In recent decades corn mazes have become popular attractions for locals in agricultural towns. They provide a fun alterative to going to the movies, shopping at the mall, or participating in any other typically mundane activity. Therefore, Turlock, with its abundant agriculture and all around mundane-ness, is the perfect place for an exciting corn maze. It also provides a traditional and simple way to celebrate Halloween and the beautiful season that is autumn.
Turlock’s very own corn maze, on R.A.M Farms, is located in the outskirts of the city, in the country. It opened in 2011 and it has been open every consecutive year since. The maze is open every day from October 1st to October 31st, making it accessible to even the busiest of people. The corn maze even comes complete with a pumpkin patch and hay maze, for smaller children.
The pumpkin patch is mainly aimed toward children but it provides options for others too, according to R.A.M Farm’s website the patch has “45 different varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and heirlooms for carving, decorating, smashing, and baking.” The corn maze is just as spectacular it is 20 acres and required that over 18 thousands stalks of corn be cut. This enormous maze offers regular adventures during the week and “Freaky Flashlight Nights” at dusk on Fridays and Saturdays, proving a scarier and more arduous journey for older visitors.
The journey to the farm is quite confusing; the drive out into the country will most likely require a GPS. It will also most likely include at least one moment of frantic panic when one inevitably becomes lost. However, this drive is well worth it when once arriving at the actual destination.
The front of the premises is scattered with straw, and perfectly rectangular hay bales line the perimeter of the area. The pumpkins are contained within this perimeter and more often than not are swarmed with squealing children. The most interesting part of this area, however, is an antique tractor that visitors can take photographs on; it adds a sense of extreme realism to the experience.
The real adventure begins when visitors enter the corn maze; the optimal amount of fun is achieved if the journey is completed on a “Freaky Flashlight Night” in complete darkness. The screams of other visitors and the natural sound of the night are sure to provide an eerie experience.
As mentioned before, the maze is extremely large, and even the most experienced person is sure to be challenged by the route. The twists and turns provide a dizzying, yet exhilarating adrenaline filled activity. These twist and turns also create a specific pattern that appears to be, according to an aerial view, either a spaceship or a muffin with a cactus protruding from the top.
The most interesting part of the maze was the checkpoints, contained within the area in order to give visitors an idea of how much progress they have made. Hand-painted wood cutouts were vibrantly decorated to resemble vicious witches, ghastly ghosts, gruesome goblins, and other frightening creatures. The bright figures contrasted sharply with the neutral colors of the maze, creating a very vivid experience.
However, there was one major issue that detracted from the corn maze. Black pieces of hardened plastic lined the path in strips; causing many visitors to violently trip every few feet, especially in the dark. These strips caused visitors to have to tread very carefully, which took away from the overall experience.