POIPU — You know it’s one puzzling maze when they recommend bringing a bottle of water with you. “If you’re in there a long time, it can get thirsty,” said Rick Bundschuh, pastor of Kauai Christian Fellowship, host of the
POIPU — You know it’s one puzzling maze when they recommend bringing a bottle of water with you.
“If you’re in there a long time, it can get thirsty,” said Rick Bundschuh, pastor of Kauai Christian Fellowship, host of the fall festivities.
And you could be in there a long, long time, considering you’re venturing into four acres of corn with more than a mile of tricky trails — not to mention zombies and other spooky surprises waiting just for you.
The corn maze, for the first time since 2010, is back. It opens today and will run through Oct. 30. It includes the shape of a huge pumpkin and the sinister hand of a zombie and has drawn around 2,000 visitors in years past.
No surprise it’s expected to be a major attraction again this year.
“It’s family fun. Go out and get lost in the corn and try to find your way,” Bundschuh said. “Some people never find their way out the exit. They end up coming out the entrance.”
For those who do indeed become hopelessly lost, Bundschuh said there will be maze moles ready to save you.
“If you are in there too long, they’ll help guide you out,” he said.
But most want to find their own way out.
Bundschuh said depending on your navigation skills, that could take minutes or hours.
“I’ve seen first-time 10-year-olds get through the maze in 15 minutes,” he said. “They actually tend to be the best. And then, there are adults in there for two hours. They’re just lost.”
Bundschuh said the zombies, who come out only at night, are played by adults who have gone through a monster-training class. They want to be scary, but not so much that guests flee screaming into the night and suffer nightmares for weeks.
“We want it to be a great experience for people, not a terrifying one,” he said.
Guests arrive at the church campus, 2731 Ala Kinoiki Road, and then are shuttled back and forth to the maze site by friendly, not zombie, van drivers.
A bounce house for the small fry, refreshments, glow necklaces and even movies are also featured on site. There will be live music on weekends.
The Maze is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 1 to 6 p.m. for daylight tours and then again from 7 to 10 p.m. for Zombieland.
“The whole church community comes out to make this possible. They all volunteer their time,” Bundschuh said.
A country fair is scheduled 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Kauai Christian Fellowship. It includes a petting zoo, water slides, live entertainment, carnival games and food booths. Cost is $5 for children and adults, and includes a trek through the corn maze.
Shoes, water and flashlights recommended after dark.
Rates are $5 for kids under 12 and $8 for those 12 and above. Group tours can be arranged on off hours and group rates are available. Info: 742-9396
