Amazing Mazes

For the third year in a row, Stickley Farm in Bristol, Tenn., has turned a cornfield into a giant maze that weaves through five acres of head-high stalks. When viewed from above, the maze takes the shape of presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain in a 2008 election scene. The maze also features the U.S. Capitol Building.

Thomas Pulver, Ashley Pulver, 10, and Samantha Pulver check out the maze at the Stickley Farm, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 in Bristol, Tenn. The farm has used the presidential campaign for its maze this year with the images of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama and urges visitors to vote.

Whitehouse, Ohio

At Wheeler Farms in Whitehouse, Ohio, a 16-acre cornfield has been transformed into the likeness of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin -- complete with her familiar updo hairstyle and eyeglasses. Farmer Duke Wheeler says it took an artist from Idaho at least 8 hours to mow down stalks for the maze. Above Palin's head are the words "Sarah America."

Lehi, Utah

Can you guess whose image was used to create a maze for the 13th Annual Cornbelly's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Fest at Thanksgiving Point on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, in Lehi, Utah?

It's none other than "American Idol" runner-up and Utah native David Archuleta. The top of the 12-acre maze reads "Archuleta 4 President" and on the bottom right, "Utah's Idol." The maze design process and planting of the corn began in May 2008.

Dixon, Calif.

An aerial view of the corn maze at Cool Patch Pumpkins, in Dixon, Calif., is seen Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. At 40 acres, the Guinness Book of World Records has declared it the largest corn maze in the world.

Marquisha Brown, 13, foreground, leads her classmates from the California Charter Academy through the 40-acre corn maze at the Cool Patch Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Dixon, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. The Guinness Book Of World Records has declared it the largest corn maze in the world.

Decatur, Ala.

A Halloween corn maze near Decatur, Ala., is shown in September 2007. The spooky attraction is designed to create thrills and chills for those who go through the labyrinth on the nights leading up to Halloween. In its second year, the X-Maze Halloween corn maze features sounds throughout the corridors accompanied by animated lights. It also has six special areas like "blacklight alley" and the "tower of terror."

Berlin, Germany

Visitors to the "World Gardens" walk around the labyrinth on the day of its opening June 22, 2007, in Berlin. Inspiration for the maze was the Hampton Court Gardens near London.

Wichita, Kan.

Tino Soliz, Jr. consults his map at a checkpoint while visiting Cox Farms Corn Maze with his Lewis Open Magnet Elementary schoolmates in Wichita, Kan., Friday, Oct. 20, 2006.

Renfrew, Pa.

A corn maze in the middle of a 10-acre cornfield at the Hotel Beacon farm in Renfrew, Pa., shown Sept. 26, 2006, features a spider web design with two spiders attached at the ends. Cornfield mazes offer a night of autumn entertainment in the form of a life-sized puzzle, but for the farmers who carve their cornfields with crisscrossing corridors, they require an entire season of preparation and labor.

Queen Creek, Ariz.

The Schnepf Farms annual celebrity corn maze in Queen Creek, Ariz., seen Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, features the likeness of outgoing Arizona Diamondback's outfielder Luis Gonzalez in honor of his final home game with the team.

Hastings, Minn.

An aerial view of Afton Apple corn maze, featuring a beehive design, outside Hastings, Minn., Sept. 28, 2006. At least 25 cornfield mazes now dot the state, as farmers try to carve out extra income through tourism. It's crop art on a mammoth scale, and mazes are proving to be great lures for city dwellers seeking the autumn joys of picking apples, choosing pumpkins and roaming a cornfield.

Lehi, Utah

A 12-acre cornfield, turned into a maze in the form of the new Utah quarter, is seen in a photo from Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006, at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. The design is of two locomotives facing each other, depicting the completion of the trans-American railway. The maze and other attractions open Friday. The quarter is due for release in late 2007.

Meridian, Idaho

This year's 10-acre corn field "MAiZE" in Meridian, Idaho, shown Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006, features a fish jumping for a fly. Organizers estimate that visitors will need about an hour to trial-and-error their way through the 100 decision points and over two miles of twists and turns. If the correct pathways are chosen, organizers say, it is possible to complete the maze in less than 30 minutes.

Snohomish, Wash.

The Boeing Company and Stocker Farms in Snohomish, Wash., teamed to feature the shape of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner as the design for the farm's annual fall corn maze, shown Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006. A 10-acre field of corn was used to create the maze which opens to the public Friday, Sept. 22, and runs through Oct. 31. It takes about 90 minutes to get through the maze.

Portsmouth, R.I.

An aerial view of Escobar's Highland Farm corn maze in Portsmouth, R.I. The 8-acre maze, shaped like an American flag, offers two miles of twists and turns that are divided into two levels of difficulty. The maze is open through November.

Jill Spears, bottom, leads her husband, Doug, and Mack, 14 months old, from Newport, R.I., through the first phase of Escobar's Highland Farm corn maze, Monday, Sept. 4, 2006, in Portsmouth, R.I. The 8-acre corn maze, shaped like an American flag, has two miles of twists and turns, with 85 decision points.

Alistair Simpson, 14, left, a "Corn Cop," looks over the corn maze at Escobar's Highland Farm from a bridge, Monday, Sept. 4, 2006, in Portsmouth, R.I. Armed with clearly marked maps with highlighted paths that no one else is allowed to have, corn cops help lost guests navigate their way out of the maze if needed.

Speer, Ill.

A group of children negotiate a gourd maze Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006, at Tanner's Orchard in Speer, Ill.