‘Tis the season for corn mazes, pumpkin patches and apple orchards! And today’s corn mazes are a sight to see: Many farms around the U.S. are going above and beyond every year, coming up with impressive new designs to delight guests. Keep reading for details on seven corn mazes that have garnered media attention of the years, with themes ranging from pop culture to spooky fun.
The world’s largest corn maze celebrates ‘Back to the Future’
This year, the film celebrates its 40th anniversary, which has inspired the Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois. Its annual corn maze, which holds the record as the world’s largest, is themed after the ‘80s hit movie. Visitors can find iconic images from the film carved into the field and they’ll enjoy walking through paths that form the shapes of Doc Brown, the clock tower being struck by lightning and more.
Taylor Swift corn mazes delight Swifties across the U.S.
Last September, Taylor Swift got a little love from two American farms. The manager of Wheeler Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio, decided to delight his daughter (a huge fan of Swift) by creating the maze in honor of the singer. It featured a profile of Swift, heart hands and her name.
The Maryland Corn Maze, located in Gambrills, Maryland, also created a theme that would please Swifties. This particular design included her heart hands, a guitar, 1989 and the phrase “Taylor’s version.”
‘Jurassic Park’ fans flock to a dinosaur-themed corn maze
Though it’s not possible to visit Jurassic World to see real-life dinosaurs, fans of the franchise still got the chance to have some dinosaur-themed fun at the Amazing Fall Fun corn maze in Waterloo, Indiana.
The 2022 design included a velociraptor, pterodactyl, stegosaurus and tyrannosaurus rex. In the center, guests came across a “Jurassic Maze” logo designed to look like that of the original Jurassic Park logo.
NASA inspires ‘Space Farm 7’ corn maze project
There were some truly “out of this world” corn maze designs in 2011. Seven farms across the country partnered with NASA for what was known as the “Space Farm 7” project. The theme was meant to showcase accomplishments of the U.S. space program, from the Hubble Space Telescope program and International Space Station to the Mars rovers and 50th anniversary of the human spaceflight.
The included farms:
- Rock Ranch in The Rock, Georgia
- Belvedere Plantation in Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Cornbelly’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest in Lehi, Utah
- Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop, California
- Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, Texas
- Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in Gretna, Nebraska
- Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, New York
‘Stranger Things’ gets an upside-down corn maze makeover
Capitalizing on the popularity of Netflix’s Stranger Things, Exploration Acres in Lafayette, Indiana, created a corn maze based on the hit series in 2018. Their largest attraction to date, it totaled 20 acres and included paths that covered more than 10 miles. The design itself showcased the demogorgon, silhouettes of the boys on their bikes, and Eleven utilizing her powers—just above the “Stranger Things” logo.
Spider web maze brings extra spooky fun
Few things say Halloween quite like a spider web, which is likely why Schuyler Farms in Schuylerville, New York, chose one as the theme of its 2021 maze. The paths were formed in the shape of a web, with a few spiders dotting each of the corners.
For even more Halloween flair, spooky decorations could be found throughout the maze. Those who were brave enough to explore it at night by flashlight were met with ghouls and other costumed characters.
‘Star Trek’ corn maze honors 50 years of the franchise
In 2016, Star Trek fans got to experience their own version of the Final Frontier at the previously mentioned Richardson Adventure Farm. After getting permission from CBS and Paramount to use images from the show, the farm put together an impressive design for the 50th anniversary of the series.
The 28-acre, 11-mile corn maze was quite the sight, with Spock and Captain Kirk easily recognizable. The Enterprise was also proudly displayed alongside the Star Trek logo, which was updated with a “50” in the center. Visitors to the farm were even able to climb a five-story observation tower to admire the work of art for themselves.
