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'Tis the season to get lost in
a corn maze in Wellsville
By Seth
Bracken
October 27, 2008 | WELLSVILLE -- Utterly lost, freezing
cold, frustrated because everything looks familiar as
if I had been here 10 times before, and I probably have,
and to think, I paid $6 to do this.
There are two confusingly captivating corn mazes essentially
across the street of each other here off the main stretch
of highway in Wellsville, the American West Heritage
Center and the Little Bear River Bottoms. Both are heaps
of fun for the whole family and bring in hundreds of
customers ranging from singles groups to school groups
to church groups.
But it's not just getting lost in 8-foot tall corn
stalks that attract people from all over the valley
to these mazes.
"We're so much more than just a corn maze," said Sharma
Clark, one of the owners of Little Bear Bottoms. "You
really do get it all. There's something for everyone
here."
Little Bear Bottoms offers a variety of activities
including: a long and short maze, a pyramid with tunnels
made from hay bales, a wagon ride with an interactive
story about scarecrows, and a haunted trail.
"It really is haunted," said Clark and added a short,
nervous laugh.
The business is family owned and operated and was
started when corn was planted in the field 4 years ago,
and there were no available buyers. However after the
corn maze, the corn is now harvested and sold for feeder.
The American West Heritage Center also offers a variety
of activities, many of the same as the Little Bear Bottoms,
like a wagon ride, a mini-maze for kids and a petting
zoo.
LuJean Kirby said that the maze is policed by what
workers that have been dubbed the "corn cops" in order
to solve the two largest problems customers face: getting
lost, and lost cell phones.
The two mazes compete for customers and try to set
themselves apart from the other.
"We just try to improve our product and let the consumer
decide," said Steven Delong, executive director. "You
can't duplicate what we have."
Both mazes are great places to experience some seasonal
Halloween fun and will be open through Halloween weekend.
The American West Heritage Center Maze is located
at 4025 South Hwy. 89-91 in Wellsville, open Monday
through Thursday noon -10 p.m., and Friday - Saturday
noon -11 p.m. Admission for adults is $7, children and
senior citizens, $6; or a group rate of $5 per person.
Little Bear Bottoms maze is at 5000 South Hwy. 89-91,
Wellsville, open Monday through Thursday from 5 - 10p.m.,
Friday: 5 - 11p.m.; Saturday 1 -11p.m. Admission for
adults is $6; students, $5, kids (3-11) $4, and family
rate $30 (parents and immediate children only).
NW
MS
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