50 Years of Growth – May ’26
| Finding a Name in the Amazing Maize Maze |
Since 2003, the Amazing Maize Maze brought to you by ConEdison has transformed a working cornfield at Queens County Farm Museum into one of New York City’s most beloved fall traditions. What began as a collaborative effort between Queens Farm staff and Don Franz of Town Square Productions has grown into an annual experience that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each autumn.
The maze itself is a story of transformation. What started as a single acre of cleared, damaged, and frequently vandalized woodland edge has evolved into a thriving three-acre cornfield and one of the Farm’s most recognizable seasonal attractions. Through careful cultivation and stewardship, an underutilized piece of the landscape was reimagined as a place of discovery, learning, and community gathering.
Together, Queens Farm staff and Franz recognized that a field of corn could be more than a crop. It could become a place of adventure, discovery, and connection. Drawing upon the agricultural heritage of this historic farm, the maze introduced generations of New Yorkers to the beauty and wonder of farming through a uniquely immersive experience. The story of the maze’s name is as memorable as the attraction itself. Franz recalled sharing his dream of creating a maze in a cornfield during a dinner conversation with legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. When asked what he planned to do next, Franz replied, “I want to make a maze in a cornfield.” Without hesitation, Sondheim responded with the phrase, “The Amazing Maize Maze.” Franz later recalled that the words arrived almost musically and immediately became his personal mantra. More than two decades later, the name remains synonymous with corn mazes across North America and New York City’s only Amazing Maize Maze at Queens Farm.
This year, as America marks its 250th anniversary, the Amazing Maize Maze takes the shape of the Statue of Liberty’s torch, a symbol of hope, opportunity, and perseverance. Visitors are invited to follow winding pathways through acres of corn while reflecting on the values that have helped shape our nation and our communities.
The maze isn’t just about getting lost. It is about finding your way.
Like the generations that came before us, maze-goers must navigate challenges, make choices, and occasionally retrace their steps before reaching their destination. In doing so, they are reminded that discovery often comes through exploration, determination, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, the Amazing Maize Maze reminds us that every journey begins with a first step, every challenge presents an opportunity to learn, and every path forward is shaped by the choices we make along the way.
More than twenty years after its introduction, the Amazing Maize Maze continues to connect people to the land, to one another, and to the enduring spirit of curiosity that inspires us to keep moving forward.
