By LAURA ROBISON
The Progress
In it’s eighth year now, the Moapa Valley Corn Maze opened its 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 29. The annual event is owned and operated by Billy and Kelli Pulsipher, and is geared towards activities for the whole family.
Three different mazes were designed and mowed. There is both a hard and an easy daytime maze. And then, of course there is the very popular after-dark haunted corn maze where brave adventurers might find a variety of zombies, scary clowns and ghouls lurking in the field of corn.
For only the second year, a Shriek Shack was erected. Screams could be heard by patrons waiting in line to go inside.
Local siblings Adriana Freeman and Ben Ellsworth described their horrifying experience in the Shack.
“There was a guy wearing all black with a mask and when you looked in the mirror all you saw was a ‘floating mask’, but when I looked back he was there and I screamed,” Freeman said.
“There were animatronic clowns, but one was real and jumped out at us,” Ellsworth said.
The corn maze has something for everyone including concessions that boast decadent desserts as well as hot dogs, nachos, drinks and more.
There are both daytime and nighttime attractions. Attendees can even arrange to have their own family firepit.
Activities included in the general admission ticket include corn hole, tug of war, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, the hard and easy daylight corn maze, zip line, corn cannon, cornpit, bubble/trampoline, swings, and much more family fun.
Additional activities that can be purchased separately are the Shriek Shack, Haunted Corn Maze, Zombie Paintball, haunted hay rides and more.
The Pulsiphers employ dozens of local teens throughout the month of October to help with ticket sales, and managing all the activities and booths. First time employee Cali Ellsworth worked on the hay ride this past weekend.
“It can get busy but I really liked working and earning money,” Cali said.
The Robih family enjoyed being on the hay ride with the seating trailers being pulled by a tractor. Noah, Grandma Sharon, Dad Adam and Mom Haley came from Las Vegas to attend the corn maze as a family.
“This is so much fun!” Noah said. “And I get to do lots of things here.”
The whole operation actually begins back in July when the corn for the maze is planted. Then comes the design, drawn by Katie Leavitt. Katie’s husband Keith Leavitt uploads that design into a GPS program and the corn is then mowed down according to that design.
The Moapa Valley Corn Maze is open Thursdays through Sundays and of course on Halloween night, Monday, October 31.
For the complete schedule of events and tickets prices, visit www.mvcornmaze.com.
To get there, get off Interstate 15 at exit 90 in Glendale. From there, take Lewis Ranch Road south and follow the signs.
