Corny as it may sound, maze season has sprouted.

Some area farmers have sketched out detailed patterns to put the last of this year's corn fields to good use.

One of the most challenging mazes is in New Paris, Ohio, which is at the Indiana/Ohio state line. Today's Harvest advertises its corn maze as the perfect way to get lost. There are three mazes on this 600-acre farm, and each one is in the shape of a car, with two of them covering two miles each of cornfield. One covers four miles.

Today's Harvest is owned by Tom and Lisa Jordan, who say their maze is geared toward the whole family.

"It's a safe, family fun entertainment place, and we are just a short drive from anywhere in the Cincinnati or Dayton area," Lisa said.

Walking through one of the two-mile mazes can prove to be very difficult because most people look at the open path instead of the lines of the cars on the maps. "You must follow the outlines or it won't make sense," she said.

As people work their way through the mazes they are challenged to find special hole-punch stations, which must all be found to complete each maze. Customers are also encouraged to turn in their ticket stub at the end of the day for a drawing for prizes at the end of the season. "Last year we gave away $100 worth of gas, an X-Box, CDs and T-shirts," Tom said. "We do it all here." Today's Harvest is a full-service farm market with all of the produce grown on site.

In Germantown, Tom's Maze and Pumpkin Farm is a maze that challenges and thrills. There are three mazes on this farm, with the large one covering eight acres of cornfield.

Tom and Marie Eby are the owners and say the main difference in their maze is that it is more like a puzzle. "Mine is more like a traditional maze," Tom said. "It's easy to maneuver through yet it is still challenging."

"It's not easy, it is very challenging, but I would highly recommend it," said Germantown resident Jerry Birt.

Tom's Maze is roped off into 12 areas surrounded by colored ribbon. Customers receive a blank map at the start and must find the map pieces as they work their way through the maze. When the map is complete, it shows how to come out of the maze by crossing the victory bridge. Eby has also placed water stations and rest spots throughout the field.

The Eby's have two flat mazes in front of the corn field and have added a new feature called the "Chunkin Punkin Cannon." It's a pressurized air cannon that shoots pumpkins over a quarter of a mile through the air. "It was just like a rocket," said Trenton resident Colin Wilder.

Tom's Maze and Pumpkin Farm also sells corn stalks and bales of hay for those doing fall decorating, and has bonfire sites for rent.

For those a little more south, Neiderman Farms in Liberty Twp. boasts a 22-acre corn maze, a self-pick pumpkin patch and horse and tractor drawn hayrides. Customers can enjoy bonfires and bonfire pits, and paintball on site.

On Saturday, the Meadow View Growers corn maze will open, inviting the public to explore three miles of twists and turns across eight acres of a corn field. Meadow View Growers teamed with The Maize, a company that specializes in making corn field mazes, to bring the extraterrestrial-themed labyrinth to New Carlisle.

"We chose the alien theme because it sounded like fun. Crop circles and corn fields are always a mystery, and especially appropriate at this time of the year," said Teresa Muterspaw, assistant retail manager at Meadow View.

From above, the maze looks deceptively simple. But once you enter the labyrinth, and all reference to the outside world is obscured by 12-foot-tall walls of corn, the challenge is apparent. Starting in October, the maze will also be haunted, making for a most unusual and thrilling evening out.

"At night there will be different vignettes and random haunters," Muterspaw said.

She added that there will also be a shorter maze that won't be haunted for those with small children and those who don't like to be scared.

Contact this writer at tlhrsly@cinci.rr.com. Writer Bethany Meisinger-Reiff contributed this report.

how to go

THE NAME: Butterfield's Farm Market.

THE LOCATION: 4000 Oxford-Trenton Road,

on Ohio 73 between Oxford and Darrtown.

THE HOURS: Now through Nov. 13.

THE PHONE: (513) 524-2676 (CORN).

THE NAME: Today's Harvest Corn Maze.

THE LOCATION: At the intersection of State Route 320 and State Route 40, New Paris.

THE HOURS: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays through October 15th. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10. p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. October 16-31. Farm market hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays.

THE TAB: $7 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-12. Free for kids ages 4 and younger accompanied by an adult. Group discounts start with 20 people or more. Price includes all mazes and kids games.

THE PHONE: (937) 877-6030 or visit www.todaysharvestfarm.com.

THE NAME: Tom's Maze and Pumpkin Farm.

THE LOCATION: 8295 Farmersville West Carrollton Pike, Germantown.

THE HOURS: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, Mon-Thurs. by reservation for groups of 20 or more. Open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Columbus Day, October 9th. Closing for season on November 5th.

THE TAB: $7 for ages 5 to adult and free for kids under 5 with a paying adult. Group rates available. Price includes all mazes.

THE PHONE: (937) 866-2777 or check out www.tomsmaze.com.

THE NAME: Neiderman Farms.

THE LOCATION: 5110 LeSourdesville-West Chester Road, Liberty Twp.

THE HOURS: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Open Mondays through Thursdays by reservation only.

THE TAB: $7.50 per person, with kids under 5 free on weekends.

THE NET: www.harvestmoon.maze.com.

THE NAME: Meadow View Growers corn maze.

THE LOCATION: 755 Ohio 235 in New Carlisle.

THE HOURS: The maze will remain open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights through Oct. 28; it can be reserved by schools, companies and groups Monday through Thursday.

THE PHONE: (937) 845-0093.

THE NAME: Turpin Farms.

THE LOCATION: 3295 Turpin Lane, Cincinnati.

THE HOURS: Sept. 22 through Oct. 29.

THE PHONE: (513) 561-2621 or visit www.myspace.com/turpinfarms.

To tell us about your maze,

visit journal-news.com and submit the information.