Vermont's Biggest, Best, and Most 'Amaizing' Corn Maze

Author: Andrea LaRocca

Ben and Jerry's, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Church Street and now the Great Vermont Corn Maze. Yes, there's a new attraction to add to your list of Vermont fun - "amaizingly cornfusing fun," that is - for next year.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze, located in Danville, Vt., is slowly becoming both a staple attraction of the state and one of the premier corn mazes in the country. In the past year alone, over 10,000 people from all over New England and other parts of the country -- from as far away as California and Arizona and as close to home as New Jersey -- have flocked to the Green Mountain State just to experience this corn maze.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze isn't just big in popularity. After all, it doesn't have the word great in its name for nothing. The maze consists of two miles of pathways and dozens of twists and turns. Most people need about two hours to complete the maze, though some take much longer. In addition, as if the maze itself weren't enough, there is a flower garden at the head of the maze which often catches people for hours - not because they can't find their way out, as with the maze, but because it's so relaxing that they just don't want to! The garden offers a view of Mount Washington and the Franconia Notch, as well as the corn maze itself.

Though big now, the Great Vermont Corn Maze started as the little dream of husband-and-wife team Mike and Dana Boudreau in 1999. At that time, the couple lived in New Hampshire and worked as physical therapists. But they were looking for a new home and a new lifestyle. They found a plan for both while reading articles about hedge mazes and, as Mike Boudreau says, "threw together the idea of a corn maze in Vermont and tried to make that idea work." For the first year, the couple commuted from New Hampshire to Vermont on a regular basis, but after an exhausting year of travel, they moved to Danville permanently and began to work the corn maze full-time.

After all, the corn maze itself is tiring enough. For Mike and Dana, the work begins in January and runs through the end of October, even though the maze is only open for business from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. Mike and Dana spend the months prior to the tourist season building the maze from the ground up. Mike designs the maze pattern himself, and then they plant, pick and mow the corn to that design. Past maze designs have included the face of the Vermont quarter, the Statue of Liberty and this year's "I did it! The Great Maze, Vermont" logo.

Despite the work, Mike says all the preparation is worth it. "People leave here going 'cool,' and that's really our whole goal." This year, however, "cool" might be an understatement. Several special corn maze events, such as the Starlight Maze event during which visitors navigate the Great Maze only by starlight, happened again this year. There was also the famous Haunted Corn Maze, which runs at night in the days leading up to Halloween. The Haunted Maze was so popular this year that reservations will be mandatory next year. Be careful though - Mike says it's so scary that "a few people filled their pants this year, no joke."

Fear not, however. There's something for everyone at this family attraction. For the younger crowd, there are two mini mazes with brainteasers. There is also a nature center, a new addition this year, which features 100 feet of gopher tunnels, complete with turbo slides, to crawl through.

As Danville resident Elisa Denton '06.5 says, "The corn maze is great! It's something that everyone can enjoy - it's great for a first date, a wedding aniversary, or a school trip and for locals, visitors, and leaf peepers alike.

For more information on the Great Vermont Corn Maze or to make reservations for next year, visit www.vermontcornmaze.com.