CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa residents can now visit the Murder Creek Cornfield Maze until 10 p.m. The fall-themed course, which opened Oct. 6, has extended its hours.
The cornfield maze will be open on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 27 and 28) and Oct. 31 from noon to 10 p.m. The maze will also be open on the same hours on Nov. 3 and 4.
The Murder Creek Cornfield Maze and Spooky Woods are north of Crestview off U.S. Highway 85. Take a left on Senterfitt Road and another left on Jack Road. The maze will be on the right.
Tickets cost $6 for adults 18 and up. Tickets cost $5 for 5- to 17-year-olds. Children 4 and under get in free.
In addition, visitors can pass through “Spooky Woods,” which feature wolf howls, mechanical jumping spiders and spider web tunnels.
The attractions were memorable enough for some visitors to come back.
“This is our second time coming out here,” Jennifer Bradley said on Saturday. “It’s something fun for the kids to do.” Bradley and her daughter, Jordan, 9, invited Wendy McGowan and her three children to come. Jordan served as a guide while the group meandered through the maze. Although they hit a few dead ends in the cornfield, they eventually made their way into the spooky woods, Jordan’s favorite part.
“I liked it better the second time,” she said. “I like the spider webs (in the spooky woods) and how the spiders lurked around (and jumped out).”
Other activities include a petting zoo with goats, which patrons can feed corn. In addition, kids can let loose in the corn pit, which resembles a large sand box with corn kernels replacing sand grains. Kids also can take a lawn mower-led train tour of a hayfield.
Parents can take fall family pictures beside a festive backdrop at the entrance area. Food and refreshments are also available.
"The kids had a great time out here tonight," Wendy said.
This is the second time that Danny Arnett and volunteers have organized the maze, which he said is a safe alternative to other activities, and a viable date-night option.
“You see so many young people with nothing to do around this time of year,” Arnett said. “The kids love it … and a lot of teenagers will bring their girlfriends out here.”
Arnett used Google maps and his phone’s GPS to map out the maze from nine acres of corn; the process took two weeks.
Like last year, Arnett enlisted help from the Crestview High School girls’ softball team; the players have collected tickets and aided with other duties at the field. Like last year, Arnett plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the team.
Updated Oct.25 12:45 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa corn maze, ‘Spooky Woods’ extend hours (SLIDESHOW/UPDATED)