An “A-maize-ing” Adventure Awaits With Bratt Cornfield Maze

June 13, 2008

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Perhaps the most “a-maize-ing” entertainment in the North Escambia area is in Bratt, and it is a challenge that few can meet. It’s just plain “cornfusing”.

“Bratt’s A-maize-ing” cornfield maze is once again open on Highway 4 near Bratt. It is an elaborate maze cut into a six acre cornfield.

So far this season, no one has successfully found their way through the maze, said maze owner Colvin Davis. He and his wife Lavelle have operated the maze for each of the past seven years.

“Some people get really determined to make it through,” Colvin said. “But sometimes I have to go in and get them.”

“I had one lady that came three nights in a row that was really determined to get all the way through without cheating,” he said. “But I had to go in and get her.”

mazestory11.jpgColvin said he can navigate the maze in about 30 minutes. The fastest folks that have managed to find their way out in years past take about an hour.

The idea for the corn maze became a reality seven years ago when Colvin finally decided “there must be some way to make some money rather than selling corn for $2 a bushel.”

The a-maize-ing idea came from an article Colvin had read in the early 1990’s in Progressive Farmer magazine.

“My son laughed himself nearly to death when I told him what I had decided to do,” Colvin said.

The maze begins with a sketch on graph paper. The corn is planted, and the maze is cut with a small tractor and by hand with a hoe. The letters A, B, C and D mark the correct path’s progression through the maze, but many never find their way past A, he said.

“It’s real rewarding. It’s something for me to do, have a good time and make a little profit,” he said.

Many of the maze visitors are from church groups. The largest church group so far to tour the maze at one time was 132.

In addition to the maze, Colvin offers a free hayride to maze visitors. And he sells other corn goodies like corn dogs, corn chips, popcorn, moonpies and cold drinks.

For a photo gallery, click here.

Bratt’s A-maize-ing Cornfield is located at in Bratt. That’s about a mile and a half east of Highway 97. It is open from 5:00 until 10:00 p.m. (bring your own flashlight!) Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights for groups by appointment. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under five are free with an adult admission. For more information, call 327-6372.

And if you are looking at the aerial picture on this page thinking you could use one to find your way through the maze…”good luck” says Colvin. He’s had people use the pictures and even GPS units to try to find their way through. But so far, that’s not helped anyone conquer Bratt’s A-maize-ing Cornfield.

Pictured above: An aerial photos of the cornfield maze. Pictured middle: The had to find “exit” to the maze. Pictured below: Colvin Davis at the entrance to Bratt’s “A-maize-ing” Cornfield. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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