How Giant Intricate Cornfield Mazes Are Designed

Cheddar News took a look at the popular sight-seeing attraction of cornfield mazes to learn how these seemingly intricate designs are made. They spoke with such designers as Rob Stouffer of Precision Mazes, Shawn Stoleworthy of Maze Play, and George Richardson of Richardson Adventure Farm to find out more.

Behind the ubiquitous fall attraction is an industry grown around technology. Companies design mazes for clients and tour the United States machine-planting corn or whittling away at pre-planted fields.

It turns out that commercial-grade GPS is the key. Machines equipped with enhanced versions of the technology help plant the corn in the shape of the design in either of two ways.

Today there are two primary methods of creating a coordinates. One is to drive a tractor-like machine through a cornfield to carve out a path. The other is to plant corn in the maze formation then take a rototiller in to tidy it up later. Both involve machinery propelled by commercial grade GPS. 

No matter the technology, this tradition of using farmland as an artistic palette has been around since the 19th century and is still continuing strong.

The tech has changed over the years but what hasn’t is the multi-generational appeal of getting lost or finding one’s way…

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.

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