'Jurassic' Corn Maze Opens This Weekend

SPRING GROVE —A "Jurassic Park"-themed maze is all ready to go at Richardson Adventure Farm, with 28 acres of twists and turns opening to the public this weekend.

In recent weeks, Richardson's released the design for this year's 28-acre corn maze, which is meant to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1993 classic "Jurassic Park."

The maze, which was again designed by Shawn Stolworthy of Mazeplay.com, features a sprinting T. rex, a waterfall, a Jeep, a braided adventurer and a brachiosaurus, and was planted in late June. It is now all ready to go for those planning to stop out this fall to the "World's Largest Corn Maze," according to a news release.

Richardson's fall festival will be open Thursdays through Sunday starting on Sept. 9 and continuing through Oct. 29.

“We always look for the anniversary of something spectacular, and dinosaurs are forever popular,” said George Richardson, who operates the farm along with his wife, Wendy, brother, Robert, Robert’s wife, Carol, George’s son, Ryan, and Ryan’s wife, Kristen. The farm is located at 909 English Prairie Road in Spring Grove.

The maze features five maze games and everything from 10-minute trail options for parents with younger children to hour-and-a-half treks for intrepid corn crawlers, according to a news release.

“There’s a left-turns-only route and a right-turns-only route,” Wendy Richardson said. “There are bridges to climb to get a view of where you are. Parents with little kids can walk in without worrying about getting lost.”

The farm, located at 909 English Prairie Road in Spring Grove, also has giant slides, pedal karts, a recently upgraded train ride, a carousel, 50-foot viewing tower, pig races, large gift shop with a wine sampling bar, indoor restrooms, and, while in season, an additional sunflower maze. There are also jumping pillows, air cannons, live music on the weekends, Zorbing and a zip line.

There are food trucks, a craft beer tent featuring 9th Hour Brewing varieties, and the farm’s own freshly made donuts, according to the news release. There's also a pumpkin farm with 20 varieties of pumpkins and about a dozen varieties of gourds to choose from.

Sunflower lovers will find about 13 acres to explore, with 10 varieties of the popular fall flower in brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. The sunflower fields will be open until dusk while in season; admission to the sunflower fields is included with regular adventure farm tickets, and you should check the Richardson Adventure Farm website for more information on bloom dates.

Hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Columbus Day hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Maze until Midnight festivities will be Fridays and Saturdays, starting on Sept. 29 and continuing through 28.

Admission is $20 for ages 3 to 12 years old, $24 for ages 13 years old and up and free for those 2 years old and younger from Sept. 9 until Sept. 30. Prices increase in October, and group discounts may apply.

Campfire and picnic site rentals also are available.

All admissions must be purchased two hours before closing, according to the news release. Dogs that are friendly and leashed are allowed.