COLUMBIANA- A New Springfield couple is encouraging community residents to get lost- in a cornfield maze.

Mike and Cindy Bacon have opened Columbiana MazeCraze on the corner of state routes 14 and 7, offering nearly 12 acres and five miles of a twisting, turning life-size labyrinth to navigate.

Professionally designed and cut by Shawn Stolworthy of MazePlay in Firth, Idaho, the maze consists of three separate routes- the .3-mile easy "green" one for young children; the moderate 1.7-mile "brown" one; and the 3-mile difficult "red" one-all interweaving to create a barnyard design featuring a barn and silo, a sunset and various farm animals, as seen from the air.

With six checkpoints throughout each, the "brown" and "red" ones include tickets that get uniquely-shaped punches at each stop, plus the "brown" one offers the "Sudoku" option in which visitors must arrange the punch holes in a specific order.

The entire maze requires an average of one and one half to three hours to complete.

According to Cindy, her husband, who has a past steeped in agriculture, had wanted to create the maze since visiting an out-of-town one three years ago.

"This area is very limited in the good, clean entertainment that is available," she said. "What we want to offer is a good, wholesome experience that is lot of fun."

Plus it gets people out and exercising outside rather than sitting at home watching television, she noted.

The maze is open now through Nov. 1.

Operating hours are 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The maze will also be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for groups by appointment.

Admission is $8 for ages 12 and over, $6 for children ages 5 to 11, free for children ages 4 and under and $6 for senior citizens 65 and over. Any military personnel with identification gets in free. Group rates are available for 15 or more people.

Other activities for children include a straw maze, a corn box, a corn hole, a swing set and photo ops with animal cut-outs. Lighting equipment, such as flashlights and glow sticks, will be available for purchase, as will pumpkins and refreshments.

For information about Columbiana MazeCraze call 330-482-9904 or visit www.columbianamazecraze.com.