PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2016 and while it should still give you a good overview of the experience, it may also contain some outdated information. Please visit their website for the most up-to-date information, especially about things like hours and pricing.
2016 Post:
Thank you to Scott’s Yankee Farmer for giving my family complimentary admission to the 2016 corn maze in order to write this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
Cut to the chase. Take me to the Momsense.
Corn mazes are synonymous with fall in Connecticut. It never really feels like the season has started until I find myself acres deep in a field of giant corn stalks 🙂
And we’ve been to LOTS of corn mazes over the years here at Out and About Mom!
This year, we decided to check out a new-to-us maze at Scott’s Yankee Farmer in East Lyme, CT.
Now, this venue is not new to our blog. Mandy took her crew strawberry picking there back in the summer of 2013.
But this was our first visit to their fall activities. So we headed towards the shore for apple picking, pumpkins, apple cinnamon donuts, wagon rides and, of course, a corn maze!
Our first stop was their farm stand, because that is where my iPhone GPS brought us 🙂
It was difficult to resist the urge to browse all this beautiful produce.
But we were on a corn maze mission today, so first things first!
The maze is located just down the road from the farm stand, and the entrance to the parking area is clearly marked with an oversized “apple.”
There is convenient and ample parking.
This covered area is your first stop.
It’s where you can find out what apples are ready for picking that day, plus pay admission for the corn maze and/or the wagon ride.
The price for the corn maze is $10/person, and that include the wagon ride (children 3 and under are FREE). Or, you can just take a wagon ride out through the pumpkin patch for just $2/person (again, children 3 and under are FREE). Although the corn maze is open daily (you can also walk to it), the wagon rides only run on weekends between 10:00am and 5:00pm.
Speaking of the wagon ride, if you visit on weekends between 10:00am and 3:00pm, that wagon will be pulled by a couple of beautiful horses!
Although wagon rides are a dime a dozen around CT come fall, it is still pretty rare to find one pulled by horses. So this was a real treat for us!
We had a nice (and bumpy!) ride through the orchard, where we were able to see some of the apple picking trees. Colored flags hanging from the trees help PYO-ers determine what kind of apple is growing on each tree. Definitely a feature I appreciate, since I can only tell the difference between apples when one is green and one is red– forget it if I’m trying to identify same-colored varieties!
The wagon stops first at the corn maze.
I was thankful to see that there was a porta-potty placed out here in case of emergencies. Kids never seem to have to go until the worst possible times (like when they are lost in a corn maze).
The maze theme this year is zombies. But don’t worry, it’s not a bit scary. In fact, this is one of the most kid-friendly mazes we’ve discovered.
Each child gets a pamphlet with some activities that they can complete in the maze, like trivia and character rubbings.
Another fun feature of this maze is that each group gets a pair of special glasses that lets them view the map of the maze in a special section of the pamphlet.
My kids had a blast trying to navigate the maze using the “secret” map that mommy and daddy could not see 🙂
Plus, they just thought they looked pretty cool in those glasses. I think they were right 🙂
Don’t worry, if your kids won’t give you a turn with the glasses, there is also a special viewing station in the maze.
The kids enjoyed finding the markers with the “facts” about zombies and the rubbings of various spooky characters.
In the middle of the maze there is a bridge with a bell. That was a big hit.
Yes, this maze is very family-friendly, but that’s not to say that the maze wasn’t a little challenging for us.
We went around some wrong turns.
We found ourselves retracing our steps.
And occasionally we disagreed about which path to try 🙂
Finally, about 30 minutes later, we found the exit. The kids were so proud of themselves! Not too big and not too small. It was a perfect size maze for my crew.
Since the wagon doesn’t really run on any kind of schedule, we found ourselves waiting for probably 10 or 15 minutes for the next ride to arrive. When it’s busy, there will likely be two wagons running, so your wait won’t be too long.
The wagon took us through the woods and around the pumpkin patch (we were there a bit too early for pumpkin picking, but it should be in full swing now!).
We looped back around by the corn maze and then back through the orchards to the main area. After the ride, we were invited to meet the horses who had worked so hard to pull us on that hilly terrain.
Then it was time for some apple cinnamon donuts!
Made even better on these fun chairs.
And while enjoying this unique pumpkin matching activity.
You’re also welcome to bring your own snacks or a picnic lunch to enjoy in the picnic area.
Assuming you can tear your kids’ attention away from these fun table games (tic tac toe with pumpkins? I’m in!).
Back up at the farm store a little bit later, I got a tour of the back rooms where the magic happens. That would be the donut making.
And the cider press.
As much as I’d like to tell you it’s because I was a VIP, I’m not. Everyone is welcome to come back here and take a look.
You can find the restroom back there too.
This is neat. Falling short on dinner inspiration? Pick up a free recipe with your produce!
Oh look! Donuts for the road 🙂
An added bonus: we got to enjoy some of the early fall foliage (which is probably at its peak right about now) on our leisurely drive home.
One of the best things about writing this blog is challenging myself to explore someplace with my family that I may otherwise never have discovered. Sure there are corn mazes and apples and produce stands closer to my home, but this one was definitely worth the trip!
Scott’s Yankee Farmer Fall Activities
Main Farm and Stand Address: 436 Boston Post Road, East Lyme, Connecticut
Phone: 860-739-5209
Email:info@scottsyankeefarmer.net
Website: http://www.scottsyankeefarmer.net
You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Hours (2016):
Saturday & Sunday (& holidays) 10:00am-5:00pm; Monday-Friday 11:00am-5:00pm.
Apple picking from Labor Day Weekend through October 30th.
Pumpkin picking from late September through October 30th.
Corn maze is open daily from September through October 30th.
Wagon rides are available on weekends only from 10:00am-5:00pm (10:00am – 3:00pm for the horse drawn wagon) through October 30th.
Watch cider making weekends in late September through November.
Pricing (2016):
$10/person for the Hay Maze (price includes wagon ride on the weekends)
$2/person for the wagon ride only (weekends only)
Children 3 and under are FREE!
Details:
Stroller Friendly: Not particularly. You are certainly welcome to bring your stroller anywhere (even on the wagon ride), but uneven, rocky ground will make it challenging to maneuver. If you have a non-walker, I’d recommend a wearable baby carrier.
Coffee Mug Friendly: YES
Restroom: Porta Potties located in the maze parking area and out at the maze. Also, there is a real restroom at the farm stand.
Baby Changing Station: I can’t remember if there was one in the bathroom at the farm stand. I’ll check and update the post!
Parking: YES. Parking is FREE.
Food for Sale: Donuts and assorted beverages (and produce in the farm stand, of course).
Outside Food Allowed: YES.
Cash Required: YES; credit cards are accepted with a $10 minimum purchase.
Dress Code: It can get hot in a corn maze, even on a cool day, so I would recommend layers. In dry weather, the maze will be dusty so closed toe shoes are your best bet (and ones that you don’t mind getting dirty). If it’s wet, I would pull out the wellies 🙂
Evening/Weekend Hours: YES; the maze is open on weekends.
Discounts: None that we know of.
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Hi There !
I love your blogs. Wanted to share another of these farms. They are called the Foster Farms and located in South Windsor. They are not as elaborate the one above. But still good for people in South Windsor!
Maybe you could check them out !
Keep up the good work 🙂
Thank you for your kind note! Yes, we love Foster Farm too. We wrote about them a few years ago. https://www.outandaboutmom.com/2012/10/23/foster-family-farm/
Always great to be reminded of our old favorites! Thanks again!