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Maze honors Shelby, Crest football champions

Certain things have a way of letting you know that the fall season is finally arriving to Cleveland County: children starting back to school, a slight "nip" in the air in the early mornings, a tinge of color on the trees, and pumpkin-spiced lattes returning to area coffee shops. Another sure sign of fall in our area is the opening of the Shelby Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, located on Broadway Drive in Shelby, not far from Boiling Springs. This year opening day is September 19.
"This is our fourteenth year in operation," says Alice Pyron, who owns and operates the maze along with her husband, Gene, and their children.
This growing season has been a hard one for the Pyrons, who along with other farmers in the county have struggled with drought. "It has really been a tough growing period, but we have irrigated the fields and we are very pleased with how it looks."
The road construction on Highway 74 west of Shelby could make folks a little worried about finding the maze this year, Pyron says. "It's kind of like a maze before you get to the maze." Pyron advises anyone coming from Shelby or other areas to the east to the east to take 74 west through the construction and make the first u-turn. Visitors will then travel about one mile east on 74 before turning right onto McBrayer-Homestead Road. Travel about ¼ mile and take a right onto Broadway Drive, and the corn maze will be about ¼ mile on the left. Pyron promises plenty of signs will be posted to help customers navigate their way through the "road maze."
Visitors to this year's maze will find an eight-acre sea of corn, carved "as a salute to Cleveland County's reigning State High School Football Champions and the South's favorite Friday Night past time," as the maze's Facebook page says. The design features the logos for the Crest Chargers and Shelby Golden Lions, along with the words "Friday Night Champs."
Once inside the maze, participants will use a "passport" that will allow them to answer multiple-choice questionnaires to guide them through the maze's twists and turns. It takes most participants about an hour to complete the maze.
In addition to the maze itself, other available activities include: a "cow train," a pipe slide, an apple launcher, corn cannons, hayrides, kid-sized ziplines, rubber duck races, a "corny corn" crib, a "kiddie korral," a "hayjump," a shooting gallery, a tethered corn ball, the "Barn of Cornfusion," and old-fashioned checkers.
Tickets are available for individuals, and discounts are offered for groups of 15 or more. Special tours are available for church youth and scouting groups, and school field trips can also be arranged. The Haunted Corn Maze (evening "spooky" tours of the maze) begin in October.
Visit www.ShelbyCornMaze.com or visit the maze's Facebook page for more information.

By APRIL HOYLE SHAUF
Special to Shelby Shopper


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