Maze and moos

by Sean McCarthy

Farm wants you to have an a-maze-ingly fun time. For 24 years, this Portsmouth dairy farm has provided guests with the unique and thrilling challenges of their corn mazes. With two miles of paths, this “maze of maize” is cut into eight acres of corn, creating a puzzling labyrinth for guests to solve. Designed into two separate sections, visitors can attempt to complete the course of one or both halves. Both sections of the maze contain a bridge which allows visitors to ascend for a look at the overall puzzle as well as enjoying a view of the scenic farm landscape.

“We have families who return here every year,” says Stuart MacNaught, General Manager of the corn maze. “Each year there’s a new design for people to explore with different themes. You can do it at your own pace. Some people may solve a half of it in 20 minutes but for most people it takes about an hour to complete the entire maze.”

The attraction has earned the title, “The Lucky Maze.” Each year many visitors make a wish as they enter the maze with the hope that it will come true after they solve it.

But everyone emerges safely – the puzzle contains “Corn Cops” who will assist anyone who feels as if they need help to reach the exit.

The corn maze is located at 255 Middle Road in Portsmouth, adjacent to the Escobar Farm. Beginning on September 1 and continuing until November 5, the maze will be open Fridays through Sundays. In September it will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and in October it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $8 for children 12-andunder and $10 for adults.

The site also offers picnic tables and a snack bar with beverages and small packaged foods. Guests can bring their own food and drink. Birthday parties can be booked at the maze by calling MacNaught at (401) 835-8813.

Lost and found

“Mazes are a fun challenge,” MacNaught says. “They’re an international phenomenon and people have been doing them since medieval times. People come every year and compare it to past years, they judge it on its difficulty. Every year we try to make it more difficult to solve.”

This year the maze is being dedicated to Louis Escobar who passed away last year after owning and running the farm for decades. Escobar was the person who originally brought the maze to the farm in 1999, and for more than 30 years he hosted a fireworks celebration in the town every Fourth of July.

“Louis was a beloved character in the town of Portsmouth,” MacNaught says. “He represented all the good things about the earth. He lived a fruitful life, and he was a national spokesperson for land conservation. He was remembered for dressing up like Uncle Sam on the Fourth of July, he was known as ‘Mr. Patriot.’

This year there will be two theme days at the maze. On Saturday, September 23 there will be Harry Potter Day and on Saturday, October 28 there will be a celebration of Halloween. The Harry Potter event will include a presentation by Mad Science from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. which will feature educational entertainment. People who come to the maze in costume for either event will receive a dollar off their admission. Each year, corn for the maze is planted in mid-June and is soon made into paths in early July. The paths are designed and constructed in conjunction with The Maize Company, based in Utah. The corn can grow to be as high as 13 feet by the time the maze opens.

“The time of day that you visit the maze will determine your experience,” MacNaught says. “Different times will have a different experience. Some people prefer to do it at a specific time each year.”

Escobar Farm includes upwards of 200 cows on 100 acres of land. The cows are milked twice a day every day. Escobar’s milk is sold by Rhody Fresh as well as Cabot dairy products. The farm is run by Louis’ widow, Jane Escobar, who has worked the farm everyday since they married in 1986. The Escobar family has owned the farm since 1937.

“It’s a tough life, and there are less and less small farms every year,” MacNaught says. “The people who come to the corn maze are having fun, but they’re also helping to keep the farm running.”

For more information visit escobarshighlandfarm.com.