Chad's Corn Maze and the History of Pennsylvania Farms

Nov 12, 2025 0

Ligonier, PA, is a haven for American History, where residents highlight their gorgeous surroundings, especially in autumn. Let's delve into the story of Chad's Corn Maze and explore other amazing corn mazes in Pennsylvania, as well as the history of farms that have transitioned into agritainment destinations.

Chad's Corn Maze: A Local Favorite

Chad's Corn Maze in Ligonier Township is the brainchild of construction worker Chad Cairns. It is located on a 3.5-acre section of his parents' Green Mead Farm, which features corn, hay, and pumpkins. Cairns created the maze as a way to have "something to do" and generate extra income for the farm.

The maze sits next to his parents' pumpkin patch. He prepared for his venture by observing other established corn mazes and has added a different twist for his annually changing version - an image in mowed-down stalks that is drawn from a video for a popular country song. This year, he incorporated elements from area “escape room” attractions.

As patrons thread their way through the maze, they uncover clues at several stations and, if they crack a code, can unlock the maze's exit - an antique door transplanted from a nearby house. Attendance this year already has exceeded 2,000.

His wife, Candace, who takes tickets, said, “People don't realize how much money goes into the maze through advertising and the corn to plant the field. About three or four years ago, we really started to make a profit."

Read also: Living in Chadds Ford Township

In the daytime, Chad’s Corn Maze is a gorgeous walk through a massive corn maze. To get out of the maze, you’ll need to find four sticker stations with clues. Find the exit door, enter the proper code and you’re out.

Crafted with Toby Keith’s hit song “Made in America” in mind, Chad’s Corn Maze features a 5-acre cornfield with 1.5 miles of walking paths within! Although the maze is confusing to enter and exit, once you’re in keep an eye out for the hidden stations. Located right behind the farm’s pumpkin selling area, be sure to stop by and pick up one or two of this fall’s beauties!

During our visit, we hit a few craft breweries on the Trail and Mr.

On the last night of our visit, we headed to Lonesome Valley Farms Valley of Terror. A haunted drive thru style of Halloween fun, I was thoroughly impressed at the amount of time and details that’s been put into it.

Each autumn, Fort Ligonier Days is a multi-day celebration in honor of a key battle from the French and Indian War that includes everything from food to crafts and local liquor, beer, and wine. But what I truly loved during the festival was the parade. I have never been to a parade where everyone, and I mean everyone, claps and cheers for EVERY entry.

Here’s a quick history lesson on Ligonier, PA. So, in honor of that, Ligonier rebuilt Fort Ligonier and it’s widely known as the finest fort reconstruction around.

When I learned that there’s a natural bog in the middle of a forest, I was super curious. And it’s a real bog like, growing cranberries in it type of bog. Spruce Flats Bog and Wildlife Area is located in Laurel Summit State Park. Almost circular, taking the 1/4 mile walking path to get to it is a must, especially in fall.

And just to clarify, these places are still super fun and well worth it to check out, they just don’t make it on the obvious Laurel Highlands radar. Cool?

Do you have a spot that’s underrated in Ligonier?

How The Most Elaborate Corn Mazes Are Made - Cheddar Explains

Other Amazing Corn Mazes in Pennsylvania

Have an a-maize-ing fall with some of the best corn mazes in PA! Explore acres of homegrown cornfields, and add some fun with mystery games or a spook-tacular surprise.

Read also: North Carolina's Popcorn History

At the Barnyard Corn Maze (Lewistown): Start by solving the “mystery of the castle” as you wend your way through the cornfield. Then, relax on a scenic hayride around the farm in their wheelchair-accessible, covered wagon or climb aboard their custom made barrel train. Next, hop on a pedal tractor to race your nearest and dearest around the track. Be sure to visit the pumpkin patch to pick your own perfect pumpkin and the play yard for even more fun times!
The Hellerick’s Family Farm (Doylestown): The Hellerick’s Family Farm has not just one, but two fantastically fun corn mazes. Their new five-acre corn maze featuring barnyard animals is guaranteed to confuse and entertain! When you’re not getting lost in the field at their Fall Festival, enjoy hayrides, the pumpkin patch, corn chute slides, playing with goats, the straw bale climb, and a tractor pull. Bonus: Their stunning sunflower field is included in the price of admission!
Brown Hill Farms (Tunkhannock): Celebrate this fall’s harvest season and challenge yourself on the 6-acre corn maze at Brown Hill Farms. Little ones can experience the magic along the maze’s Fairy Tale Trail. After your maze adventures, say “Hi” to the farm animals and enjoy the other farm- and pumpkin-themed activities, then hop on the wagon for a ride to the pumpkin patch where you’re sure to find your perfect pumpkin.
Gearhard Farms (Murrysville): Gearhard Farms definitely knows a thing or two about crafting a fun and challenging corn maze. After all, they’ve been “corn mazing” for 22 years! They’ve crafted a new and engaging mystery maze for 2021, complete with 26 clues and 5 pictures of animals hidden throughout the maze. After successfully navigating the maze’s twists and turns, the “mystery aerial message” will be revealed. Crack the case, then enjoy hayrides and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Pine Ridge Farm (Kersey): Trek through a magical maze in the mountains of Elk County. At Pine Ridge Farm, experience a new corn-filled adventure every weekend in October including a Pirate Maze with pirates and mermaids gracing the maze and offering treats like seashells and fake tattoos, and a Creepy Maze to finish out the season. Visit on a Friday night for their ever-popular Flashlight Maze!
Haunted Hollow (Rockwood): Spooky season is here and get ready to scream as you wander through Haunted Hollow‘s Dead End corn maze. You’ll want to keep an eye out for the tortured spirits who spend eternity harvesting the souls of whomever enters this remote cornfield. As the sun sets and the scarecrows come alive, you definitely do not want to get lost in this maze! Once you safely emerge, be sure to check out some of Haunted Hollow’s other spine-chilling and haunted attractions, including the Hollow Wood Haunted Hayride.
Corn-Tine Corn Maze (Uniontown): Not for the faint of heart, Haunted Hills Estate’s Corn-Tine Corn Maze isn’t any ordinary corn maze. What was once an ordinary cornfield with no hidden secrets was irrevocably changed when Farmer Hayden decided to try out his new, homemade pesticide. The result: it didn’t keep the little critters away, but transformed his farmhands into blood thirsty creatures that now lie in wait among the cornfield stalks. Can you make it through the corn while these monsters stalk you, or will you become their next meal?!
JB Tree Farm (Huntingdon County): Enjoy a family-friendly maze at the JB Tree Farm! Designed as a scavenger hunt, search for the answers throughout this 6-acre corn maze. You can also catch an exhilarating ride on a hayride through their Christmas Tree farm, pick a pumpkin at their pumpkin patch and join the fun in the “fun on the farm” play area. Play and feed their friendly Nigerian Dwarf goats and browse their gift shop for unique ornaments, crafts, and seasonal décor.
Seiple Farms (Bath): Be sure to pack your walking shoes because the corn maze at Seiple Farms is huge - 22 acres and 3 whole miles of walking paths huge! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to navigate through this amazing maze of a maze. Afterwards, enjoy a bunch of other fun farm activities including a straw maze, pony rides, hayrides, and pick your own pumpkin, gourds, squash, and other farm favorites.
Mast Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch (Reading and Berks County): Celebrate Mast Farm’s 20th fall season by challenging yourself to find your way through two corn mazes and a straw bale maze. Ready to take on the challenge in the dark? After you’ve mastered the mazes, hop on the zip lines, hay jumps, hay tunnels, and hayrides. Don’t forget about the farm animals, paint your own pumpkin, and be sure to grab a bite to eat of their tasty treats!
Bear Rock Junctio (New Tripoli): Not too big and not too small, Bear Rock Junction‘s 2-acre corn maze is designed to put your scavenger hunting skills and trivia knowledge to the test as you attempt to find the hidden clues. The fun doesn’t stop there - hop on a hayride, race along go-kart tracks, pick your own pumpkins from their patch, and engage in some friendly competition with a round of Glow Golf - their Halloween-themed miniature golf complete with glowing golf balls!
Grims Orchard and Family Farm (Breinigsville): Be on the lookout for clues when you try your luck at Grims Orchard and Family Farm‘s 8-acre corn maze. Feeling daring?! More fall farm fun includes hayrides, a play corral, pumpkin picking, and barnyard animals. Take the hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin and browse the varieties of apples in the on-site farm market.
Roba Family Farms (North Abington Township): Roba Family Farms has many attractions, but the largest one is the Mega Maze. This year's corn maze theme is "Rescue Me!" to draw attention to the many dogs that need forever homes. On weekends, little ones can test their luck in the mini corn maze. For even more fun, check out the Tractor Test Track, Jumbo Jumper, and Rock Mountain Slides.
Unangst Tree Far (Bath): Don’t be fooled by its name - the Unangst Tree Farm boasts a fun and exciting corn maze. There are two mazes: a 1-acre Farm Equipment maze that is perfect for little tykes to navigate and the farm’s larger, 6-acre maze (open weekends only) filled with twists and turns and the clues you’ll need to successfully find your way out of the “Old vs. New Farm Equipment” maze. Afterwards, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch or shop the snack stand and farm market to stock up on all of your farm favorite treats.
Amazing Maize Maze (Ronks): This corn maze is one you definitely will want to experience. Voted the #3 Corn Maze in America by USA Today, the corn maze at Cherry Crest Adventure Farms is nothing short of a-maize-ing. The Amazing Maize Maze offers an interactive 5-acre corn maze with over 2.5 miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues. This year’s theme is Hometown. When you’re not getting lost in the maze, check out the more than 50 fun farm activities.
Raub’s Farm Market (Easton): Test your corn maze skills at Raub’s Farm Market - home to a 14-acre cornfield packed with 7 miles of trails. There are actually three mazes to master. Try all three and test your time from start to finish. For added fun, take part in one of the investigative games where you follow clues to test your problem-solving skills with the solution to the mystery revealed in a Clue-style game. Other games include Farm Scene Tracks, Treasure Hunt, and Monster Mystery.

Carlton Farms: From Dairy to Agri-Tourism

The story of Carlton Farms started in 1919 when the family purchased the land. It was a diversified farm for years, with crops and animals working in symbiosis. In 1946, brothers Louie and Bob Carlton returned from World War II and started a dairy. Louie ran a successful dairy for 50 years, while Bob pursued a career at Lockheed.

Bobby, his wife Gayla, and their children; Chad, Brad, and Brooke; are currently involved in the day-to-day operation of the dairy.

The last 20 years saw a decrease in dairies across the southeast due to low milk prices and high feed costs. With Chad finishing his degree in Animal Science from Berry College and Brad with a Dairy Management degree from Utah State, the dairy needed to profit now more than ever, with more family members returning to live on the farm.

Agri-tourism was starting to become popular for family outings in the fall. After some discussion, it was decided to begin providing field trips, hay rides, and a corn maze to local schools and weekend visitors. Though it was successful, more was needed, and in the end, selling the cows was the only option that made sense.

In September 2005, a homeschool group was on a field trip at Carlton Farms, where a lady in the group pulled Chad to the side and asked the seemingly innocent question: "Have ya'll ever thought about selling raw milk?"

The research was done, and the Carltons decided to jump into the "raw milk for pets" market. The first gallon of Carlton Farms raw milk for pets was sold on March 3rd, 2006, to the lady who started that conversation in September.

Since then, the farm has welcomed the addition of several milking cows, 4000 laying hens for egg production, and numerous beef cows, pigs, and turkeys. Carlton Farms is now recognized as one of the premier places to patronize if you're looking for clean, wholesome food directly from the farmer. Products are delivered at various locations around Atlanta or can be purchased directly from the farm store.

Through our raw milk endeavor, we have met an extraordinary group of people, our customers, who are very conscientious about their health, their source of food, and the environment. They are very willing to share their knowledge and their stories.

The Chaloupka Dairy

The Chaloupka dairy was started in 1947 by Ernest and Marcella Chaloupka, with a very small herd of 2 or 3 Holstein cows. Of course, at that time everything was done by hand and milk was sold from the road.

Over the years, the dairy grew to about 100 head, along with the Chaloupka family - five children, daughters Jeanette and Elizabeth, and sons Gene, Erwin, and Ernest “Jr”. Gene, Erwin and Gene’s wife, Elyse, took over the operation in 1970 and the herd grew to 200 head. Ernest retired in the early 1990’s.

The Rise of Agri-Tourism

Autumn is a time of transition on many farms, as final crops are harvested before winter arrives. Lonesome Valley Farms in Mt. Pleasant Township is among a select few that scare up extra revenue by transforming some acreage into attractions that offer chills and challenges.

Jeff Johns and his wife, Denise, this weekend will complete their 30th season welcoming visitors to their homegrown Valley of Terror. “It's a big part of our farming, as far as keeping things afloat - keeping the farm going and the family going,” Johns said of the seasonal venture that has grown from a hayride with actors providing shocks to now include a haunted house and barn filled with eerie special effects.

There also is a cornstalk maze covering more than 5 acres, a scare-free Pumpkin Patch Playland for younger children, food booths and a gift shop that help attract a few thousand visitors each year. “It takes upward of 75 people to pull this thing off,” Johns said.

The supplemental enterprise began as a way to salvage some return from the farm after drought ravaged grain and hay crops. “All these crops are drying up. There's nothing to mow and nothing to harvest, and that's how we got started in the hayride business,” Johns said.

Whenever possible, the couple use materials and talent at hand to expand the attraction. Their son, Jeff Jr., has designed many of the effects, including a spinning “vortex” tunnel. The family stretches their supplemental activities across several seasons. They offer horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides at the Overly's Country Christmas attraction next door. In spring, they combine a hayride with an Easter egg hunt.

With farm operations at the mercy of variable weather and market prices, side ventures are “something to fall back on, absolutely,” Johns said.

A fall corn maze and hayrides similarly have been an important source of revenue since 2000 at Gearhard Farms near Murrysville. Operating on weekends and other reserved times in September and October, “it makes as much in two months as the whole farm is bringing in for a year,” said owner Herb Gearhard. He acknowledged production of hay, corn and other grain crops isn't at full capacity on the 150-acre spread since he works at a Pittsburgh-area steel mill.

Passages through the corn maze create an image seen from above that relates to a different theme each year. “We've had local history themes and the 10-year anniversary of 9/11,” he said.

The Gearhards use hay bales to create a free mini maze for kids age 4 or younger and sell ingredients for s'mores that patrons can enjoy around a campfire.

Gearhard's wife, siblings and two children are among the dozen people needed to run the attraction, which attracted more than 3,500 last season. The farm has been in use for more than 200 years.

The fall “agritainment” venture keeps growing and younger family members are interested in adding farm-to-table vegetable crops. “That's going to keep the farm here for another 100 years,” Gearhard said.

Corn Maze Statistics

A summary of corn maze data can be presented in the following table:

Farm	Location	Acres	Key Features
Chad's Corn Maze	Ligonier Township	3.5	Escape room elements, pumpkin patch
Amazing Maize Maze	Ronks	5	Interactive maze, scenic bridges
Raub’s Farm Market	Easton	14	Three mazes, investigative games
Gearhard Farms	Murrysville	N/A	Themed maze, mini maze for kids
Lonesome Valley Farms	Mt. Pleasant Township	5+	Haunted attractions, pumpkin patch
Seiple Farms	Bath	22	Large maze, farm activities