New corn maze provides acres of Halloween fun

A new 8-acre corn maze at Boltz Family Farm, just outside of New Philadelphia, is providing plenty of fall fun with a variety of activities from a corn pit to a straw mountain and a chance to get up close with a tractor.

The Jim and Carol Boltz family built their farm market four years ago, and they have added something each year to keep growing to meet the needs of the community. This year they added the corn maze and a covered bridge to access the field where the maze is located.

This is the first year for the corn maze. The family started in early July with help from TMK Farm Services to cut the design, which includes the Boltz name and a steer pattern.

“TMK made the design for us, and then they came out and helped us mark out the pattern,” Carol Boltz said. “Then we just kept mowing.”

The corn was only about a foot high when they first began mowing the pattern.

“It was a lot easier to find your way through then, but once it got over your head, it was hard,” Carol Boltz said.

At first a dry spell kept the corn from growing, but once rain moved in, the corn was over the family’s head before they knew it. They opened the maze on Sept. 11.

Map-reading skills are a plus. Everyone receives a map of the maze before they attempt to solve it.

“If you don’t get lost too many times, it takes about 25 minutes,” Boltz said. “At times, we’ve had people in there about an hour, but most people come out earlier if they are good at reading the map. It’s been lots of fun.”

There also is a shorter kids maze available.

Other activities at the farm include a corn pit, straw mountain, rat rollers, a large checkerboard that uses pumpkins as markers, a cow train ride and a few spots to take family photos.

The cost of all these activities is $10 per person; children 5 and under are free. They also have a group rate available and have already had many groups complete the maze. Call the farm at 330-339-1762.

The farm has several special events coming up, but one they are most excited about is Trick-or-Treat in the corn maze on Oct. 23 and 24.

“The kids can come dressed up, and we’ll have characters throughout the maze handing out candy,” Boltz said.

The farm also is selling mums, and a portion of each sale goes to benefit the Rainbow Connection Seeds of Hope program, which helps women in Tuscarawas County with cancer. The benefit will continue throughout the season.

Boltz is pleased to see the farm she and her sister, Mary, grew up on grow and expand. The farm was purchased in the early 1960s by the girls’ father, John Welling. He and his wife, Cora, operated the property as a dairy farm for many years. Now Boltz, her husband and their sons, Chase, 14, and Weston, 12, raise mostly beef and hogs. They also raise lettuce at a greenhouse facility in Stone Creek.

Growing lettuce started it all for the family.

“We provide lettuce for 14 restaurants in Tuscarawas and Guernsey counties,” Jim Boltz said.

They also sold the lettuce each week at a local farmers market, but their customers wanted a place to buy the product during the week. The store is located just outside of New Philadelphia at 522 Hummel Valley Road SW.

Four years ago they built and opened the Boltz Family Farm Market and expanded their product line to include more than lettuce. The market now sells the beef, pork and ducks they raise, along with products from other local farmers including turkeys, chicken, rabbits, goat and bison.

“We buy local, so you can buy local,” Carol Boltz said.

They have a variety of seasonal produce and can get large amounts of produce for people who like to can their own food. They also have canning jars and lids available.

“We have A2 milk from Buckeye Country Creamery,” Carol Boltz said. “The difference is the A2 proteins are easier to digest.”

They have some customers who stop in every week just for the milk. They also have customers who have never gone back to regular shopping at grocery stores since the pandemic began. Grocery pickup at the market is convenient, and customers can shop most items online on their website.

“We are known for our pork brats, and we have lots of different flavors,” Carol Boltz said.

Besides their meats, other favorites include Bubka’s pierogies.

While most are still enjoying fall, the Boltz’s are already looking ahead.

“We will have fresh pasture-raised turkeys for Thanksgiving. They are not frozen,” Jim Boltz said. The store is already accepting orders for the turkeys.

For Christmas they will sell Christmas trees and wreaths. They will put together custom gift baskets and meat bundles. Of course, family fun is a part of everything they do.

“We have a sleigh from the late 1800s that we are having restored right now. People can come and take their family photos with it,” Carol Boltz said.

The couple plans to keep growing the farm and providing more opportunities.

“We’re here to work with our customers,” Jim Boltz said. “Every year we have been expanding to meet the needs of the community.”

They also hope to resume their popular farm dinners next year.

Visit Boltz Family Farm at its website or on Facebook.