Wander acres of corn mazes this fall at suburban farms
For many, wandering through the stalks of a suburban corn maze is an autumn tradition.
This time of year, a number of local farms welcome visitors to stroll through mazes, both large and small, and to linger afterward to take in other attractions — from petting zoos to wagon rides.
Here is a sampling:
All Seasons Apple Orchard
14510 Route 176, Woodstock. (815) 338-5637 or allseasonsorchard.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends through Sunday, Nov. 2. Also open on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: $8-$13.50
More than three miles of pathways and a lookout bridge are part of the 10-acre corn maze at All Seasons Apple Orchard. The maze boasts two paths — a shorter “Spookley the Square Pumpkin” maze for younger visitors, and a larger Charlie Brown-themed maze for those who want a more challenging hike.
The orchard's barnyard area features a jumpy pillow, a bouncy house, a petting zoo, live shows on some days and other family activities. Guests can also pick their own apples and pumpkins.
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm
13236 W. Townline Road, Waukegan. (847) 662-5733 or krollsfarm.com
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; through Saturday, Nov. 8.
Price: $7 adults; $5 for kids ages 4-12; free for kids under age 4
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm is an agricultural-education farm. This year's maze focuses on soybeans, said owner Ruthann Kroll, and 12 checkpoints within the five-acre maze provide facts about soybeans and farming.
The maze offers various exits for those who get lost or tired.
“We always have staff there to help you, so no one is ever lost for long,” she said.
The farm also features farm animals, including some baby goats and a baby donkey this year. And hayrides are offered for $3 per person.
Kroll said she welcomes back many of the same visitors to her farm year after year.
“It feels like they are coming home,” she said.
Kuipers Family Farm
1N318 Watson Road, Maple Park. (815) 827-5200 or kuipersfamilyfarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Open through Friday, Oct. 31, and also Columbus Day on Monday, Oct. 13.
Price: $8.75 weekdays (includes the jumpy pillow); $11.75 weekends and holidays (extra fee for rides). Free for kids ages 2 and under (extra fee for rides). Free for active military personnel with ID.
Use a “passport” and follow themed questions to find your way through the maze at Kuipers Family Farm. The maze has easy, medium and hard levels for those who want to customize the experience.
See pig races on weekends and on Monday, Oct. 13. Other highlights include hay wagon rides. farm animals, a mountain slide and a tractor tire mountain.
Norton's Produce
39W369 Route 64, St. Charles. (630) 377-8118 or nortonsproduce.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; through Wednesday, Oct. 1. Extended hours (yet to be determined) begin Oct. 2 and run through Oct. 30. Maze is closed Friday, Oct. 31.
Price: $7 ages 3-59; $5 for seniors; $8 for maze-hollow combo. $4 for seniors with a maze/hollow combo. Ages 2 and younger are free.
Use a map to explore Norton's seven-acre corn maze. Guests can play trivia games and stop at 10 checkpoints while they wander the trails. There is an exit halfway through the maze for those who need to rest.
Norton's also features a play area with farm animals, a straw maze, a corn bundle tunnel and more. Caramel apples, apple cider doughnuts and produce are available for purchase.
Richardson Adventure Farm
909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove, (815) 675-9729 or richardsonadventurefarm.com
Hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13. Open through Sunday, Nov. 2.
Price: $13 teens and adults; $10 children ages 4-12; free for children under age 4
This year, Richardson's 28-acre corn maze commemorates the 200th anniversary of the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland in 1814, when the “Star Spangled Banner” poem was written by Francis Scott Key.
Eleven miles of trails make up the design of the maze, which includes sections resembling cannons, ships and soldiers. There are entry and exit points throughout.
The farm also showcases other family activities, including a giant slide, wagon rides, a pumpkin patch, farm animals, exotic animal shows and more. A vintage carousel from the 1950s is new to Richardson Farm this year.
Abbey Farms
2855 Hart Road, Aurora. (630) 966-7775 or abbeyfarms.org
Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13. Pumpkin Daze runs through Sunday, Oct. 26. See website for details; limited attractions on weekdays.
Price: $8.50-$11.50. Seniors and military are $5. Kids ages 3 and younger are free. Fee for night maze (after 6 p.m.) is $6.
Abbey Farms features two corn mazes, a 12-acre maze for adults and a one-acre maze for children.
Abbey Farms' Pumpkin Daze also showcases tractor wagon rides, inflatable family slides, a jumping pillow, a petting zoo, a rope maze and much more.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm
17250 S. Weber Road, Crest Hill. (815) 741-2693, (800) 304-3276 or ourpumpkinfarm.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Saturday, Nov. 1
Price: $12 weekdays; $14 weekends. Free for children 2 and younger and guests with an active military ID.
This year, the Siegel family, fans of the Chicago Cubs, are featuring a 15-acre corn maze in celebration of Wrigley Field's 100th anniversary.
“Our farm is over 100 years old too,” said Kaity Siegel. “We wanted to show our support (for Wrigley Field), and we thought this would be a good way.”
Siegel's also features a smaller “Spookley” maze, based upon the children's book “The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin.” The maze is just over one acre, and it incorporates an anti-bullying theme, Siegel explained.
“The Spookley maze's message is teach young and old that bullying should not be a part of life.” Siegel said. “We are here to treat each other equally.”
Other farm highlights include a giant slide, a baby chick nursery, a pumpkin patch, a climbing wall and more. Guests can even climb up into an 8-foot wooden rocking chair to rest and pose for photos.