A-mazing fall fun
Creating a corn maze is both art and science
ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS, corn seeds are planted in the summer—not for eating, but to be transformed into a nonedible fall favorite. These seeds grow into perfect corn mazes, from short and easy to long and winding to dark and spooky.
To create the maze, most rows are double planted, forming a crisscross shape, and the process is, surprisingly, more technical than you would think.
“We plant traditional rows and then make cross rows about every 100 feet,” says Rich Meadors, Cumberland Valley RECC consumer-member and owner of Sally Gap Pumpkin Patch. “It’s more like a checkerboard. This way fools people because they think they are walking in a straight line.”
Mazes are mapped on graph paper, software or with third-party professionals. After two to four weeks of growth, most designs are cut into fields with zero-turn mowers.
“I create my design using basic Excel software and mapping on my computer,” says Jason Devine, maze designer at Devine’s Corn Maze. “Then I import the designs to GPS and put that on my zero-turn lawn mower and follow the directions.”
All corn mazes are ready for visitors by September and remain open through October.
Devine’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
Seventeen years ago, friends came to Glen and Martina Devine with the idea of a corn maze. The Devines thought it was crazy, but they wanted to try. Now the maze is a Harrodsburg highlight.
Their son Jason Devine likes choosing topical themes for the 10-acre maze. One of his favorites was 2023’s Pink October Ribbon theme designed in honor of a friend who worked at Devine’s.
Jason Devine, maze designer at Devine’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, chooses a new theme every year. Last year’s “Pink October” theme honored a friend. Photo: Devine’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch
“Our corn maze is fun and a challenge,” Jason Devine says. “We like having people come out to the farm. It’s good to come out and have fun and laugh. We want to create fall family fun for all ages.”
There are three mazes in one—the shortest is so easy, kids can go in without adults. The first-timer maze takes around 15 minutes; and the feature maze, which includes the theme, takes around 30 minutes.
Chaney’s Dairy Barn
At Chaney’s Dairy Barn in Bowling Green, people come for ice cream and stay for the corn maze. With seasonal flavors like apple pie and pumpkin, visitors savor ice cream while forging through 5 acres of maze.
Carl Chaney, Warren Electric RECC consumer-member and owner of Chaney’s Dairy Barn, says without a pumpkin patch, he thought a corn maze was the perfect fall attraction, so he opened one in 2005.
Chaney’s Dairy Barn celebrated its 20th anniversary last year with a themed corn maze. This year’s theme is Western Kentucky University. Photo: Kyle Springer and Coldwell Banker
“Being an actual dairy farm, we are still milking cows. Visitors to the corn maze can actually see robots milking cows,” Chaney says. “We also have a full-service restaurant and some of the best ice cream in the state.”
Unique to Chaney’s is a bridge inside the maze. Guests climb it while participating in a yearly farm animal scavenger hunt.
Thomas Dairy Farm and Market
Follow the yellow corn rows at Thomas Dairy Farm in Cecilia. This year’s theme is The Wizard of Oz. With 2-acre and 6-acre mazes, visitors are challenged by interactive games within each.
If daytime mazes are too tame, there’s a haunted corn maze after 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Hayrides take visitors to 3 acres of spooky woods leading into the terrifying corn maze.
Buried up to his ears, Kenton Lear plays in the corn pit at Thomas Dairy Farm. Photo: Celia Thomas
“When we first started 11 years ago, we had a few animals, one corn maze, a corn pit and a mega slide,” says Celia Thomas, Nolin RECC consumer-member and general manager at Thomas Dairy Farms. “It’s grown so much, and we try to offer something new every year.”
A visitor favorite, the Sunflower Maze, is a unique and beautiful fall experience, she says. Admission includes the hayride to the pumpkin patch, mega slide, jump pad, corn pit, animal farm and playground.
A-Maize-ing Farms
Billing itself as Kentucky’s largest corn maze, A-Maize-ing Farms hosts visitors who meander through 25 acres of fields. The only entrance forks into three mazes: children’s, intermediate and expert. Owner Sam Brown says it takes about an hour to complete.
Sixteen years ago, Brown saw neighboring states with corn mazes and wanted to start one in Mayfield.
The corn maze at A-Maize-ing Farms is the largest in Kentucky and one of the largest corn mazes in the United States. Photo: A-Maize-ing Farms
“It was a great success that first year,” he says. “Now we have over 20,000 people come through each year. It’s become a family tradition for a lot of people.”
Visitors receive a map and punch card with 20 checkpoints, each marked by a star inside the maze. Admission includes hayrides to the pumpkin patch, inflatables, corn bin basketball, giant jumping pillow and petting zoo.
Sally Gap Pumpkin Patch
When Rich and Charline Meadors started their corn maze 14 years ago, they didn’t know it would become one of the biggest fall attractions in Williamsburg. Now they average 18,000 visitors yearly.
“We love it,” Rich Meadors says. “If someone paid my bills, I’d do it for free.”
Every year Charline chooses a theme for the 10-acre field. She designs a scavenger hunt inside, and those completing it receive special treats.
Admission includes two corn mazes, slides, three playgrounds, petting zoo, barrel train rides, bounce houses and corn cribs. At the barn, festive music plays, and visitors eat apple pie and barbecue, and sip on spooky concoctions like Creatures Blood and Dracula’s Drink.
“I think it’s an absolute thrill,” Meadors says. “There’s excitement going into a corn maze, knowing for a fact you won’t get lost forever.”
Creative corn mazes
Watch the crew at Sally Gap Pumpkin Patch follow a map to carve out the 2024 “gigantic, gigantic” corn maze.
Check out this aerial view of Thomas Dairy Farm’s 2022 Knights and Dragon-themed corn maze, taken from a drone.
