Pure Michigan’s own Maria Wygnal interviewed Carlo Izzi, whose family owns Izzi Farm Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Ira Township. We’ve been talking about this amazing corn maze for some time and had some questions!
Cooler Michigan weather means lots of fall fun around the state with plenty of harvest celebrations and Halloween events to choose from. Corn mazes are extremely popular — and we’ve found one that offers something unique this year, a true Pure Michigan experience!
Izzi Farms Pure Michigan Corn Maze
Carlo Izzi says the question he hears most often is “HOW did you do it?” Pure Michigan Facebook fans and Twitter followers have wanted to know the same thing…
And so that was my first question.
Carlo’s answer was… that he doesn’t tell. This is his second year designing a maze (last year’s maze featuring the heads of Barack Obama and John McCain also got lots of attention) and he’s not willing to give up his corn-cutting secrets, even to us! Fortunately for Izzi Farm, guessing is part of the maze’s mystique.
Carlo was encouraged to use the logo as the main focus of this year’s maze after discussing the award-winning Pure Michigan ads with a friend. He thought it was a good idea and contacted Travel Michigan for permission to use it. Planning started early and one of his main concerns was doing it right. Other mazes he’d seen were too cluttered. More of an artist than a corn cutter, he felt the best approach was for the Pure Michigan logo to be the main focus.
As we talked, he told me it was a lot more work than he ever thought, but knowing so many kids would enjoy it made it a labor of love. Check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!
There are actually two mazes. One is for beginners and takes about 15 minutes to complete. The advanced maze takes about 30 minutes or more. On Saturday nights, visitors can experience the Moonlight Maze after dark and navigate the cornstalks with nothing but a glow stick and map — all ages welcome! While you’re at Izzi Farm you can also enjoy finding that perfect pumpkin from a four-acre pumpkin patch and browsing a gift shop that features only Michigan-made items and refreshments.
This amazing Pure Michigan corn maze is located in southeast Michigan on Marine City Highway in Ira Township, five miles east of I-94. The maze is located on 11 acres that was formerly a driving range. Directions are available online.
Adult admission is $7; ages 6-11 are $4; kids five years and under are free. Izzi Farm is open until Nov. 1 on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to dusk. For more information, call 586.612.2511 or go to www.izzifarm.com. Additional photos are also available.
You can find other harvest fun at michigan.org, including farm markets, cider mills, wineries, fall color tours and other events.
Maria Wygnal is a travel marketing specialist with Travel Michigan/Michigan Economic Development Corp. She grew up in the greater Lansing area and currently resides in East Lansing. Her interests include travel, social media, graphic design and photography.
