Chainsaws whir, clowns laugh maniacally, strobe lights flicker in the darkness and madmen lurk around every corner. What sounds like the makings of a grisly horror movie can actually be found at Cajun Country Corn Maze in Pine Grove, La.
The maze features a cornucopia of fall time festivities such as corn launchers, pig races, a multi-part playground, a hayride-like train and corn maze constructed in the shape of Troy Landry from History Channel’s “Swamp People.”
Vicki Courville, co-owner of CCCM, said the seven-and-a-half acre maze has been going strong since 2000, seeing an average of 500 visitors per weekend. She also said Troy Landry was chosen as the shape for this year’s maze because the designs always pay tribute to Louisiana — such as crawfish and alligators, used in previous years.
Along with the family fun, she said there are also spooky adventures such as the zombie paintball ride and the haunted maze.
Chris Huckaby, head of the haunted maze, has been working for CCCM since he was 13 years old. He said he began with janitorial work, security operations and directing visitors where to go. Now 21, he oversees the haunted portion of CCCM, making props, directing actors and “basically being the den mother of haunted entertainment.”
The haunted portion of the maze consists of three parts: a haunted corn maze, a pallet maze and finally a pitch-black haunted trail, according to Huckaby.
He said many actors for CCCM are hired from The 13th Gate, and prefer working the corn maze because of the amount of freedom when it comes to scaring guests.
“The main thing I think we have over The 13th Gate that makes us better is that we don’t limit them to what they do,” Huckaby said. “Like some people are given scripts, but we don’t do that. We basically let them run free and do their own thing. We try to have each person get as creative as they can.”
He went on to list the various characters that frighten visitors including gorillas, werewolves, ninjas and, adding a modern twist — Slender Man.
Even though the maze is intended for children as young as 4, he said the haunted maze can even get the best of grown men.
“When I was still a haunter, we scared this guy, and it had recently just rained a little so it was a little muddy in there,” Huckaby said. “We scared this guy to where he sprinted away. And when he sprinted away, he was latched onto his girlfriend and drug her through the mud for a good 10 to 15 feet before he let her go and continued sprinting. And then the girl got up and said ‘this is the worst first date ever.’”
Huckaby also said in years past, haunters have been given bonus incentives to make guests pee themselves, so consider bringing an extra pair of pants.
Courville emphasized the lighter parts of the corn maze for those looking for more wholesome fun, especially families with young children.
“Come out and just have fun — good, wholesome, family fun,” Courville said. “It’s a non-alcoholic venue, and there’s no place like it. And if you can come out when there’s a full moon, there’s nothing like going through a corn maze with a full moon. It’s awesome.”
The haunted mazes will continue every Friday and Saturday night in October. Other mazes at the CCCM will remain open until Nov. 24.
“Come out and just have fun — good, wholesome, family fun. It’s non-alcoholic venue, and there’s no place like it. And if you can come out when there’s a full moon, there’s nothing like going through a corn maze with a full moon. It’s awesome.”
A masked man leaps from the corn Friday night, Oct. 18, 2013 at the Cajun Country Cornmaze in Pine Grove, Louisiana.
