The Haunted Corn Maze is located at the Paintball Paradise site south of Prince Albert, off highway 2 and Lincoln Road. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Halloween thrills

Haunted Corn Maze returns on Friday the 13th

Oct 12, 2023 | 4:58 PM

A Halloween tradition in the Prince Albert area is celebrating its 10th anniversary and will appropriately re-open its doors to thrill seeking guests on Friday the 13th.

The haunted corn maze at Paintball Paradise, is accompanied by a haunted church and giant barn filled to the rafters with pumpkins. Owner/ Operator George Lewko told paNOW he is ready for a fun season.

“I’ve got my jar of fingers on the counter so I have an awful lot of fun out here,” he joked.

Over the past 10 years, the corn maze that started with only two acres, has doubled in size. Noting the dozens of actors they have to patrol the area, Lewko explained for the sake of scaring, they don’t want to get much bigger.

He also noted other halloween attractions that ask you pay $20 and you are finished in ten minutes.

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“This you pay 20 bucks and you are here for the night,” he said.

A couple years ago, some special campfire spots were added and can be rented by families. Lewko explained the parents can visit while the children run off to play, and when they return can enjoy a poutine or hot chocolate.

Other attractions at the site south of Prince Albert include a mini-maze and fairytale trail for younger ghouls and ghosts, and a new and improved and pumpkin barn which will also provide another location for a photo op. When asked when planning begins, Lewko replied it never stops.

“As soon as we are done last year, we are making ideas for this year,” he said. “There’s always stuff to be tweaked and changed.”

A child attempts to make her way through the corn maze. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Be warned, you may lose a limb if you make a wrong turn. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

The new and improved pumpkin barn offers something for everyone. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Until the end of the month, the site is open Friday nights from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Lewko encouraged people to arrive early, as the price goes up the longer you wait.

And with respect to the actual scaring, there’s a milder version from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., but after 8 p.m. a bell will gong and all hell breaks loose. Lewko said the corn maze and accompanying pumpkin patch account for 75 per cent of his business.

“29 years ago when I started paintball, I never would have thought of a pumpkin patch and corn mazes, even though I do have an ag background, but the pumpkin patch and the corn maze just work really well together,” he said.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell