Tried it in C’ville: Blue Ridge Mountain Maze

While some mourn summer’s passing, I’m dancing in my sweater. These brisk mornings conjure fond memories of attending fall festivals and carving jack-o’-lanterns. Searching for a way to celebrate my favorite season led me to the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze. I’ve wanted to venture through a legit maze ever since seeing Labyrinth in 1986, so I knew that corn maze would have no power over me.

What

Solving the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze.

Why

Mazes are cool.

How it went

I made it out to tell the tale.

The crisp autumn air held a sense of anticipation on the way to the Blue Ridge Mountain Maze, near Wintergreen. Before the entrance, the joy began as cackling and squealing children bounced down a hill in giant roll tubes like the truck tires they stuffed us into at elementary school field day. I had purchased my ticket ahead online, so I got to bypass the folks waiting to get theirs. A welcoming staff member put my wristband on then shared the corn maze briefing. Here’s the gist: The maze—cut into a five-acre corn field—typically takes about 40 minutes to complete. Its six stations have music-themed multiple-choice questions in honor of their Music in the Mountains live series on Saturdays. Choosing the correct answer gives you a clue to which way to go next. On the way into the maze, grab a flag. If you get stuck, wave the flag in the air and a Corn Cop will come to your aid.

After grabbing some kettle corn and checking out baby goats in a pen near the public campfires, I trekked up the hill to the maze entrance. Signs flanked the entry explaining the steps to make the corn maze a reality. (I was not prepared for the abundance of corn puns I was about to receive.) 

The more I read, the more I realized what a labor of love it is. I selected a flag atop a very tall bamboo pole and entered the maze. The sheer number of available turns quickly surprised me. Without going far, you can feel totally isolated—its just you and the corn—until you hear others nearby or bump into another navigator. The deeper into the maze, the taller the corn got. 

Cornfession time: I’m glad I didn’t do the maze in the dark for my first time because it might have felt extra unnerving. But now that I’ve got one solve under my belt, I plan to rustle up some friends to go back for the night maze before this season ends on November 9. Note to self: Remember flashlights!

After twisting and turning through the maze for a while, I found stations one, five, and six. The good news is that you don’t have to find all the stations to make it out of there on the same day that you entered. The path ended at the victory bridge, which took me up above the height of the corn. From there, the scale of the maze really hit me. (They weren’t kidding about that recommendation to use the restroom before entering the maze.)

Triumphant, I exited the maze to take in more of the fall offerings. Kids (and kids trapped in adult bodies) shot apples out of canons and slingshots at colorful targets. A couple played tug-o-war while one partner held their dog by the leash. He let go, and the golden retriever grabbed the tug-o-war rope, trying to get a good tooth-hold on the giant rope’s end. I knew, then, what it felt like to fall into a Norman Rockwell painting!

Learn more at blueridgemountainmaze.com