'World's Largest' Corn Maze Opens For Fall Season

SPRING GROVE, IL — It's that time of year again — Richardson Adventure Farm has debuted its seasonal and intricately designed corn maze to the public. This year, the corn maze, which Richardson Farm lauds as the largest in the world, pays homage to John Deere.

Richardson Farm in Spring Grove was established in 1836—the same year that John Deere moved to Illinois, according to a news release from Richardson Farm. In the next year, Deere’s invention of a self-scouring steel plow revolutionized agriculture in the U.S. and around the world.

Richardson Farm is celebrating that milestone as well as Deere & Co.’s continuing ag and construction equipment innovation prowess with this year's corn maze. Richardson Adventure Farm opened to the public on Sept. 7 and will remain open on Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 27.

As part of this year's design, a portrait of John Deere is featured in the southwest corner of the rectangular, 28-acre maze. Meanwhile, a depiction of the original, steel, moldboard plow pulled by a horse is in the southeast corner of the maze, according to a news release.

Also featured, along with the company’s tagline, are a couple of Deere & Co.’s more modern offerings: a construction loader, with a pumpkin in the bucket, and a quad track tractor. At the center of this year’s 10.8 miles of trails is a hammer and anvil, representing Deere’s humble start as a blacksmith, according to a news release.

“We always have fun working out the details of each year’s maze,” said George Richardson, who operates the farm at 909 English Prairie Road, along with his wife, Wendy; brother, Robert; Robert’s wife, Carol; George’s son, Ryan; and Ryan’s wife, Kristen.

In the spring, Idaho-based MazePlay once again brought its special planter that uses GPS to drop seeds precisely, creating the maze design and leaving gaps for the trails, Richardson said.

When in bloom, a 12-acre sunflower maze is included with the price of admission. Other attractions at the farm include: jumping pillows, pedal karts, giant slides, a train ride, a carousel, 50-foot viewing tower, pig races, an expansive gift shop with a wine sampling bar and many indoor restrooms.

There will also be food trucks and a new Barrel House beer pavilion, which is currently under construction. The pavilion will serve up 9th Hour Brewing craft beers and other beers as well.

Air cannons, live music on weekends, Zorbing and a zip line or also attractions worth checking out at Richardson Farm.

“I’m looking forward to seeing people enjoy the things we’ve worked so hard to create for them,” Ryan Richardson said. “Between the zip line, the time spent around campfires with family and friends — just the whole experience — everything is an Instagram moment on the farm.”

More information on the hours of operation, ticket costs and more can be found on the Richardson Adventure Farm website.