Oregon daily emerald., October 05, 2000, Page 5B, Image 5

Catharine Kendall Emerald
The MAiZE, located outside of Eugene, is one of 61 com mazes in the United States. It occupies 10 acres of land at Lone Pine Farms. Beginning Oct. 13, The MAiZE will begin holding ‘haunted’ evenings.
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The MAiZE is made of silage corn, which grows much
faster and taller than most types of corn—so tall that vis
itors cannot see over it.
By Mason West
Oregon Daily Emerald
.hen you’re on a path lined
'on both sides with corn
husks 15 feet tall, it can be
easy to lose your sense of
direction. This is the fundamental prin
ciple behind The MAiZE, a corn maze
just outside of Eugene.
Well, actually, the maze in the Eugene
area is just one of 61 scattered across the
country. This particular maze spans 10
acres, roughly a half-million square feet,
and was designed to commemorate two
horses named Jim and Polly, who were
famous for their carriage rides at Lone
Pine Farms, the host of The MAiZE.
It was designed by Brett Herbst, who,
with 102 corn mazes under his belt, is
the leading corn maze designer in the
world.
The idea of a the com maze is not that
far off from the hedge mazes found in
Europe, but corn mazes are a lot easier
to come by. The Lone Pine Farms maze
was planted in July, and the corn was
plenty tall in time for the Sept. 16 open
ing date.
Nick Joslin, co-manager of The
MAiZE, esplained that not all corn will
grow this fast or even to such heights.
The com used for The MAiZE is called
silage com and is specifically grown for
cattle. Unfortunately, Joslin said it is un
likely that any cow will see a kernel of
the maze com. A small sacrifice made in
the name of fun.
Being in the maze itself is great fun,
but it can be intimidating. Walking by
husks of corn that can be longer than
your thigh, you wonder which turn will
lead you out.
Fortunately, you don’t have to wander
through depending completely on luck.
At the entrance of The MAiZE, you take
a “passport,” a card with 10 questions
that you will answer when you come to
posts in the maze corresponding with
the numbers. A correct answer will tell
you the correct direction to turn. There
are numerous passports with questions
in different themes including sports,
com, the Bible, and interactive. The in
teractive passport has participants do
things such as counting the words in the
“Hokie Pokie.” Joslin warns that it can
be confusing because of individual in
terpretation.
There are also two bridges in the
maze, which give you a perspective on
where you are — sort of. The bridges
aren’t tall enough for you to see the
paths well from above.
While wandering through the corn,
you hear voices of fellow sojourners, but
it isn’t often that you run into them.
When you do, you exchange advice and
spare rations. Some people even know
some tricks of the trade.
“Any path I haven’t taken, I make a
line in the straw on the ground to find a
new route,” Kate Carlson, a Eugene resi
dent, said.
Others have more problems than so
lutions.
“I’m too small,” 4-year-old Alex Nico
son said.
The average person can walk the cor
rect path of the maze in 30 minutes, but
it takes most people an hour to get
through. But that time spent is homage
to the time spent making the maze.
Craig Easterly, co-manager of The
MAiZE, is one of only two people who
cleared the more than three miles of
paths that comprise the area over the
summer. Easterly said there’s no secret
as to how he and his girlfriend made it
happen:
“Two people. Two hoes. Early morn
ings.”
If early mornings aren’t your forte,
and you also want a little extra excite
ment, The MAiZE will hold “haunted”
evenings starting Oct. 13. Josiln and
Easterly are still looking for volunteers
to help with the haunting. Call 546-0164
for details.
Four-year-old Alex Nicoson of Dexter leads his grand
mother through the corn maze. Sometimes visitors devel
op strategies to get themselves through the maze, which
usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.