Corn maze opens in Reno

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999 | 10:46 a.m.

The four-acre maze is one of 27 fields being cultivated by brothers Chad and Brian Williams of Yakima, Wash., and overseen by maze designer Brett Herbst.

The brothers call it the maize craze. They've planted fields from Tennessee to Minnesota in a business started just three years ago with one field in Lehi, Utah.

Chad Williams said they're shooting for a record corn crop this year in Lehi. For the MAIZE company, it means the Utah maze cut into a 10-acre cornfield could be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.

As in any maze, the goal is to enter the field one way and come out at the end. At Bartley Ranch, people can answer multiple choice questions about corn posted along the way. Each answer directs them to go ahead, to the right or to the left.

Those up on their corn pone are directed to the shortest route.

But that may not be nearly as much fun as wandering along the paths in search of your friends. Washoe County parks director Karen Mullen is impressed with the field.

"We didn't even know if we could grow corn," Mullen said of the former pasture.

A wild horse, the park's symbol, the shape of Nevada and "Reno" have been cut into the labyrinth. The field in Lehi contains the shape of the universe in a "Lost in Space" theme.

Two platform structures also are being built so people can see the design cut into the field. You can also see it on top of Windy Hill.

The parks department and the MAIZE company will split the money raised from admission fees. MAIZE claims to be the world's largest cornfield maze company and is sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.

If the maze does well, Mullen said she'll bring back the maze next year and years after. She said a pumpkin patch and other fruits of the fall harvest could be added later this fall.

The Bartley Ranch Park maze is open through Oct. 31. Hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.