UIU Art Professor designs maze theme
Upper Iowa University 150th Anniversary is theme of Elgin Maize Maze
Maze officially opens Saturday, July 14, 2007
FAYETTE, IOWA (July 1, 2007) – The opening of the Elgin Maize Maze is just two weeks away, Saturday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m. and with this year’s corn taller than “knee high by the fourth of July,” it should be ready to solve.
“It will be an exciting challenge this year,” said maze operator Laverne Swenson. Siblik incorporated the UIU 150th anniversary logo and peacock mascot into a labyrinth pattern, a circular design that dates back thousands of years.
According to Siblik, “The purpose of a labyrinth is to help us find our way through one path that begins on the outer edge, winds around to the center and back out again.” He explained, “A maze, on the other hand, is the exact opposite because it has more than one entrance and exit with cul-de-sacs and dead ends to make us lose our way; it’s a game.”
The Maze is a 3.4 acre cornfield with two miles of path. However, it is easy to spend the entire day on the grounds because in addition to solving the maze, there are trivia questions to solve for prizes from 12 mailboxes strategically placed along the path; stories of how our forefathers planted corn; popcorn that can be hand-picked and shelled the old-fashioned way, the Gilbertson Nature Center and petting zoo, and five miles of walking trails as well as a gift shop and museum farm house preserved as it was 80 years ago.
For a fun challenge on any Saturday night, groups are invited to solve the maze in the dark. All groups must make an appointment and have an adult present.
The Elgin Maize Maze is located at the Gilbertson Conservation Education Area, one half-mile east of Elgin on Highway 64. The maze is open from July 14 to Oct. 31. The hours are 1-6 p.m. Fridays and Sundays and 1-10 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for ages 5-12; and free to children 5 and under. There is a special rate of $3 per person (all ages) for educational groups.
For more information about the Maize Maze, contact Laverne Swenson toll-free at 1-866-630-3194 or by cell phone at 563-419-1133.