SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 ISSUE
Get Lost in the New River Corn Maze
Open Weekends Friday through Halloween
David Tucker grew more than four acres of corn in June on his family’s land off Laurel Gap Ridge Road for a corn maze. Photo by Jason Gilmer
The New River Corn Maze has more than a mile of trails. Photo by Jason GilmerIt’s not really a rule, but certainly a suggestion for those entering the New River Corn Maze with youngsters.
“You better get a leash on your kids,” said maze owner David Tucker with a laugh.
With its switchbacks, dead ends, circles and high corn, it could be hard to get through the maze. And that’s the whole idea.
The New River Corn Maze, located on Laurel Gap Ridge Road outside of Boone, is more than four acres of corn with more than a mile of trails for those ready to try their luck.
Tucker and his brother-in-law Thomas Brown decided to open the maze from Friday, September 3, to Halloween on the weekends. The cost to walk through is $7 for adults, $5 for ASU and other students and free for kids under 5.
Corn was planted the first week of June, and some is now more than 12 feet tall. Upon entering the maze, you can’t see too much out of the maze except for a hill of Christmas trees on one side.
“It’s thick; you’re not going to get through it,” Tucker said.
Tucker will have road signs in the maze with names of roads from Watauga County. If you get too lost, he can hand you the directions to find the exits based on road names. The roads will also give you reference points for finding the correct path.
Even with the signs, there are a lot of places to take wrong turns.
“It’s well over a mile if you take every wrong turn when you’re going through it,” Tucker said.
There will be benches inside the maze to sit and rest, and there are two places on the backside of the maze where you can exit and look at the New River passing by before continuing.
To cut the maze, Tucker bought a GPS unit that attached to a lawn mower and is accurate within six inches. He then started cutting the corn, watching where he went on the GPS.
He said it took about two hours to cut the maze, and they’ve gone back to clear the land a little more to make walking easier.
Tucker said he wants the maze to be pet friendly, too, and he hopes to have groups—everyone from Boy Scouts to fraternities and sororities—to come in and complete the maze.
Along with the maze, there is a pumpkin patch with different varieties of pumpkins to purchase. Costs are $5 to $8.
For more information, call 828-264-2986 or click to www.newrivercornmaze.com.
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