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Fun crops up in maze
By LORRAINE WARDLE
COLUMBIANA
For anyone unfamiliar, the name “maze craze” might be a little misleading.
The Columbiana Maze Craze has a corn maze, sure. But it also has so much more.
The Columbiana Maze Craze is a hub of family entertainment.
First, it contains four different life-sized mazes on 20 acres of land. The maze trails a total of 7.5 miles that twist, turn and sometimes dead-end.
The Maze Craze also has family-themed activities such as wood cut-outs for photos.
The seasonal attraction on state Route 14 — it’s open every fall — is owned and operated by Mike and Cindy Bacon of New Springfield.
The couple has worked to create activities that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
They built straw pyramids for climbing, corn boxes — think sand boxes filled with corn — and a large swing set.
They also offer hayrides, barrel train rides and concession stands.
It is possible to spend an entire day at the Maze Craze.
Most corn mazes in the area are “haunted” mazes, which could pose a problem for families looking for a fun activity.
This is where the Columbiana Maze Craze fills a niche.
The Maze Craze is for “everyone,” said owner Cindy Bacon.
Bacon sees “families, teenagers on Saturday date night ...church groups.”
And while the maze is not “haunted,” guests arriving after dark must use flashlights to navigate the maze, which makes it a little spooky.
The Maze Craze has grown considerably since the Bacons opened it three years ago.
The first maze covered 12 acres; this year, the four mazes take up more than 20 acres.
Each year the mazes are different and the Bacons try to change or add aspects to keep the Maze Craze interesting.
The family friendly atmosphere has always been the plan for the Bacons.
While on a family vacation seven years ago, the couple visited a corn maze and were inspired to create one of their own.
They teamed up with a company from Firth, Idaho, called MazePlay that specializes in planning corn mazes.
The play areas for children were part of the original plan, said Bacon. “We wanted to provide the community with a fall activity that all ages could enjoy.”
The Bacons plant the corn in the second week of June, which is later than a typical farm. That way, it stays greener longer into fall, Bacon explained.
Then in September, Shawn Stolworthy, the owner of MazePlay comes and cuts the maze.
It takes more than eight hours to create.
The the land was previously used for farming and in a way it still is, as the Bacons harvest the corn from the maze and sell it for grain.
“People always ask if we actually use the corn,” said Bacon with a laugh.
Bacon is already thinking about next year’s maze craze.
She’s excited about some new ideas, but wants to keep them secret.
That way, everyone can enjoy the maze this year and look forward to next year, too.