A1. Really cool!
A2. At its simplest, it's a path through acres of 6, 10, even 14-foot tall corn.
A3. It's an elaborate network and tangle of confusing paths made in a field of growing corn.
A4. It's a fabulous, fun, and fascinating place to go with friends, family, or a fortunate date where you will lose your bearing in acres of corn while searching for the intriguing answers to interesting questions.
Q. How many years have you had a maze here?
A. This will be our third year.
Q. How big is Merrow Maze?
A. It's about 10 feet tall, about two miles long, and about four acres big.
Q. How do I get to the maze.
A. It's easy. Click here for directions.
A. Have you ever lost anybody in the maze?
Q. We don't know. But that's only because we've never found anybody who was lost.
Q. Is there Parking?
A. Yes, Plenty. And it's free! If you need directions, click here.
A. There are many ways. This link explains in pictures and words how Merrow Maze was created.
Q. Is the corn edible?
A. Yes, but it won't taste very good. It's feed corn, for livestock. We use it because it's hardy and can take the traffic.
Q. What do you do with the corn when you close the maze for the season?
A. For our first two years, we plowed it under, letting it decay and enrich the soil. As far as harvesting, farmers with livestock aren't interested in it because it's a relatively small amount of feed and by the time the maze closes for the year, the crop has lost much of its moisture and some nutritional value. This year we are looking into getting some pigs to graze and root it... or we may just plow it under!
Q. How does a corn maze "work?"
A. Every corn maze is different. And in that way, Merrow Maze is like others! At the Merrow Maze, you have two challenges: Yes, one of them is finding your way out! The second is finding the answers to as many of our questions as you can. We give you a list of questions when you arrive and the answers are all hiding in the maze. OK, there is a third� and even a fourth objective� to learn something and to have fun!
Q. What is your theme this year?
A. Our maze is created around a theme. This year, our theme is �100 Years of Flight.� Both the design, and the questions you are trying to answer, relate to our theme. That means a couple of things at the Merrow Maze: First, the design of the maze itself reflects our theme. The design this year�it changes with the theme every year--is a collage that features the 1903 Wright Flyer and includes a variety of other items and aircraft: a jet, a helicopter, the space shuttle, a wing profile, a windsock, and so on.
Q. What happens when I arrive at the maze?
A. When you arrive, you will be given a list of 30 questions. The answers are �hiding� in random places throughout the maze. Your goal is to find as many answers as you can AND find your way out.
Q. What other themes and designs have you had?
A. In 2002 our theme was Mansfield's 300th birthday. The design featured a happy birthday message, the outline of Connecticut with Mansfield highlighted, as well as symbols representing what we saw as Mansfield's three "eras." These were, farming and settlement, industry, and education.
In 2001 our first year, the theme was Connecticut Agriculture. Visitors learned about Farming in Connecticut and enjoyed exploring a maze made in the design of a cornucopia with fruit spilling out.
Q. Do you have a bathroom?
A. Not yet. Just hold on a little longer... we're working on it!
Q. Are there any restaurants nearby?
A. Yes, there are at least three. We share a parking lot with The Hideaway Roadhouse which is right across Merrow Road from our entrance. Chuck's and Margaritas is just barely around the corner on Route 32 south. And, less than two miles north, on route 32, is Willington Pizza. So you can get hungry wandering the maze and refill or reward yourself right away!