Swank Farms’ corn maze is back again to the squealing delight of
its many fans
By DANIEL LEMMERMAN
Special to The Pinnacle
Diana Perricone, 16, clung to a fence as she pleaded with her
friends, Raeann Collison, 17, and Graeme Scargill, 19, not make her
enter the Conover Mystery Ranch at the Swank Farms Corn Maze last
Saturday night.
Swank Farms’ corn maze is back again to the squealing delight of its many fans
By DANIEL LEMMERMAN
Special to The Pinnacle
Diana Perricone, 16, clung to a fence as she pleaded with her friends, Raeann Collison, 17, and Graeme Scargill, 19, not make her enter the Conover Mystery Ranch at the Swank Farms Corn Maze last Saturday night.
About 30 minutes later, Diana worked up the courage to take those first steps toward the fright of her life. As she and her friends waited in line, creepy characters in life-like costumes marched up and down the line spooking kids and fraying their nerves. Diana wanted to turn back, but her friends refused to let her.
Finally, the group reached the entrance to the Mystery Ranch. They followed a one-way path to terror through houses, shacks, and corn where people popped out from around corners, scaring visitors with swords, blades and other deadly weapons. Screams were followed by more screams until they reached the house they had all been dreading – the house of chainsaws.
Slowly and quietly Diana, Raeann and Graeme turned the corner and out popped a menace of a guy with a chainsaw. The group of friends ran for their lives as the sounds of a chainsaw followed right behind them. Before they knew it, they were safe, outside of the ranch, breathing heavily and telling everyone that they would never go again, all knowing that they would go through the same frightful experience again next year.
Working through their fears created memories that they will never forget.
“It was very scary,” Diana said. “When you’re waiting in line, they try to scare you and I didn’t like that. It was pretty entertaining, though.”
The Conover Mystery Ranch is not the only event to partake in at the Swank Farms Corn Maze. A second group of friends – Kristina Leal, 19, Nick Huston, 17, and Christina Castaneda, 17 – decided to try Maniac Maze II instead of the Mystery Ranch. They went through two creaking doors and, with no light of any kind, started through the maze.
They quickly became separated and “we were more scared than if we had gone through the mystery ranch,” Leal said. “We were running around like crazy, trying to find each other. It was scary thinking we were lost.” After about a half an hour, Leal found her two friends and the trio found their way through the maze after swearing that they would not lose each other again. For the faint at heart, the corn maze and the three labyrinths Swank Farms has created this year are also open during the day. There is also a maze for children, along with several other family activities.
But the mazes continue to be the big attraction, even with the younger set. When Cole Hyland, a middle-school student from Gilroy, was asked what his favorite part was, his answer was quick: “Getting lost in the corn maze.”
Cole and his friends, Matthew Dempler, Damon Williams, Casper Hunkin, and Scott Vogle, were visiting the maze for the first time. It won’t be their last, Cole said.
Calvin Felder, Julian Ronquillo, and their entire Santa Clara 11-14 youth soccer team came to the corn maze after winning their match in San Juan Bautista. Their favorite part was running through the maze and getting lost.
“I heard about the maze on the Internet and the radio and thought it would be fun to bring the team,” said their coach, Sindey Leonard. “They really enjoyed themselves.”
Although the maze is the big draw, for many the foods Swank Farms offer at its snack shack make the trip worthwhile.
“They have good salsa,” said Judy Williams, of Gilroy. Her friend, Mariam Dempler, gushed over the salsa’s freshness.
It seems the maze has become somewhat of a legend in the region. Word of mouth has spread the tales of fright to and fro – and it’s growing in popularity.
“I go every year, and I try to go with as many of my friends as I can,” Graeme said, the veteran of the three girls. “I always tell everyone how cool it is.”
Next year her pal Diana will have boasting rights as a maze veteran, and will help peel another frightened teen clinging in desperation to a nearby fence.
