The Harvest Acres Corn Maze at VanOostrum Farms, located north of Grafton, offers not only a lot of farmyard fun for visitors, it is also an extension of the VanOostrum family’s agri-business.
“We have been thinking about doing this for a while now,” explained Teressa VanOostrum, who, along with her husband Andrew VanOostrum, designed and carved the five-acre maze out of one of their fields of corn.
The maze, which took a month to complete, is the latest addition to the family’s beef cattle operation.
“Creating it was a lot of work and we wanted to offer a challenge and some activities for people to do while in the maze,” Teressa said of the decision to encorporate an interactive component and a children’s play area outside the maze in order to complement the agri-tourism experience.
“It was designed to appeal to all ages."
Tightly-packed corn stalks that stand between eight and nine feet tall create a challenging course for visitors, who should budget about an hour to get through the maze.
“There is no seeing over these stalks,” said Teressa, adding that if you feel like you are walking in circles, there are clues inside the maze to finding your way out.
Valerie VanOostrum, who works alongside Teressa at the maze, offers a tip that has helped her find her way out on more than one occasion: "If you are quiet, just listen for the sounds of cars passing by. That will lead you back to the highway.”
The Harvest Acres Corn Maze, located on Highway 221, just west of Black Rock Road, remains open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 2.
The Harvest Acres Corn Maze at VanOostrum Farms, located north of Grafton, offers not only a lot of farmyard fun for visitors, it is also an extension of the VanOostrum family’s agri-business.
“We have been thinking about doing this for a while now,” explained Teressa VanOostrum, who, along with her husband Andrew VanOostrum, designed and carved the five-acre maze out of one of their fields of corn.
The maze, which took a month to complete, is the latest addition to the family’s beef cattle operation.
“Creating it was a lot of work and we wanted to offer a challenge and some activities for people to do while in the maze,” Teressa said of the decision to encorporate an interactive component and a children’s play area outside the maze in order to complement the agri-tourism experience.
“It was designed to appeal to all ages."
Tightly-packed corn stalks that stand between eight and nine feet tall create a challenging course for visitors, who should budget about an hour to get through the maze.
“There is no seeing over these stalks,” said Teressa, adding that if you feel like you are walking in circles, there are clues inside the maze to finding your way out.
Valerie VanOostrum, who works alongside Teressa at the maze, offers a tip that has helped her find her way out on more than one occasion: "If you are quiet, just listen for the sounds of cars passing by. That will lead you back to the highway.”
The Harvest Acres Corn Maze, located on Highway 221, just west of Black Rock Road, remains open weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Nov. 2.
