What’s the best way to spend a beautiful evening in October?

Many people love the adrenaline rush that comes with the sights and frights of haunted attractions, enjoying the thrill of the screams and scares.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

Others, however, prefer seasonal entertainment that is less spooky and more adventurous.

That can include activities like pumpkin patches and hay rides — but perhaps the most common is the good old corn maze.

According to multiple sources like the Landcaster Farmland Trust in Pennsylvania, corm mazes are natural extensions of ancient mazes like the labyrinths of Greece and Egypt, which evolved into the hedge mazes of Europe.

“By the late 17th century, these labyrinths had become an inspiration for the rich and royal of Europe, as garden mazes were popular in the yards of aristocrats,” a blog post on the Trust website said. “These mazes were made of hedges and acted as a game, the goal of which was to find the maze’s center.”

The concept of doing the same in cornfields started in the 1990s, according to the sources.

Courtesy Cornbelly's

“The concept came to Don Frantz, Creative Director for Broadway and the Super Bowl, as he looked out of a plane window,” the Trust blog post said. “He noticed rows of corn from the ground below, noting their lines and contours over the land. Frantz made the first corn maze in Annville, Pennsylvania, with the help of good friend Adrian Fisher. Lovingly titled “The Amazing Maize Maze,” this corn maze was opened in 1993 at 126,000 square feet. To create the maze’s design, workers pulled corn stalks by hand while using a grid system to navigate through the corn.”

Sources say that now there are more than 500 corn mazes across the country, including a few right here in Utah County and more throughout the state.

Types of corn mazes

As people have embraced the concepts of corn mazes, the scope of maze possibilities has expanded as well as different mazes have chosen different types of experiences.

Here are some of the different maze ideas out there:

Traditional/straight-line

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

The most basic concept of a maze is to go in the entrance and find your way to the exit.

Multi-phase systems

In these mazes, making it through one section of the maze results in entering an new section of the course, combining several connected mini-mazes.

Thematic mazes

Modern technology has made it easy for many maze creators to create images with their mazes that are visible from the sky.

Karissa Neely, Daily Herald

Multi-level mazes

These mazes incorporate additional elements like viewing bridges, observation towers and even underground tunnels to expand the challenge of the maze.

Game-based mazes

Some locations expand the traditional maze concept with interactive activities like stamp stations, puzzle-solving or QR code checkpoints.

Family-friendly mazes

Courtesy Cornbelly's

Some families with young children prefer simpler mazes that are designed for kids to navigate, usually featuring easier routes and sometimes adding interactive stations along the way.

Haunted mazes

Those who love the haunted-house concept can find similar thrills added to the maze experience in certain locations or on certain dates.

Making your way through the maze

If getting lost in the field of corn stalks is a little intimidating, plenty of online resources offer ideas about how to navigate the maze, such as the How to Survive a Corn Maze: 6 Quick Tips blog from Maize Adventure in North Carolina.

The blog says: “Surviving a corn maze involves preparation, strategy, and a positive attitude. Follow these six great tips and you’ll easily navigate any corn maze and have a fun and memorable experience.”

Courtesy Jolley family

Here are the tips:

1. Come prepared.

Before you head out to a nearby corn maze, make sure you have the right gear. Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. Dress for the weather and bring water, bug spray, and sunscreen.

2. Study the layout.

Take a few minutes to study the trees around the maze before you start. Look for landmarks like the zip line towers and bridges to orient yourself.

3. Follow the right-hand rule.

As you navigate a corn maze, always follow the right-hand rule. Stick to the right-hand side of the maze and follow it all the way around.

4. Stay calm.

If you do get lost, don’t panic. Remember, corn mazes are designed to offer a fun challenge, and help is always nearby.

5. Ask for help if you need it.

What happens if you get lost in a corn maze? If you need help finding your way out, feel free to ask for help. Staff members are often stationed throughout the maze to assist you.

6. Have fun.

Are corn mazes fun? Absolutely! Bring friends, your date, or family members, and make a day of it. And don’t worry! Corn mazes aren’t typically scary. But if you start to feel anxious, take a deep breath and remind yourself it’s all just for fun.

Some common rules to follow:

• Please…Don’t pick corn or break down stalks.
• Don’t go off the paths (between rows) or trample the corn stalks.
• Clean up after your pet (where applicable).
• Don’t leave trash.
• Don’t run.
• Stay with your group.

Mazes in Utah Valley

Ready to tackle a corn maze? There are plenty to choose from in the area.

Here are some of the options around Utah Valley with a brief description from the venue websites:

Glen Ray’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch (Spanish Fork)

This year’s maze honors America’s 250th anniversary with a soaring eagle, star, and bold USA 250 design–created right here on our seventh-generation family farm. (glenrayscornmaze.com)

Cornbelly’s (Lehi & Spanish Fork)

What began as a corn maze in 1996, has now grown into Utah’s most popular fall family destination, with two locations and 90+ attractions ranging from a pumpkin patch and hayrides to a carousel, locomotive train, apple blasters, Jumbo Jumpers, mini ziplines, Pumpkin Princess Playland and much more. (cornbellys.com)

Jaker’s Jack-O-Lanterns / Harward Farms (Springville)

Enjoy a hay ride, visit the petting zoo, explore corn and straw mazes, and slide into fun with our giant corn pit, tube slides, and slippery slide! (https://harwardfarms.com/jakers/)

Rowley’s Red Barn (Santaquin)

Come enjoy Autumn Days with us at the Back 40! The Back 40 is open now! Activities include a 9 acre Corn Maze, 3 huge jump pads, Apple Cannons, Cable Rides, Trike Track, Mini Golf, Corn Pit, Corn Hole, Farm animal petting zoo and Kiddie Carousel. (rowleysredbarn.com)

Hee Haw Farms (Pleasant Grove)

Hee Haw Farms offers a plethora of outdoor activities entertaining families during the fall including an animal petting farm, hayrides, slides, zipline, corn box, courtyard activities and games! Pumpkin picking is fun for all with a hayride to the patch to find the perfect one. Varieties of gourds, Indian corn and pumpkins for your fall decor. (heehawfarms.com)