Maze, potentially the world’s largest, opens to the public through mid-October
On 31 August 2005, Special Olympics announced the opening of an 18.5-acre corn maze designed in the shape of the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games logo.
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Organizers are submitting the 18.5-acre maze to Guiness World Records in the hopes of having it certified as the world's largest temporary corn maze ever. According to the Guiness World Records Web site, the current record is held by Stewarts GardenLands Maize Maze in Christchurch, Dorset, UK, which measured 16.9 acres. (Photo courtesy of Des Moines Register) |
The maze, located just outside of Knoxville, Iowa, will open to the public on Labor Day weekend, and will remain open during weekends through October as part of the organization’s campaign to bring national awareness to the first-ever Special Olympics USA National Games.
Organizers are hoping the corn maze will become the world’s largest temporary crop maze, according to Guinness World Records, and efforts are being made to secure that title. The maze was designed by Dan-D Farm owners Dan and Jana Dennison in support of the 2006 USA National Games, and to draw attention to the state of Iowa as the host of the first Games, which will be held in Ames from 2-7 July 2006.
The inaugural Special Olympics USA National Games will take place on the Iowa State University campus. Organizers expect more than 3,500 Special Olympics athletes and 10,000 spectators from across the United States to participate in and attend the event. A list of activities for the 2006 USA National Games includes swimming, track and field, basketball, gymnastics, powerlifting, bowling, tennis, golf, softball, bocce, football (soccer) and volleyball. For more information, visit www.2006nationalgames.org.
Organizers of the 2006 USA National Games believe the corn maze will be a good means of promoting the upcoming event to the nation. “We wanted to do something that would visually appeal to Iowans and to people beyond our borders, and excite those people about volunteering or participating in the National Games,” said Rich Fellingham, Executive Director of Special Olympics Iowa. “It’s really a great honor for the state of Iowa to host the first-ever Special Olympics USA National Games. To successfully host such a large event, we’re counting on the support of about 10,000 volunteers. The corn maze is simply one way for us to promote the National Games, and simultaneously get people enthused about helping out next summer.”
The maze, which will take about one hour for visitors to walk through, is located at 2044 Highway 14. It will be open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the weekends, and will cost US$6 per adult and US$4 per child (under 12). For more information on the corn maze, call Dan-D Farms at +1 (641) 842-2829.
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