With 8 acres of corn planted and their new mind-boggling design now created, the Escobar family is bringing the “MAiZE craze” back to Rhode Island.
The popular Portsmouth labyrinth, that drew thousands of visitors last fall, will once again get curious maze-goers lost. Part of a popular “agritainment” trend, it will be joined this year by more than 250 affiliated MAiZE sites across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The Escobar family, in partnership with maze designer Brett Herbst, the world’s leading designer of 2,000 + corn mazes, hopes to give even more people a chance to experience the unique source of good farmin’ fun in their newly-designed labyrinth honoring the U.S. military: the Marines, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy.
Though the correct pathways can be walked in under 30 minutes, most directionally challenged visitors – adults and children alike — will require about one hour to travel through more than two miles of twists and turns, 2 bridges and 85 decision points.
The MAiZE will give visitors the chance to “get lost” through November 3rd. Hours are: Fridays, 4 pm to dusk; Saturdays, 10 am to dusk; and Sundays, 11 am to dusk. The maze will be open on Labor Day and Columbus Day from 10 am to dusk. Weekday hours are available by reservation.
THE MAiZE is located at 255 Middle Road, Portsmouth. Cost is $8.00 for ages 12 and up, $6.00 for ages 5-11, and free for children under 5. Discounts are offered for civic groups and field trips. For more information or to make reservations, call Lori Clarke at 401-864-1064 or visit www.escobarfarm.com.
Multiple Ways to Experience the MAiZE
In an ongoing effort to ensure that the MAiZE experience offers something for everyone, the public will find a number of ways to experience the maze this year:
The MAiZE caters to school field trips during the day and has created an elementary education campaign that includes lesson plans and activity sheets for teachers and discounted field trip opportunities. Field trips can be scheduled by reservation.
Interactive “passports” are available for a minimal charge to groups and the general public. Each contains ten questions that quiz the user on a chosen subject, and those who answer the questions correctly will receive clues that guide them along the correct path to the exit. Subjects include sports, boy scouting, girl scouting, scriptural, American history, interactive, teambuilding, Halloween, tiny tots, and movies/music/tv.
Customized activities have been added for birthday parties, corporate outings, and group rivalries/races.
In September the MAiZE will host Military Appreciation Month, Super Hero Day, Harry Potter Day, and a Fall Festival.
In October the MAiZE will take on a Halloween twist with a Halloween Costume Party. Cow train rides, pumpkins and scarecrow making will also be available later this fall.
The MAiZELLC represents the newest trend in outdoor entertainment for adults and children around the world and has attracted more than four million visitors to date. Herbst, the company’s founder, has become one of the world’s leading maze designers and has completed 2,000+ mazes since 1996.
The MAiZE is now the world’s largest corn maze design/consulting company, with more than 250 locations spread throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe this season. For more information about these mazes, visit www.themaize.com.
