Orange County and had been storing them in his yard. When the group realized the statues could become part of their harbor project, the vision quickly gained momentum.
Each of the three friends contributed in different ways – working with the city to secure permits, coordinating logistics, and bringing their shared dream to life. Slowly but surely, the plan unfolded.
The day the mermaids were officially unveiled was a classic Ventura morning – cool and foggy, with the marine layer hanging over the water. As the ceremony began and the statue was welcomed, the clouds suddenly parted and sunlight streamed down, illuminating the mermaids in a brilliant glow.
At that same moment, a pod of dolphins swam into the harbor near the point, as if offering their own greeting.
In the eighteen years since the dedication of the Soter Point mermaids, they have quietly watched over the harbor. They greet boats as they arrive, overlook surfers riding the waves, and keep silent company with kayakers and paddleboarders gliding through the water.
Locals and visitors alike gather there – to enjoy a day at the beach, celebrate weddings, hold memorials, or simply do what Andy’s mother once did: walk down to the shore and place their toes in the Pacific Ocean.
Standing gracefully above it all, the mermaids are more than just statues. They represent the enduring friendship of three men who shared a vision, the strength of a father’s love, and the memory of a daughter whose spirit still lingers by the sea.
Andy still visits Soter Point often – several times a week.
And if you stand there quietly and listen to the breeze coming off the water, you might just hear a familiar whisper carried in the wind:
“It’s just another day in paradise.”
