NEWARK VALLEY — At the “MAiZE” at Stoughton Farm, getting lost is half the fun.
Having watched my friend and I circle around the same complex intersection six times in 20 minutes, the “Corn Cop” — a teenager appointed to assist lost travelers like us — suddenly appeared.
“Just to let you know,” she said, “you’re heading back towards (intersection number) seven again.”
Oops.
Of course, the two of us made it out alive — my cellular phone is not equipped (yet) to file columns from a cornfield.
But despite our missteps, we never had any real worries; getting lost in the giant jumble of towering corn cobs is an inevitable part of the fun. And as we were assured before entering, “Everyone who’s ever gone into the ‘MAiZE’ has come out alive.”
These days, an increasing number of fans are making their way through this unique attraction, tucked away in the hills of this small town, about 25 minutes northeast of Binghamton.
Located on Route 38 in Newark Valley, this “MAiZE” is one of over 1,200 of its kind in five countries. There are nine such mazes in New York state, according to the company’s Web site, www.cornfieldmaze.com.
The “MAiZE” at Stoughton Farm is an example of agritourism — a growing sector designed to turn farms into tourist attractions. In rural areas like Newark Valley and Chenango County, agritourism is a budding industry, as more and more people are drawn to farmlands year-round for vegetable-picking, animal rides and even corn mazes.
This particular maze has two parts, with both entrances and both exits located in the same small clearing. Part I typically takes about 20 minutes, while the longer Part II takes around an hour, said Linda Yetter, who was working the cash register this past weekend. (The farm doesn’t keep track of “record times.”)
Having two parts to the maze allows for a brief break in between, and allows an abridged version for youngsters or the elderly who’d struggle through more than an hour of walking, Yetter said.
And it is quite a bit of walking. Although we finished the first part in just 16 minutes, it took us just 11 frustrating minutes of Part II before we first contemplated cheating. We eventually escaped with a total time of 81 minutes.
The design of the Stoughton Farm maze is one of a kind: sculpted into the field this year is a giant, heart-shaped portrait of Anne and Maurice Stoughton, parents of Tim and Deb Stoughton, the farm’s proprietors. The couple had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
As the maze was built through the summer months, the tribute was kept secret from the elder Stoughtons. In August, the surprise was revealed during a helicopter ride.
Fall 2007 is the third year that Stoughton Farm is running its MAiZE. In 2005, the field was modeled like a helicopter, honoring Lockheed Martin’s US101 contract. Last year’s design was a sulky, or one-man racehorse, in honor of Tioga Downs.
Next year’s design will be concocted this winter, after the attraction closes on Halloween, she added.
In the meantime, Internet-savvy readers shouldn’t expect a sneak peek any time soon: overhead views of the area on Web sites like Google Maps and Mapquest appear to be blurred out. (You can see the overhead view of the portrait on cornfieldmaze.com.)
If the trek through the humongous maze leaves you hungry — and it will — the farm sells a limited variety of fried foods. However, on our way back to Binghamton, we decided to fill up buffet-style at Phil’s Chicken House, about which I could write two more full columns.
The hospitable staff at Phil’s — along with several self-inflicted inordinate portions of mashed potatoes and gravy — made my first trip to this quaint rural town quite enjoyable.
Strub is a senior at Binghamton University, a part-time copy editor at the Press & Sun-Bulletin and a new resident of Binghamton’s West Side. His column appears Thursdays.
cstrub@pressconnects.com
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