Fall’s Greatest Escape: Inside the World’s Largest Corn Maze at Richardson Adventure Farm

If you haven’t made the pilgrimage to Richardson Adventure Farm yet, consider this your sign. The clock is ticking on your chance to wander through the World’s Largest Corn Maze — a sprawling, 28-acre love letter to fall that’s part nostalgia, part pure adrenaline.

Tucked away in Spring Grove, Illinois, this isn’t your average pumpkin patch. It’s a Midwest fever dream run by the Richardson family — George, Wendy, Robert, Carol, Ryan, and Kristen — a multigenerational crew whose passion for fun has turned their land into one of the most iconic autumn destinations in America.

October is the farm’s golden hour. Picture this: cool nights, the smell of campfires drifting through the air, and overhead lights illuminating smiling faces as families sip cider and carve pumpkins. The Richardson crew calls it “the perfect place to celebrate the season before Old Man Winter takes over,” and they’re not wrong.

There’s a gift shop bursting with fall décor, homemade fudge, and fresh donuts. You’ll find pumpkins in every shade of orange imaginable, plus tulip bulbs for those already plotting their spring gardens.

But the real showstopper? That 10.4-mile corn maze, a pop-culture tribute this year to the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future. Inside, the trails twist like time itself, pulling you deeper into autumn’s hypnotic rhythm. Around every corner, there’s something new: giant slides, jumping pillows, a ropes course, and even Zorbing — because who doesn’t want to roll down a hill inside a giant inflatable ball?

And for the grown-ups? Sip on apple cider mimosas or a 9th Hour Brewing craft beer at the farm’s Barrel House while the kids tackle the ropes course or feed goats. Add in food trucks, train rides, a 50-foot-tall observation tower, a koi pond, and you’ve got yourself a full-blown fall festival on steroids.

“Kids always have a fantastic time here, and now they have even more climbing adventures to enjoy,” says Ryan Richardson, grinning as a new crowd pours through the gates.

Whether you come for the maze, the pumpkins, or the pure autumn energy, Richardson Adventure Farm is where fall memories get made — and time slows down, just long enough to remind you why this season rules.

Richardson Adventure Farm is open through October 26 at 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove, IL. Hours vary by day; tickets start at $20. Visit richardsonfarm.com for full details.

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