All-American Fall Fun at Konow's Corn Maze
By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 25, 2011 4:00PM
We don't often use the phrase "All-American" without irony. However, when you're surrounded by the nation's most important agricultural commodity while, at the same time, engaged in the slightly ridiculous enterprise of trying to navigate without a map through 3.5 miles of pathways, it's hard not to come up with overwrought metaphors about our great nation. Or perhaps that's just us. In any case, Konow's Corn Maze is one of the best ways to spend a long fall morning, and if you haven't bought your Halloween pumpkins yet, get thee to the maze!
Konow's, out in Homer Glen, is an odd combination of farm and amusement park. It reminded us a bit of the Farm-in-the-Zoo in Lincoln Park - such a sanitized simulacrum of agricultural life that we should be cynical, but we're just too overwhelmed with cuteness.
The corn maze isn't the only attraction. Be prepared to spend a good, long time in the Animal Barn petting the llamas, cows and sheep. They want your love - and by love, we mean your food. But, just like a bad date, it's fun to pretend they like you for yourself. Wander past the mechanical bull and head to the giant inflated "jumping pillow," a mutated wonder of a carnival attraction that will make you leap for glee like a 5 year old. Pumpkins and gourds are everywhere, and Konow's provides little wagons to carry your bounty.
The maze itself is... frankly, somewhat intimidating. Konow's designs the maze to make a pattern from the air (this year it's a rearing cow coming out of a barn) and provides wanderers with a photograph and diagram. Best of luck getting very far with it. There's a smaller 1/2 mile maze for the less-adventurous, but the whole point of a corn maze is getting lost for a couple of hours. and with more than 3 miles of paths, you're sure to get lost. Don't call 911 - you'll make it out eventually.
If you've been stuck in the office, surrounded by city streets, and you haven't gotten a taste of the season, head out to Konow's this weekend. It's their last weekend of the season, it only costs $9, and it'll do you good.
Konow's Corn Maze is located at 16849 S. Cedar Road in Homer Glen, IL.