The oldest operating farm in Westmoreland County has another distinction: a cornfield maze that has been amazing people for more than two decades.
Gearhard Farms, in Murrysville near Washington Township, creates a new maze through a cornfield each year. The 2021 maze, spread over two acres, opened in September and runs through this month.
The Gearhard family owns and operates the farm, which was founded in the late 1760s and passed down through the family over generations.
Founded in 2000, the maze is designed to be family-friendly and fun for all ages, said event co-organizer Mike Gearhard, rather than being a spooky Halloween attraction.
“We get asked that a lot. This is not scary,” he said. “It’s just us sharing our farm with people.”
The attraction is open on weekends (5-9 p.m., Fridays and noon-9 p.m., Saturdays and noon-7 p.m., Sundays) through Oct. 31.
Guests can purchase a trip on a hay wagon pulled by vintage tractors driven by Mike Gearhard and his father, Herb.
Herb Gearhard designed all of the mazes for 18 years.
Hayrides are $5 each, and maze admission is $7 per person. Admission is free for children 4 and younger.
Visitors are given clues and five pictures of animals to find located throughout the maze. The design of the maze is revealed to visitors after they complete the trek. Aerial photos of each year’s maze are displayed on the Gearhard Farms website.
“It was our first time here and we didn’t get lost,” joked Shanika McBride of Murrysville.
McBride accompanied her daughter Rayne inside the maze.
“My favorite part was finding the five animals in the corn,” Rayne said.
Gearhard said they’ve never had to rescue anyone from the maze and folks won’t get lost.
The attraction can be navigated at dusk with the aid of flashlights.
“We get mostly adults and teens doing that,” Gearhard said.
About 10 family members share duties operating the weekend maze attraction.
“It’s been in our family for 252 years,” said Cassie Gearhard, who’s married to Mike Gearhard and who helped design this year’s maze. “It’s tradition — that’s why we do it.”
The entrance to the maze is located at 5905 Saltsburg Road (Route 286).
