Connecticut corn maze: Behind the scenes of the Ben Franklin maze at Lyman Orchards

By Joseph Tucci | CT Insider

Lyman Orchards has been growing corn mazes for over 20 years, each time hoping that the guests who explore them learn something new.

Early each year, the farm’s staff comes up with a theme for the corn maze and tries to finalize it by late March or early April, according to Lyman Orchards Executive Vice President John Lyman. This year, the maze is designed to look like Benjamin Franklin, in celebration of the 270th anniversary of the founding father conducting his electric kite experiment. Lyman said the farm likes to base its mazes on topics like history, sports and entertainment. In the past, mazes have been based on presidents, the Statue of Liberty, “Dancing with the Stars,” the New York Yankees and Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic. Lyman also said he has noticed an increased interest in Franklin this year with both PBS and Apple TV releasing the documentary film “Benjamin Franklin” by Ken Burns.

“We always look at our mazes as a way to teach our guests something they don’t know,” Lyman said. “We felt like this was a good time to introduce America to Ben Franklin, who is quite an important person in the formation of our country, and just the kind of individual I think we all inspire to be.”

The orchard has used the same field for each of its mazes since it started making them in 2000, according to Lyman. In order to create the mazes, Lyman Orchards’ farmers plant the corn crop in early May that will end up being shaped into the labyrinth. It’s one of several corn mazes in Connecticut that go up each fall.