Corn mazes centrally located on Long Island
Camila and Jissell Munoz, of Brooklyn, work on a scavenger hunt in the corn maze at F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville. Credit: Morgan Campbell
When Judith Cantor and her family wanted to go to try a corn maze, they didn’t want to drive all the way from their home in Brooklyn to the East End of Long Island — so instead they chose F&W Schmitt's Family Farm in Melville.
"I didn’t even know we had places so close to our home," says Cantor.
While most farms offering corn mazes are east of Yaphank, there are choices to the west.
F&W Schmitt’s Family Farm in Melville
26 Pinelawn Rd., Melville
A hayride heads toward the corn maze at Schmitt's Farm in Melville. Credit: Morgan Campbell
The farm offers one of the biggest corn mazes west of Yaphank, at 6 acres, and it has activities along the walk. "We do a new theme every year," says Schmitt’s manager Ferdie Schmitt. This year's maze theme is "Loch Ness Monster." People who walk the maze get paper and pencil and at each station, they can make rubbings of bagpipes, Nessie, kilt, Scotland, Urquhart Castle, plesiosaur, Scottish flag and Thistle.
You really can’t get too lost in the maze, Schmitt promises. "It is designed to lead you to the exit," he says. Ribbons line the corn maze, and they change color as people progress through so people know they are moving toward the end, he says.
The maze is best for ages 6 and older; it can take one to two hours to complete, Schmitt says. However, a stroller can be wheeled through, he says. The maze isn’t scary, he says; there are no animatronics or live actors inside.
New this year (included with admission) is the mechanical bee races, Schmitt says.
The farm offers a playground, duck races, a straw pyramid with a slide, wagon rides, a mega-slide, mechanical pig/bee races, basketball hoops and an animal farm area with sheep, llama, turkeys, goats and rabbits, pony rides, photo opportunities and a pumpkin field.
- WHEN | WHERE Noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and school holidays, weather permitting. The farm will be open Sept. 21-22, Sept. 23-24, Sept. 27-28 and daily beginning Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.
- COST $23 admission is required for all ages; includes playground, wagon rides, straw pyramid, duck races, corn maze, mega-slide, mechanical pig and bee races and basketball hoops. Animal farm admission $6 to enter, buy food to feed the animals ($5); pony rides ($11). Pumpkins are 80 cents per pound.
- MORE INFO 631-271-3276, schmittsfarm.com
Elwood Pumpkin and Christmas Tree Farm
1500 E. Jericho Tpke., Huntington
Carrie Pollack, of Commack, picks out a pumpkin with dog Willow at Elwood Pumpkin Farm. Credit: Morgan Campbell
The maze is simple and straightforward, says owner Lee Itzler. "It’s meant to be a child corn maze. It’s not challenging for adults," he says.
There’s also a wagon ride through the Christmas tree section of the farm. In addition to the maze and wagon ride, there’s "lots and lots of pumpkins," Itzler says.
- WHEN | WHERE 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends through Oct. 31 and Columbus Day.
- COST $10 ages 5 and older to enter pumpkin patch, child corn maze included; $8 per person for wagon ride; pumpkin cost varies according to size. Cash only.
- MORE INFO 631-368-8626, elwoodpumpkinfarm.com
BB and GG Farm & Nursery
625 N. Country Rd., St. James
The corn maze is 10 acres and takes about 30 minutes to wind through, says owner Bill Borella. "It’s kind of no frills," he says; there’s no theme or story attached to the maze.
- WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends starting late September.
- COST $16 admission is required for ages 2 and older, which included corn maze and tractor-pulled hayride. There was no fee to enter the pumpkin patch, but pumpkins cost 79 cents per pound.
- MORE INFO 631-862-9182
