WILSON, Mich. (WZMQ) – Fall is officially here, and that means business is in full swing for Upper Peninsula corn mazes.
In Wilson, Getzloff Corn Maze is open for its 17th year.
“We wanted to do something for the community, so we started and it and it’s grown every year since,” said co-owner Mike Getzloff.
Corn is the family business, and this year has been a particularly good one for it.
“To grow corn in the same field for 17 years is a struggle, so we work close with our seed consultant, Wilson Seed Sales,” Getzloff said. “They set us up with a corn they think will thrive on a field that’s been planted in corn so long. As you can see, we hit a home run this year.”
The corn is nearly 11 feet tall, which makes for an extra challenging maze experience.
“You really feel like you’re closed in,” said Getzloff. “We always tell people if you do get lost out there, you can always see the silos, but this year you can’t. The corn is so tall you can see the sky, and that’s it!”
From above, the maze design is a tribute to Pink Pumpkin of Delta County, which supports individuals and families facing a cancer diagnosis. Inside the maze, there is a hidden game.
“We have five different posts and a sign out there to find,” Getzloff explained. “A lot of people enjoy taking a marker and signing their name and year on it. We enjoy it too because there’s a lot of names from a lot of years and a lot of places.”
Once guests have conquered the maze, they can enjoy a full day of fall fun—a jump in the bounce house, a ride down the super slide, a climb on the hay bales, and a visit with the farm animals.
“Our biggest attraction—other than the corn maze—is our hay ride, especially with the leaves turning,” said Getzloff. “It goes through a 40 of hardwoods. Everything’s included. The only extra is our pumpkins are for sale, and we have a little barrel train for the kids that we charge a dollar.”
The Getzloff family says it all adds up to a special fall memory. That is why the corn maze has become an annual tradition for so many people.
“It’s nice,” Getzloff said. “We enjoy seeing the same faces a lot. People will show us pictures from when their kids were so tiny they were riding in the barrel train to now, they’re too big to fit in it. It’s really neat.”
Getzloff Corn Maze is open Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $8 per person for those 5 and older.
The annual Getzloff Haunted Maze is scheduled for Saturday, November 1. For updates on that event and the rest of the season, follow the Getzloff Corn Maze Facebook page. Additional information is available at getzloffcornmaze.com.
