Mysterious Outdoor Adventure Returns to Odum, GA...With a Few New Twists

With 10 acres of corn planted and their new mind-boggling design now created, the Poppell family is bringing the “MAiZE craze” back to South Georgia. The popular Odum labyrinth, that drew thousands of visitors last fall, will once again get curious maze-goers lost when it opens to the public on October 4, 2008. Part of an increasingly popular “agritainment” trend, it will be joined this year by more than 160 affiliated MAiZE sites across the United States, Canada and Europe.

The Poppell family, in partnership with maze designer Brett Herbst – the world’s leading designer of 600+ corn mazes -- hopes to give even more people a chance to experience the unique source of good farmin’ fun in their newly-designed labyrinth. This year’s design is in the shape of Uncle Sam, I Want You To Vote 2008. 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 and 85 decision points.

 

Ways To Enjoy The MAiZE

In an ongoing effort to ensure that the MAiZE experience offers something for everyone, the public will find an increased number of ways to experience the maze this year:

 

• Open both day and night, The MAiZE caters to school field trips during the day and has created an elementary education campaign that includes: customized ag-in-the-classroom lesson plans and activity sheets for teachers, discounted field trip opportunities, on-site educational displays, and an agricultural “passport” that integrates education into the maze experience and helps guide students along the correct pathway. Teachers can access curriculum materials and field trip information online at www.cornfieldmaze.com. Field trips must be scheduled by reservation.

• Interactive “passports” are available for 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, 4-H, Halloween, tiny tots, movies/music/tv, and agriculture.

• On Friday and Saturday nights the Cornfield Crazies will be waiting to give you a screaming good time, try to avoid the children of the corn!

• Climb on board one of our hay wagons and take a ride in the country down to the pumpkin patch where everyone gets to pick that “just right” pumpkin to take home with them.  Propel your rubber ducky while racing with your friends down the shoot and into the water trough by pumping an old fashion hand water pump. Hop on board, fasten your seat belt, and get ready to ride one of our 10 cows powered by a lawnmower on the cow train.  Visit with Bunny the pony, Elvis & Pearl the donkeys, Claude the llama, Henny Penny, Miss Prissie and all of their barn yard friends.  Come and watch Cornelius, Bill, & Homer as they cross over the “Golden Goat Bridge”  Watch our famous Catfish as they have their lunch, some have an estimated weight of 10 lbs. plus.  Say you always wanted to be a cowboy? Here is your chance, and you don’t even have to worry about falling off of your horse when you try your hand at Steer Roping.  Jump in Tweety’s Bounce House, slide down the Spider Slider, or just run and play in Farmer Brown’s Playground.  Be sure to stop by our It’s Alive Outdoor Classroom and learn how baby chicks are born, and why bees make honey.

The MAiZE will give visitors the chance to "get lost" October 4, 2008 through November 1, 2008. In Hours are Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Field trip hours, during weekdays, are available by reservation. THE MAiZE is located in Odum, Ga. (appox. 6 miles from Jesup). For the Maze, Pumpkin Patch Hayride (includes a pumpkin) & all Farm Activities the cost is $ 12.00 each ages 4 and up, ages 3 and under are free. For just the Maze or just the Farm Activities call for pricing. Discounts are offered for groups, military personnel and field trips. For more information or to make reservations, call 912-586-2215 or visit www.poppellfarms.com.