'Come see it for yourself': Corn Maze craze hitting Saskatchewan
As the season shifted from summer to fall, Saskatchewan’s popular attractions have also shifted: from the beach, to the corn field.
Corn Trails is located just west of Canora, and the family run business has come quite a ways. It all started with an experimental feed grow, where the Bazarski’s children continued to play, mesmerized by the tall stalks of corn.
Slowly, the idea grew, and as the Bazarski’s kept building it — the masses continued to come.
Although the three-mile trails look to have taken the family months of work to create – it wasn’t as tough as you may think following the growing season.
“We actually use our lawn mower to cut the trails,” said Bonnie Bazarski. “Once we do start cutting, we just do it randomly. We have no set pattern, no set plan. We just go and the corn takes us.”
Bazarski said the family’s crop had many visitors with the help of Facebook and word of mouth.
2022 is the family’s 11th year running the attraction, and the tallest crop its ever seen.
It also boasts a “rustic” mini-golf course and will turn a bit spookier in late-October, as the Halloween-theme takes over the trails.
Near Regina, Cedar Creek is another corn maze, which is also family-run. The Crassweller’s continue to create the maze year after year.
“We just enjoy creating something that's challenging, and a little bit different — that's why we do it,” said Brad Crassweller.
Brad’s son maps out the cut on a grid each year, encapsulating a theme for the labrynth. This year is Spy Kids: The Jurassic Rescue, which is complete with themes and challenges for all ages.
Crassweller said his maze is not just for kids.
“No, this is not. It's kid of fun watching the competitive people. They'll go in, come back out ... A couple of the areas are pretty difficult to track everything down. So you're in there for a couple hours, for sure,” he said.
For Greg Vancha – a first time visitor to Cedar Creek – it was a great experience.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It was really fun, you’ve got to come see it for yourself,” said Vancha, who brought his 18-month-old grandson.
When the fall air gets chillier, and it’s time to pack it in for the year, Crassweller has found a way to make sure none of his crop goes to waste.
“My neighbour has about 500 head of cattle, so he comes over -- he and his family. They harvest it up, bail it up and its gone within about a day,” he said.
Saskatchewan has a few more opportunities for people to get out and get lost — in the maze, that is.
Places such as the Happy Hollow Corn Maze, Corn Maiden Market at Lincoln Gardens Farm, the Strawberry Ranch & The Maze and the Youth Farm Corn Maze ensure that all areas in the province have that opportunity to get into the fields, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the fall season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Torchbearers carried the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille on Thursday, a day after it arrived on a majestic three-mast ship for a welcoming ceremony.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.