Last week, I read a scathing Google review of the Aw Shucks corn maze and farm in Monroe. The furious mom railed against the decrepit play area and downer hay ride. Knowing that we were headed there this past weekend, I was concerned. We’d been there before and I didn’t remember it being all that bad.
Saturday was yet another gift of a Fall day. After picking up a few provisions at Walmart, the kids and I were downright chipper as we struck out. By the time November comes around, corn mazes are at the end of their limited season. The paths are easy and well-worn. A strong wind could knock down the dusty corn rows. But, there’s a lot of open space to run free and act crazy, something our kids love to do.
The real treat for our family was the sense of fun and adventure that came with the forts, tree houses and home-made slides. The “Nature Trail” had an unexpected and super-fun surprise in separate “Boys Rule” and “Girls Rule” clubhouses.
Our toddler was DE-LIGHTED by the farm animals, including one big Tom Turkey, who put on a show for us. We also got a kick out of the sheep, who incidentally make more of an angry M-AAAA---M-AAAA sound than a gentle Baaa Baaa. They were kind of mean, but I’m sure that they’re totally over kids at this point.
As reported by the angry and frustrated Google mom, the hayride was a complete bust. Downgrading a hayride from regular/boring to awful takes a bit of work, but they managed to do it. The fuel from the tractor stunk and the route was a weird up-and-back along a dusty trail. As we’ve seen with our other adventures, it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to jazz it up.
Aw Shucks is indeed rickety and rambling, but I mark that up to its rustic “charm.” At around $8 per person, the pricing is a bit steep for what it is, but it’s not something you can do every day. In fact, they close for the season on November 18, so if you are inclined, get there. (And, if you DO decide to get there, DON’T use GPS – it will drag you all over town. Use the directions on their website). For more information, visit: http://www.awshuckscornmaze.com.
