Abe’s A-maze-Ing Maize Fest:

For bicentennial, local church honors Lincoln

www.abescornmaze.org

October 22, 2008
By Ashley Rueff
Staff Writer

f you ever wanted to walk through a giant corn maze in the shape of Abe Lincoln... now is your chance.    

Abe's Corn Maze is more than 3 miles of winding trail carved through 10 acres of corn that makes the shape of Abe's face, his stove-top hat, and a happy birthday message in celebration of his upcoming bicentennial in 2009.        

The maze was created on land owned by the iWorship Center, a church on Shaler Road off of Interstate-55. Vanesa Nichols, financial officer at the church, spearheaded the committee that organized the maze.     

“We decided to do something to reach the community, just to have something fun for people to attend during the fall,” Nichols said. It is the only corn maze in the Springfield area.     

The maze has been open every weekend in October, but will close after Sunday, Oct. 26. More than 2,500 people had gone through the maze after the first two weekends.     

“We've had a very good response,” Nichols said. “People are really enjoying it.”     

In addition to the maze, there are also hay rides, concessions, a small pumpkin patch and a kids area for patrons to explore. Plus, every Saturday has featured a different theme. So far, Saturdays have featured a “cornival,” an ethnic celebration day, and an “Americorn Idol” contest. This coming Saturday will include a classic car show and craft booths.        

Even with the extras, the corn maze is by far the main attraction. There's virtually no way to find your way through without finding a dead-end or having to backtrack. The 10 acres is split into two halves so once you get through the first quarter of the maze you find porti potties before entering the other side of the maze.     

Continue on, and you'll curve through a corn trail that's aerial view reads “Happy 200th” and features a piece of birthday cake. Make your way through the message and you'll be back ready to finish the last fourth of the maze and emerge victoriously at the exit. And don't worry, if you get lost, there's always a “corn cop” on duty to help you find your way.     

While you're walking through Abe's likeness, you'll also be learning about him through the questions leading the way. Twenty questions about Lincoln's life take you from entrance to exit in honor of his bicentennial.

The impressive design of the maze is printed on a map that comes with your $5 admission, but there's really no need to use it. Their Web-site claims it will take about 90-minutes to get through the trail, but 60-minutes is more accurate, as long as you don't get too confused.     

The maze was cut out of the corn when it was about six inches tall by a company that uses a GPS to carve the design.   

Nichols said as more people go through the maze, she finds new trails that shouldn't be there. That's partly why the maze will close at the end of October.   

“I don't think you can do this for too long because you'll get to a point where there's a new design,” Nichols said.     

The farmer who planted the corn will harvest what is left after the maze, though the thousands of visitors have taken their toll on the field.     

Even though this was the first year for the maze, Nichols already plans to create other mazes in years to come.     

“People say, 'see you next year,' when they leave,” Nichols said. “So I guess we'll have to do it again,” she said with a laugh.     

For more information, visit www.abescornmaze.org.