Family Fun Guide To Minnesota Corn Mazes
One of the great sadnesses of the end of summer in Minnesota is not being able to get locally grown corn on the cob any longer. But a silver lining to that situation is the opening of corn mazes, a most enjoyable autumn pastime.
Sever's Corn Maze
1100 Canterbury Rd
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-239-8501
Hours: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 17-Oct. 30, as well as Thursday-Friday, Oct. 20-21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m.)
Price: $13 ages 4 and older, free for 3 and under
Directory
The Sever Peterson family takes its corn maze seriously. Now entering its 15th year, Sever's offers a different maze theme every year, but the maze is far from the only source of entertainment. There is live music, plenty of food (including, of course, corn), camel rides, a mini-maze made of hay bales for the littlest explorers, a "pumpkin slinger", and a corn pool filled with 10,000 bushels of corn for kids to swim in.
Shafer Corn Maze
Highway 8
Shafer, MN 55074
651-353-0675
Hours: Friday-Sunday: Sept. 3-Oct. 30, as well as Thursday, Oct. 20;
Fridays: 3 p.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: Noon-9 p.m.
Price: $8 ages 12 and up; $5 ages 5-11; under 4: free
Directory
Shafer's offers three different mazes of varying lengths and difficulty levels, making this a great choice for all ages. In addition, investigative types can take the Farm Scene Investigation challenge, while visitors on Friday and Saturday nights in October can see how brave they are by exploring the Haunted Maze. Snacks available for purchase, or you're allowed to bring your own.
CBS Minnesota Insider Tip: if you're planning on visiting the non-haunted mazes after dark, bring a flashlight.
Nelson Farm
23618 County Road 1
Litchfield, MN
320-693-7750
Hours: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 25-Oct. 31; Thursday-Friday, Oct. 21-22;
Saturday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday: Noon-5 p.m.
Price: $7; ages 1 and under free; season passes $14
Website
At Nelson Farm, every weekend has a special event, whether it's a pumpkin-carving content, a scarecrow-building contest, corn-cob golf, wagon rides and bonfires—and of course, a corn maze.
Tweite's Pumpkin Patch
1821 Frontier Road SW
Byron, MN 55920
507-365-8035
Hours: Daily Oct. 1-23, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Price: Weekdays, $6; weekends and MEA weekdays, $9; free for under 2
Website
The corn maze is only the beginning at Tweite's, which also offers several permanent (and non-allergenic) mazes like color and number mazes. You can also sling a gourd, visit Harvest Town and the Back Forty, explore the Enchanted Forest, or take a wagon ride.
Country Corn Maze
County Road 12
Warroad, MN 56763
218-469-3390
Hours: Friday-Saturday through Oct. 18, Labor Day, 1-10 p.m.
Price: $7 ages 13 and older; $5 ages 5-12; free for 4 and under; family rate of $30
Website
Hayrides, campfires, a giant slingshot, a "tangled web" rope maze, and children's play area all supplement the corn maze itself and are all free with the price of admission.
Amy C. Rea lives with her family in the Twin Cities. She's the author of Backroads & Byways of Minnesota and Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes: an Explorer's Guide. She can also be found chatting about Minnesota travel topics at www.flyover-land.com.
