Arts & Entertainment

'Beatles Tribute' Theme of 2013 Richardson Farm Corn Maze

This year's corn maze is in the image of The Beatles at Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove. The maze opened Aug. 3.

By Gloria Casas

Richardson Adventure Farm boasts of having the largest corn maze in the world. Now, it has the most unusual, too. The corn maze was created in the iconic image of the world’s most famous band, the Beatles.

The Spring Grove farm is unveiled its tribute to the Beatles first album release 50 years ago with its 28-acre corn maze etched with the images of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr along with guitars, drums and an LP record and musical score.

“We were trying to find something we could have fun with and something that is of interest to the general public,” George Richardson said. He owns the farm with his brother, Robert, and their families.

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“(The Beatles theme) just sounded like a lot of fun. It was a nice milestone. They were great musicians, great artists,” said George Richardson, who went to see Paul McCartney perform in Chicago a few years ago.

It will be Richardson Farm’s 13th season offering the corn maze and other family entertainment. The maze opened Saturday, Aug. 3.

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The Richardsons were considering other uses for the farm after raising pigs for 20 years. They heard about corn mazes, which first appeared in 1996, George Robertson said.

“This idea for a corn maze seemed like it would fit,” George Richardson said.

The farm’s first corn maze was taken from a coloring sheet of a grandpa driving a wagon filled with Christmas trees and animals, he said. The Richardsons heard about Idaho artist Shawn Stolworthy’s work on mazes and contacted him to create the corn maze.

Stolworthy has designed and built the Richardson’s maze ever since. A past design included the 100th anniversary of the first flight by the Wright Brothers, a design that was close to the Richardson brothers’ hearts since they are private pilots.

The Richardsons, including George’s wife, Wendy, come up with the theme or concept then work with Stolworthy.

“We’ve learned over the years that he (Stolworthy) can do anything,” George Richardson said.

Stolworthy takes the image, puts it into a laptop then uses it as a guide when he rototills the crops. He uses a GPS system on the tractor to transform the crops into the image.

The work was done a month ago. The Richardson family rototills the trail one more time in preparation of the opening. The corn is tall, about 12 to 14 feet high.

George and Wendy Richardson got a good look at the design this week when taking aerial photos. He piloted the plane while she hung out of the plane’s window to take the photos, he said.

“I think this is fantastic. The design really looks nice and it’s very intricate. I love it,” George Richardson said.

The farm is located at 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove and also has activities like a giant 50-foot tube slide, a 50-foot observation tower, two 40-foot zip lines for little kids and two jumping pillows, for adults and kids, included in the admission price. Other activities are available for a fee.

The corn maze and the farm will be open through Oct. 27.


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