Skelly’s Farm Market, Janesville WI
(images via: Avago Technologies and Skelly’s Farm Market)
Corn mazes have come a long way over the years; actually it’s the visitors who have longer to travel due to the mazes becoming much more complex. Credit (or blame) modern technology for that – without the aid of specially developed computer mapping software and the advent of GPS satellites it would simply be impossible to create these large-scale constructions. Scott Skelly, owner of Corn Mazes America, demonstrates some of the high-tech grunt work that goes into building a modern corn maze above, and the images record some of his own creations at Skelly’s Farm Market in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Stickley Farm, Bluff City TN
(images via: TripAdvisor and Knoxnews.com)
When the owners of The Stickley Farm decided to transform their third-generation family farm near Bluff City, Tennessee to the public in 2006, they knew it would take more then a hayride and a pick-your-own pumpkin patch to attract the crowds. Building a corn maze was one option but using the land wisely was a paramount consideration. Solution: build a corn maze that looks all of a piece from afar but which actually encompasses three distinct mazes: one is just 0.2 miles long and the other two are both 2.6 miles long.
(image via: Mazeplay)
Some of the more modern corn mazes employ some very un-mazelike rendering techniques, such as those used to form the faces of Barack Obama and John McCain in the Stickley Farms’ 2008 presidential election theme maze above. While a wonder to behold from above, when it comes down to it the real joy to be found in corn mazes is more traditional; that being to be literally found in one should the maze prove to be too challenging!

