Corn Mazes offer fun for fall
Some people never ask for directions – corn mazes are a dream come to true for them. Mazes allow them to get as lost as they want, leaving only their wits and sense of direction to get them out.
Corn mazes have been in Utah since 1996. These mazes of maize are springing up across the country. The MAiZE company, based in Utah, consults for 103 corn mazes nationwide from Hawaii to Florida. It may sound kind of corny, but people have been coming by the bushels to lose their way in a corn labyrinth of twists and turns.
A corn maze in Farmington sporting the Olympic Rings has been in the spotlight recently. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee wants Steve Ames, the maze owner, to get rid of the rings. The Committee said the rings are trademarked, and have to go. Ames told The Deseret News he will make the changes to the maze as soon as he can get the field’s designer here from Idaho. Mitt Romney, SLOC president, said in The Deseret News that as soon as profit is involved with the rings there is a trademark protection infringement.
Two corn mazes are open for business in the valley. The American West Heritage Center Corn Maze is a nearly 7-acre corn web of turns and skillfully hidden dead-ends.
It is open Monday through Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Fridays 5 to 11 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are $4 for students.
Scott Sorensen, a freshman studying electrical engineering visited the maze on Friday night. “I went to the maze in Farmington [Utah] and found the Heritage Center Corn Maze was much more of a challenge to get through.,” Sorenson said.
He said he really liked being able to sit in the Opera House after the maze.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts are available for $1 at the Opera House next to the maze. The maze takes anywhere from 45 minutes to two and one-half hours to complete. It will be open until Oct. 31. For questions, please call 1-800-225-FEST. It is located off of Hwy. 89-91 in Wellsville.
The 11-acre VFX Green Canyon Corn Maze is the largest in the valley. It takes from 45 minutes to one and one-half hours to get through the design of a witch surrounded by stars. This maze has six maps stationed throughout the maze to help lost adventurers.
There are eight trivia questions and choices of answers posted to either help or hinder entrants along the journey. A right answer will lead to the right way, the wrong answer directs to a dead end.
Ron Jensen and his family run the maze. Jensen said many people find the trivia questions to be very frustrating, because they usually can’t figure out the answer.
“I really liked having the maps to help me out,” Shani Despain, a junior, studying speech pathology, said. The maze is located at 2800 N. 400 East in North Logan. It is open Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday 4 to 10 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is $5 for adults, and $4 for children under 12. Group discounts are available in advance by calling 787-4499. If going at night, bring a flashlight.