By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
The leaves are already changing colors, apples are being picked in preparation for chilly nights and warm cider and the corn maze at Derthick Farm in Mantua is gearing up for its second annual Corn Maze.
The nearly 5-mile gigantic maze, spanning 16 acres, opened its corn stalks for business Friday and will run through Oct. 31.
This year, organizers brought in a professional "mazer" to cut designs into the mazes in the scenic Mantua farmland.
Supposedly, the massive maze can be seen from space. The farm's owner Phil Derthick has an aerial photograph, revealing two mazes cut into the shapes of a barn, windmill, silo with a pumpkin and chicken.
He said the mazes " among the largest in the state " are a bit more challenging this year.
"We're excited to bring in a professional this year and really take our maze up a few notches ... bringing something truly magnificent to our community," Derthick said.
Shawn Kent of Mantua brought his family to the maze for an afternoon of adventure with the children.
"I enjoyed it a lot," he said as the family was finishing. "It's more challenging this year. It's a good thing to do this time of year with the kids."
With a slight breeze, the corn stalks rustle sounding similar to leaves crunching.
The more than 10-feet tall corn stalks in thick rows make cheating possible only if participants bring along a GPS system. There are five mazes at the farm of different skills levels for labyrinth-goers. For experts in maze navigation, the farm offers a 3-mile maze. The other is a 1.3-mile maze for those with moderate skills. And for those with a little less time on their hands, the farm has a 0.2-mile option.
"It's not impossible to get lost," Derthick said. "So far, everybody has found their way out."
The Derthick Farm offers both a small square and round straw bale maze for children. The Derthicks also are thrilled to offer Moonlight Mazing after dark, but Derthick said "if you come at night, you better bring a flashlight."
The Derthick Farm Corn Maze is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. The last tickets are sold at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for kids 5 to 12 years, and children under 5 years are admitted free. A full concession stand is available near the entrance. From Oct. 3 to 5, visitors are encouraged to bring a can of non-perishable food to donate to the Crestwood 4Cs in exchange for a special $2 discount on admission (bring as many cans as you'd like but there is just one discount per person).
The corn maze will run through Oct. 31.
Derthick Farm Corn Maze is located at 5182 S.R. 82 in Mantua, on the corner of S.R. 82 and Sheldon Road.
To see an aerial view of the mazes, visit www.mazeplay.com. For more information, including group discounts on parties of 15 or more and rain-out details, call 330-274-2191.