Featured Member: Collins Farm Corn Maze
This week’s featured member Collins Farm Corn Maze is one of the region’s most recognized agritourism destinations. Located along U.S. 302 in Bath, New Hampshire, the family-run farm has become a seasonal favorite for locals and visitors alike, offering outdoor adventures, family-friendly attractions, and community-driven fun throughout the year.
A Family Tradition Rooted in Creativity
Corey Collins, owner and designer of the 13-acre maze, has transformed what began as a small family project into one of New Hampshire’s most talked-about outdoor experiences. “My parents do the farm stand and greenhouse,” Collins explained. “The greenhouse usually opens around Mother’s Day, and then produce is available seasonally as it’s ready.” The greenhouse and farm stand are stocked with flowers, starter plants, and fresh produce, and typically remain open into October or early November.
The farm’s star attraction, the corn maze, first opened in 2018. Each year, Corey designs and cuts an entirely new maze by hand, creating one of the largest freehand pieces of art in the country. “Unlike all the other corn mazes out there, I don’t use GPS or measuring equipment,” he said. “I hold the hand-drawn design in one hand, drive the tractor with the other, and draw with a John Deere.”
Each design takes shape after months of planning and creativity. Because of the field’s long, narrow shape, he has to think carefully about both aesthetics and visitor experience. “It’s like drawing on a banana with a wide-tip Sharpie,” Collins joked. “You have to come up with an image that you can see clearly, but also one that will walk well.”
This year’s theme is medieval, joining a list of past designs that have included pirates, underwater scenes, Native American patterns, and farm motifs. Every maze features three levels of difficulty, hidden checkpoints, trivia clues, and puzzles for guests to solve.
Outdoor Adventures and Events
Beyond the corn maze, Collins Farm offers a range of attractions that change with the seasons. During the fall, visitors can enjoy flashlight mazes, haunted mazes, wagon and saddle rides, and concession favorites such as fried dough, chicken tenders, and hot beverages.
The haunted flashlight maze is the farm’s most popular event of the year. It runs on select weekends in October, featuring live scare actors, animatronics, and special glowstick-only nights. “We have live scare actors, animatronics, and you’re still looking for your objectives,” Collins said. “You can be solving puzzles while being stalked by a werewolf or a witch.”
Despite its growing popularity, the attraction still maintains a local, small-town feel. “It’s a free-for-all,” Collins laughed. “It’s hectic and marvelous at the same time.” He noted that the maze’s size of 13 acres and about 1,200 feet from end to end allows for plenty of space. “I haven’t reached a point where I’ve had to turn people away,” he said.
The Outdoor Escape Room
One of Collins Farm’s newest additions is the outdoor escape room, which officially launched this season. It combines elements of traditional escape rooms with the maze’s adventurous outdoor setting. “Guests are given an enchanted satchel that has been sealed with five enchanted locks,” Collins explained. “You’re carrying the escape room with you, and you visit different locations along the trails to find puzzle stations and clues.”
This outdoor version allows groups of two to five people to collaborate and explore while solving interactive challenges. It’s one of the few activities that requires advance booking through the farm’s website.
Seasonal and Holiday Fun
The fun doesn’t stop after Halloween. During the winter, the farm transforms into a holiday destination with its Holiday Light Maze, complete with festive decorations, outdoor movie screenings, and hot chocolate around a campfire. “It’s about a mile of trails through the outdoor elements,” Collins said. “We encourage people to dress for the weather and enjoy the lights.”
Other seasonal offerings include foam dance parties during the warmer months. These family-friendly events feature lively music, ultraviolet foam, and black lights, creating a fun and unique experience that’s especially popular with kids and teens.
Community and Family
While Collins Farm Corn Maze is known for its attractions, Corey emphasizes that family is at the heart of everything they do. His children all help in different ways, from mowing trails to managing concession stands and selling handmade bracelets at events. “My two boys are very involved,” he said. “My youngest loves to help cook food in the booth and mow the maze, and my older son is my shadow all day long.”
Collins also takes pride in the farm’s connection to the community. Local schools, hospitals, and businesses visit for field trips and team-building events. “There’s a local eye care place that sends staff every year, and two hospitals in the area,” he shared. “It’s nice to see how many people come back annually.”
Reflecting on the farm’s growth, Collins remains grateful for the support he’s received. “I looked at it as providing an entertainment service,” he said. “I didn’t expect it to be so graciously received by the community.”
Whether it’s families exploring the maze, groups taking part in the haunted nights, or visitors enjoying the holiday lights, Collins Farm Corn Maze continues to offer a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience that celebrates creativity, community, and family fun. Connect with the Collins Farm Corn Maze on Facebook and Instagram, or check out their videos on YouTube.
