Lethbridge Corn Maze a sweet summer pursuit

By Lethbridge Herald on August 16, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Crews mow the paths, making sure not to get lost themselves, in preparation for visitors Tuesday at the Lethbridge Corn Maze.

Ry Clarke – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lethbridge Corn Maze is open for the season putting a twist on the old saying “Get lost!”

Theo Slingerland, owner of the maze, has worked diligently since the maze’s creation back in 2000 putting out new and exciting designs yearly to entertain all from around the county. This year’s maze is the 23rd design, taking inspiration from a snowflake with the overarching theme of snow for both mazes. 

“The kid’s maze is a snowman, so even in this heat its not going to melt,” said Slingerland.

Every year Slingerland tries to incorporate a theme into the corn maze, starting back when he created the first maze, making a windmill to pay homage to his Dutch heritage. In previous years the maze has been designed with a STARS rescue helicopter, the Canadian toonie, and also paying tribute to the soldiers with a “Lest We Forget” design. Slingerland works hard to create a fun design that still offers a challenge to all patrons with an aerial easter egg of what guests are exploring. 

“The first thing I try to do is figure out what kind of a theme I want to do, or a picture. There’s always a picture of something. That’s always the biggest challenge,” said Slingerland, explaining his creation process. “There’s always challenges. The design has to work out and people have to be able to figure it out. On paper, it looks different than when you’re walking in it. It has to be hard enough to make it a challenge, but also easy enough to not to be frustrating. That’s the biggest point. But that’s also why we offer different mazes, too, when people don’t like to do the big maze because it’s too hard.”

The corn maze also has a sunflower trivia maze, where guests wander the sunflower fields looking for trivia posts. There is a kid’s maze where little ones can run around, a pallet maze made out of wooden pallets, and a hedge maze which will usually have Christmas lights come winter time for fun nighttime exploration. 

“In the sunflower maze we have lots of great chances for photos. We have some farm equipment in there, like an old tractor. We get a lot of photographers coming out here to take pictures in that one,” said Slingerland.

Opening the last weekend of July, the maze runs till November when harvest comes, with summer offering the most hours for fun, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and guests of every age will find enjoyment. 

Located at 104051 Range Road 224, the maze is a quick drive north of Lethbridge just past Park Lake Provincial Park.

Slingerland notes the night time evening walks are great for a chance to catch up with friends and explore the farm, while families with children prefer to let them run wild during the day to wear out all the excess energy. 

The Maze also offers farm animal petting with pigs, goats, and chickens to give city folk a taste of the country life, with opportunities to play and feed them. The maze has developed since its initial start, and Slingerland says he wanted to use his land to showcase the farm life, while entertaining all who came. 

“I was looking at a way to attract people to a small farm on the prairies. I read about a corn maze and realized there was none in Alberta yet, so I started looking into it. I got some help from a guy who had done one before and that’s how it all began,” said Slingerland. “A lot of people get to come out here from the city and enjoy a slice of farm life.”