Here in the Northeast the hummingbirds are fattening up for their long flight south, (did you know they fly alone all the way to Central America and across the Gulf of Mexico in one go?!), the mums are coming into bloom, baseball is reaching its peak, and the corn fields are disappearing into winter storage silos. But not all the corn fields — some are becoming corn mazes, at least for a little while.
One of our Storybook Quilts features a corn maze: Lost in a Maze: Zach and Max the Dog Visit the Farm. When we designed that quilt, we got interested in them and did some research. Here are a few things we learned.
Where did corn mazes originate?
Well, there might be a battle about this, but the first corn mazes probably were in England. This is not a surprise, really, since mazes of other kinds have been common there for centuries. Kings, queens and other royalty loved the challenge of finding the path through the maze.
The British call theirs “maize mazes,” maze being the British word for corn and corn being what they call wheat. Confusing!
Where was the first corn maze in the US?
The first “modern” corn maze in America was created in 1993 for Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania, and won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Where is the largest corn maze?
It’s in Dixon, California, and is 43 acres. Click here for the Cool Patch Pumpkins website. Sure looks like fun!
How many corn mazes are there in the US each year?
Keeping an exact count is difficult, but estimates are 800 or more. This is up from maybe 50-100 a decade ago.
Who designs the corn mazes?
Depends. Some farmers design their own. Several companies now design corn mazes professionally. The advent of the GPS has made it much easier to follow a pattern when cutting the maze. In our Storybook Quilt story, Zach’s uncle designed the maze himself.
How long does it take to go through a maze?
Anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the maze. In our story, Zach and his dog are in there, really lost, for hours while his aunt and uncle search for him.
Is there more to a maze than just paths?
Oh, yes! Mazes often include puzzles and games, even food stations in case it takes a really long time to solve the maze. The one in Dixon has a Starbuck’s!
Farmers often also offer hayrides at the site, sell pumpkins and may have a petting zoo.
I’m excited! Where can I find the nearest maze?
Every State has mazes. Local newspapers usually publish a list this time of year. The websites we found that may be helpful include: The Corn Maze Directory, Corn Maze American, the Corn Mazing Directory, and The MAiZE. Some of these sites have wonderful pictures of the mazes from the air.
What’s the number one rule for a visit to a corn maze?
Always come out with as many kids as you had when you went in!
Number 2 is never, never follow your Dalmation puppy as he chases a wily old barn cat into a corn maze — as Zach finds out in our story!
