Mazes of Maize

Acres of fun can be found at several Pennsylvania farms this fall in a variety of intricate mazes cut into giant fields of corn. More than just a walk in the stalks, these intricate, multi-acre designs provide a unique way of entertaining everyone who's willing to take the challenge. These life-sized puzzles incorporate miles of befuddling pathways, some with bridges, tunnels, and even slides. To make things a little easier, most interactive corn mazes have riddles to solve, trivia questions to answer, or even decoder maps to help the lost find their way out. Most offer other activities, such as smaller mazes for toddlers, petting zoos, pumpkin patches, and hayrides. What a safe and fun way to while away a beautiful fall afternoon.

Ten years after the first corn maze was created by Broadway producer Don Frantz in a Pennsylvania corn field, over 100 corn mazes can now be found built into cornfields across the country. Below is a list of several Pennsylvania locations with one of these incredible corn mazes, and other corn maze adventures from across America can be found listed in the sidebar.

Lonesome Valley Farm's Get Lost Corn Maze
Westmoreland County
The 5-acre Get Lost Corn Maze is open weekends in October and during the week by group reservation. The 2007 corn maze is "The Kecksburg UFO Maze"-depicting the incident from 1965, and they suggest allowing about an hour to complete the maze. When the sun goes down the fun continues...with a haunted maze!

Kistaco Farm Corn Maze
Armstrong County
Three mazes cut within a 6-acre (12' high) corn field will provide hours of fun for children and families. Open noon to 6pm with refreshments provided by the Kiski Township Volunteer Fire Department. This is a working fruit and vegetable farm, so plan to get your apples and cider while you're there!

Coolspring Corn Maze
Mercer County
Located near Mercer, this cool corn maze offers acres of fun for the entire family. Activities include a corn maze which traces the outline of a steam locomotive and coal car, plus hayrides, fall crafts, and a country market. Bring a flashlight if you're coming after dark!

Faranda Farms Corn Maze
Somerset County
A 5-acre Pittsburgh Football corn maze - wow! The maze also features flashlight nights (until 9:30pm) on special October weekends. This is part of their Autumn Harvest festival, so plan to spend some time enjoying the hayrides, llamas, storytelling and refreshments as well.

Corn Maze @ Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm
Erie County
Nothing says fall like the annual 6-acre corn maze cut into the fields at Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, about a 1/2 hour south of Erie. For 2007, the maze is cut into an intricate design featuring Nickelodeon's Spongebob and friends. The 7-acre maze offers both "day corn stalking" and "night corn stalking" (until 10pm) and 15 game piece stations hidden throughout. Allow 2 hours to complete the maze!

Cherry-Crest Farm
Lancaster County
Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Cherry Crest Farm's nationally acclaimed 5-acre corn maze celebrates a Wild West Theme for 2007. This Amazing Maize Maze creation is a festival all its own with additional activities like a Petting Zoo, hands-on displays, concessions, fall crafts, and rides such as Moon Trike Maze, Cherry -Crest Express and Hee-Haw Hayride.