Richardson Adventure Farm Releases This Year's Corn Maze Design

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Richardson Adventure Farm has released the design for this year's corn maze.

And this year, the "world's largest corn maze" plans to recognized the 40th anniversary of the release of "Back to the Future" with its design.

“We always have a tremendous time selecting our maze design,” said George Richardson, who operates the farm along with his wife, Wendy, brother, Robert, Robert’s wife, Carol, George’s son, Ryan, and Ryan’s wife, Kristen. “When we realized that this summer marked the 40th anniversary of this iconic film, well ... who didn’t love it?”

The adventure farm, which is located at 909 English Prairie Grove in Spring Grove, will open on Sept. 6 and will remain open on Oct. 26.

While the MazePlay creation and its 10.4 miles of trail are a chief draw, plenty of other reasons exist to travel to the adventure farm, according to the news release.

There are the sunflower fields, typically open throughout September and included with admission, the carousel, train rides, Zorbing, pedal karts, giant jumping pillows, food trucks, a craft-beer serving Barrel House featuring 9th Hour Brewing Co. drafts, a wine bar, 50-foot-tall observation tower overlooking the maze, giant slides, a zip line, gift shop, fresh, cinnamon donuts, pumpkins and fall décor — and the always entertaining pig races that occur every couple of hours.

“We do have so much fun,” said Wendy Richardson of emceeing the pig races with her husband, George.

“We use miniature, pot-bellied pigs,” George Richardson added. “They’re great to work with. Like regular pigs, they’re smart animals, easy to train, and they have a nice disposition. And by the end of October, they aren’t pushing 100 pounds while stepping on our toes.”

New amenities for visitors to enjoy this year include the addition of gelato to the Dairy Depot, with flavors like Sea Salt Caramello, Eli’s Strawberry Cheesecake, Frutti di Bosco and Cookies ’n’ Cream, plus a new soft-serve machine that will add chocolate to the formerly vanilla-only option.

A koi pond with a unique feature — the front-end of a rustic, 1967 Ford F250 with water spilling from its grill — has been built just east of the train station. And a low ropes course also is new at the farm.

“This year we’re expanding our offerings for climbing adventures and family fun to include a 12-station activity pod,” Ryan Richardson said of the course, according to the news release.

George and Wendy Richardson added that an extra draw this year will be an adjacent haunted trail with a midway operated by Jason Wright and his son, Tristan, with their own parking area and corn trails near the Richardson Tulip Fields. While the entry off English Prairie Road will be the same, admission to the American Nightmare Scream Park will be separate.

“It’s the only haunted corn trail in the Midwest,” George Richardson said. “We think it’s going to be an exceptional haunt.”

The Richardson Adventure Farm will be open Fridays through Sundays starting Saturday, Sept. 6, with Thursdays added in October. September hours are 3 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. October hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and same as September for Saturdays and Sundays.

Maze ’til Midnight will be Saturday, Oct. 4.

The adventure farm also will be open on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.For other details, tickets and pricing, visit richardsonfarm.com.

Richardson Farm also is home to the Richardson Tulip Festival in the spring, and a cut-your-own Christmas Tree Farm in the winter. Professional, compensated photographers should view the Photography & Filming page at richardsonfarm.com before visiting.