ROCK, Mich. (WZMQ) – Although it isn’t autumn quite yet, this weekend is the unofficial start to fall for Hayes Corn Maze in Rock.
Hayes Corn Maze opens on Saturday, September 14. However, owner Lenore Hayes has been preparing for the season several months.
“In the spring and summer, of course, we’ll plant our corn and our pumpkins,” she said. “About two to three weeks before we open, we start doing all the decoration and the preparation.”
This year’s adult corn maze is sponsored by NMU, with a special design celebrating the University’s 125th anniversary. The maze is full of twists and turns, dead ends, and “maze master” quiz questions hidden throughout.
“We have tickets, and then you properly punch them and once you do, you get in for a drawing to win cash,” Hayes explained.
There’s also a smaller, more kid-friendly maze and plenty of activities for families.
“We have duck races, pumpkin bowling, and hay mountain, which is a whole lot of fun to climb,” said Hayes. “Kids love that. Don’t forget to take the hayride to the outback where we shoot apples at a boat that’s floating in the water, and there you can pick pumpkins.”
Hayes Corn Maze also offers “corn-ference” rooms for parties of 20 or more, concessions, and a barn full of animals.
“We have all kinds of goats, baby piglets, a boar pig and two sows, our peacocks, chickens, our quail, our pheasants, horses, and alpaca,” Hayes said. “We will have kittens [and rabbits] for sale this year.”
The corn maze has become a special tradition for many, especially Hayes herself. She says she can’t wait to welcome guests for Hayes Corn Maze’s 23rd season.
“It brings families together and friends,” she said. “My favorite part is when people come back with their children and then again with their grandchildren. I just love sharing our property with people. We’ve been very blessed, and we just love to bring people out before the snow flies.”
Hayes Corn Maze will be open Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from September 14 to October 31. Admission is $12 per person and free for kids 2 and younger.
For more information about Hayes Corn Maze, visit the official website or Facebook page.
