Best Corn Mazes in Northern Illinois
By Rachel Azark
Corn mazes don't need to be Children of the Corn scary unless it's at night. Then maybe it might be a little spooky... However, the corn mazes that are in Chicago are part of Corn Mazes America. Corn Mazes America offers corn maze designing and cutting services to help farms create for-profit mazes. Who knew designing corn mazes could be so profitable?
Odyssey Fun Farm
19111 S. Oak Park Ave.
Tinley Park, IL
708.429.3800
www.odysseyfunfarm.com
This 110-acre farm has an exclusive corn maze covering 15 acres. You'll hike through a corn maze that is in the shape of their mascot Chipper and says Odyssey Fun World Tinley Park. They suggest wearing sneakers or closed toe shoes, as you'll be walking on uneven ground. Also, don't forget to bring a compass because you'll get, as they say, corn-fused. (Oh, how corny, oh man...) Once you find your way out, take time to visit the pumpkin patch and the petting zoo.
Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm
13236 W. Town Line Rd.
Waukegan, IL 60087
Phone: 847.662.5733
www.krollsfarm.com
From the sky, Kroll's 2012 maze is celebrating their 10th anniversary since their first maze with a maze in the shape of an anniversary cake with 10 candles. When you're done have an a-mazing time, you can still enjoy the fall day in the pumpkin patch or on their farm tour hayrides.
Siegel's Cottonwood Farm
17250 S. Weber Rd.
Crest Hill, IL 60441
Phone: 800.304.3276
www.ourpumpkinfarm.com
Celebrate the election year this fall by hiking through Siegel's 2012 Zombie Politics Corn Maze. Get lost in 20 acres and choose from 5.5 miles of paths. They claim their maze is zombie infested and you can even view the video on their website. I don't know about you, but if I came across a zombie in a cornfield I'd probably scream bloody murder. They have tons of other fun activities to enjoy if you make it out alive.
Richardson's Adventure Farm
9407 Richardson Rd.
Spring Grove, IL 60081
Phone: 815.675.9729
www.richardsonadventurefarm.com
Visit Richardson Farm and you can tell all your friends you've been to the World's Largest Corn Maze! Is it any surprise that it's in Illinois?? In 33 acres of corn, you can navigate through four different mazes. Each maze is a different game. You can also maze until midnight and complete the maze with a flashlight. I highly recommend not doing this though if Children of the Corn scared the living beegeezus out of you. Once you've finished the mazes, you can go zip lining, watch the pig races, take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch, or explore the kids area with the little ones.
Konow's Corn Maze
16849 S. Cedar Rd.
Homer Glen, IL
www.konowscornmaze.com
This year's maze is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Konow's invites you to come out and walk the ribbon. They offer two different mazes, one for the serious player who wants to find their way through 3.4 miles of twisty trails, and a smaller maze for walking with children and who want to go only .4 miles. They just ask that you wear the proper clothing and shoes for hiking through corn mazes. Don't leave with out trying the Jumping Pillow, taking in a hayride, riding a mechanical bull, or going to the corn pit.
Rachel Azark is a writer and lives in Chicago. Read more of her work on her blog parksandpancakes.com.
