Fritzler corn maze salutes military in a big way

Sep 19, 2010

Fritzler corn maze salutes military in a big way

The 2010 Fritzler corn maze, saluting past, present and future members of the Armed Forces

Story and photos
By Jack Minor

An annual event has become a salute not just to all members of the armed forces but to one soldier in particular at the Fritzler farms corn maze this year.
Glen Fritzler and his wife Pamela have operated the Fritzler Maize since 2000. The Fritzlers have often employed patriotic themes for their maze design including an eagle in 2002 and an Iwo Jima maze in 2004. Their mazes have been featured on the Today Show and other national outlets. This year they have another patriotic theme, but with a twist.
The Fritzler’s son Trevor was a 2010 Northridge graduate who enlisted in the Army. Glen and Pamela decided they wanted to do something to show their son how proud they were of him. Glen told Trevor he would cut the maze out himself this year, then just before leaving for boot camp the family held a going away party for Trevor. They took Trevor up in a helicopter and showed him the theme, the Department of Defense logo.
At the top of the logo are the words “We Salute You”. Glen explained the words are a tribute for every past, present and future individual in every branch of the military. At the bottom of the maze it says “1869 days”, which represents the length of Trevor’s enlistment.
Trevor left on July 6 to attend basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. He chose a five-year enlistment hoping to become a Ranger. The Fritzlers recently received a letter informing them that Trevor had suffered injuries involving nerve damage. He is expected to return home sometime in the next month, however, they do not have an exact date. “The day I come home is the day I know,” Trevor said.
Glen said the secret to constructing the maze is to begin when the corn is about six inches tall. They take a grid map on 24 sheets of paper where each line is a row of corn and they put out a couple of hundred flags. They then take herbicide on a backpack and remove the corn by hand. Fritzler said it took about 60 hours to do the 15 acre maze. The entire maze site consists of about 50 acres with events for people of all ages.
The Fritzler farm consists of 320 acres of crops including pumpkins, onions, sweet, silage and grain corn. The maze is made of grain corn which will be cut down at the end of October.
When one pulls up to the site the first thing that stands out is “the creature.” Fritzler said it is the world’s largest inflatable at 150 feet long and 25 feet tall. At night the creature is filled with fog and actors are used to turn it into a haunted house. Other events include pedal go-karts, barrel train rides, campfires, two jumping pillows, a picnic area and a haunted house along with corn and pumpkin cannons. They also have a pumpkin patch for visitors to pick their own pumpkins. Fritzler said they have “corn cops” inside the maze to assist anyone and help those that may get lost. “Most people don’t want any help but they appreciate knowing it is there if it is needed” he said. Some new events include a hay jump, a color maze and a buried surprise for the kids.
Glen said the idea to start the corn maze came on a visit to a cousin in eastern Colorado. The cousin went to Arizona to visit his sister who took him to a maze. “He didn’t want to go, since he worked in cornfields all the time, but he went and had a ball.” While there, the cousin met the owner of the maze and told him about Glen. He told Glen this would be the perfect spot for a maze, being located just off the highway.
The Fritzler Maize is located at 20861 County Road 33 just off of Highway 85. For information on the rates call (970) 737-2129 or www.Fritzlermaze.com. Special rates are available for groups. The corn maze will be open from Sept. 18-Oct. 31. “Scream Acres” will be open beginning Oct. 1^.The haunting will be every evening after dark except for Sundays.