There's no yellow brick road to follow at Fritzler maze

"Toto, I have the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

That famous line from Dorothy in"The Wizard of Oz" will come to mind for visitors at the 10th anniversary of the Fritzler Family Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, which will observe the 70th anniversary of the film staring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley.

This year's corn maze is designed in the shape of the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow from the 1939 film. It opens to the public Saturday, and Glen Fritzler said visitors this year will see a change in the farm that also includes pumpkin and corn cannons, a newly decorated barrel train, the Creature, a Verti-scope tunnel, go-carts and jumping pillows.

There are two new pumpkin cannons, including one that can shoot 8-inch-diameter pumpkins at targets.

Helicopter rides will be offered to view the maze from the air.

"We've changed almost everything," Fritzler said. "We've been working on this since April every day with eight to 10 people out here, so it's entirely different this year."

The corn was planted in May, the elaborate labyrinth was carved into the 13-acre field in early June. The corn is now about 10 feet tall, Fritzler said. The maze is divided into two phases and has only one exit. Fritzler said those lucky enough to stumble into the correct pathway will find the exit in less than 30 minutes. For others -- well, it will take longer.

Fritzler said he and his son, Trevor, took a trip before Trevor's senior year in high school, so he hired a crew from Utah to cut the maze.

"It took them less than a day, but then they do about 100 a year. It would take Trevor and I about a week to carve it," he said.

He and his wife, Pam, were overwhelmed this year by the number of people wanting to work at the maze. He said they took about 400 applicants and have hired 300, mostly teenagers, to work in two to three shifts a day once the maze and fun park are fully operational.

"We had a fair amount of adults who wanted to work this year, which is probably a sign of the economy, I'm sure," Fritzler said. He said he hired all those teens who said they wanted to work to earn extra money for their families.

The newly painted barrel train was the brainchild of his Fritzler's wife, Pam, he said. It's painted to look like an American flag.

"When it goes over the hills, it looks like an American flag waving. It's absolutely stunning," Fritzler said.

Where to go
The Fritzler Maze is seven miles south of Greeley on U.S. 85, just south of the intersection with Weld County Road 44 on the west side of U.S. 85. It will be open from Sept. 12-Nov. 1. September hours are 5-10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 12-6 p.m. Sundays. In October, it will be open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday.

The haunted attractions and Scream Acres will open at dusk Sept. 25.

Daytime tickets are $10-$13 and haunted tickets are $6-$20. Special offers and discounts can be found on Facebook or at www.Fritzlermaze.com. For more information, call (970) 737-2129.

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