Fall is here and with it comes pumpkins, apple picking, and fall flavored everything. Corn mazes are also a popular fall activity, and if you are looking for a challenge where you can get lost in 28 acres of corn, the “World’s Largest Corn Maze” at Richardson’s Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, IL is for you. The farm was started as a 240 acre plot in 1836 by Robert Richardson after emigrating from England. The corn maze was created in 2001 to bring more entertainment opportunities to the farm “while still keeping that country feel.”

The maze is constructed out of four smaller mazes all put together to create their design. Throughout the mazes you will find various checkpoints and bridges to check your progress and find your way out. Each individual maze has an entrance and an exit which allows you to do just one, or all of them!

Not only is the corn maze huge, but Richardson’s always has a theme for the maze to add an extra layer of charm to this beloved fall tradition. This year, the maze is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and features many elements that remind the participants what our Earth needs. The centerpiece of the maze is “planet Earth cradled in the hands of a person signifying that we, collectively, need to love and care for our entire planet Earth”, as described by Richardson’s website. Additionally, “the lower left has a frog as a symbol of our diverse animal life and the right side of the design an outdoors scene with the sun shining above a mountain with a waterfall, lake, trees, plants, and a stream that flows towards the entrance of [the] maze”. You can view these designs on the Richardson’s Adventure Farm website where it shows a birds-eye view of the maze.

Inside the maze, there are different activities you can do based on the ages of your party and how much you want to challenge yourself. The games range from 10 minutes to 1 and a half hours depending on the one you choose to complete. There are games for younger kids such as “Finger Sillies”, “Farm Scene Investigation Game” (similar to Clue), and “Farm Tracks Maze Game” that allow them to explore the maze. For older guests, “Quiz Questions Maze Game” and “24 Hidden Checkpoints Game” are more difficult and take longer to complete.

Richardson’s Adventure Farm is open from September 12th until November 8th this year with hours on Thursday (3 p.m.-9 p.m), Friday (10 a.m.-11 p.m), Saturday (10 a.m.-11 p.m.), and Sunday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.). Special hours include “Maze ‘til Midnight Hours” on October 2nd and 3rd where the grounds will be open until midnight. Columbus Day also has special hours of 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Prices vary by date so check the website before you attend, but they start at $18 for 13 years and older.

Special adjustments for this year include required masks in buildings, social distancing between different groups, staff health screenings, and hand sanitizer/hand washing stations being added around the Adventure Farm. Richardson’s Adventure Farm offers a great opportunity for fall fun, especially this year, since it is an outdoors activity. The corn maze is a wonderful way to enjoy the season, so as they say at Richardson’s, “Come on out and get lost!”