Days after the death of country music legend Dolly Parton, a five-acre corn maze celebrating the singer and her philanthropic legacy is preparing to open in Connecticut.
Parton died Tuesday at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer, according to her publicist. She died surrounded by loved ones at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Tennessee.
The Dolly Parton-themed attraction will open Sept. 5 at The Corn Maze at Twins BBQ Co. in Brookfield, making Connecticut home to one of 20 farms across the United States and Canada participating in this year's "Get Lost with Dolly" campaign.
The campaign, announced before Parton's death, celebrates the country music icon and the 31st anniversary of her Imagination Library.
A portion of proceeds from each participating farm will support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in its local community. The program provides free books to children from birth to age 5.
Parton founded the program in honor of her father, who left school to work on his family's farm and struggled to read. What began as a program serving children in her home county in Tennessee grew to distribute millions of books to children around the world.
The Brookfield maze, located at 401 Federal Road, spans five acres and features more than a mile of pathways. Visitors can choose between a shorter route expected to take about 30 to 40 minutes and a longer journey that can take more than an hour.
Visitors navigating the maze will search for clues and play an interactive game testing their Dolly Parton knowledge. Dolly-themed photo opportunities, storytelling, music and other farm activities will also be offered.
"I think getting a little bit lost can be a whole lot of fun and I hope everyone has the best time wandering through the maze, making memories, and enjoying a little country magic," Parton said in a statement announcing the campaign before her death.
The maze was designed by Utah-based The MAiZE Inc. Parton follows Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan and Lainey Wilson as the latest country music star honored by the nationwide corn maze campaign.
Parton's career spanned more than six decades and included hundreds of songs, including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You." She sold more than 100 million records worldwide and became one of the most recognizable figures in country music.
Beyond music, Parton built a wide-ranging philanthropic legacy, with the Imagination Library becoming one of her best-known charitable efforts.
The Corn Maze at Twins BBQ Co. is scheduled to run from Sept. 5 through Nov. 7. Along with the maze, visitors can participate in duck racing, corn pits and other farm activities.
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