Visitors can happily lose themselves in the Lacombe Corn Maze for many years to come.
Lacombe County’s municipal planning commission unanimously approved a five-year development permit for the popular attraction that has been drawing visitors to the 40-acre site south of Highway 12 for 20 years.
Started by the Kraay family farm, the maze has expanded significantly over the years, adding new attractions every year. The heart of the attraction is the 15-acre corn maze, which features a different design every year.
There is also a two-acre sunflower maze, giant jumping pillows, sugar shack, corn barn, ball zone, picnic areas, concession booth and a goat run.
The farm opens in mid-May for daytime field trips, and by mid-July, the corn is high enough for regular visiting hours until the end of August. Daytime school groups continue to come until the end of October.
On its busiest days, the corn maze can attract as many as 2,500 people.
Dale Freitag, Lacombe County’s director of planning services, said there have been no issues with the attraction, and the latest permit and attached conditions bring the approval up to date.
“It’s just a matter of catching up to where they are right now and recognizing it through this approval,” he told the planning commission.