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Berkeley Electric Cooperative member Belinda Sandlin's 8-year-old granddaughter, Reagan, runs through the West Farm Corn Maze in Moncks Corner, SC.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Berkeley Electric Cooperative member Belinda Sandlin and her grandchildren Reagan and Jackson navigate the West Farm Corn Maze, with nearly 3 miles of pathways winding through the cornstalks.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Fall fun on the farm is more than just corn mazes. West Farm also features a petting zoo.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Families flock to the petting zoo at West Farm during fall festivities.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Kids can take a tractor ride through the cornfields at Clinton Sease Farm in Lexington, SC.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Props make for picture-perfect pumpkin memories at Clinton Sease Farm.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Pick out a pumpkin—or several—to take home from Clinton Sease Farm.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Visitors wend through the winding pathways of the Clinton Sease Farm corn maze.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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Today, GPS assists with creating the maze design at Clinton Sease Farm.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
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The fading fruits of the harvest pave the way for maze adventures at West Farm.
Photo by Thomas Hammond
"Grandma, it's this way!"
Eight-year-old Reagan and her 6-year-old brother, Jackson, holler that phrase more than a few times as they navigate the labyrinth that is the West Farm Corn Maze.
They're leading their grandmother, Belinda Sandlin, a Berkeley Electric Cooperative member, through rows of corn, often scattering in opposite directions as they try to escape the stalks.
Reagan and Jackson aren't maze rookies. This is their third one. But according to them, the West Farm puzzle poses the biggest challenge yet.
Across South Carolina, a crispness in the air and leaves that go from summer's green to shades of yellow, orange and red indicate fall is (nearly) here, and many kids (and grandparents) will be winding their way through mazes and pumpkin patches. And for several farms across the state, autumn means it's time to put the plows away and begin the transition to harvesting tickets rather than crops.
A handful have even turned to new pastures, converting their farms to full-time agritourism operations.
Regardless of the approach, turning a working farm into a day of family fun is no small feat. It's a lot of work to manage the eager guests who want to lose themselves in cornfields, enjoy the tastes of fall and experience life on the farm, if only for the day.
Here's how they do it and what visitors can expect to enjoy on farms throughout the state.
1542 Cooper Store Road, Moncks Corner
(843) 704-0618
West Farm's corn maze is a serious challenge for even the most seasoned maze wanderer, winding nearly 3 miles through rows of stalks. West Farm has been in the corn maze business for more than two decades now, though, according to owner Charlotte West, the concept seemed a little far-fetched at first.
The idea originated when her sister-in-law called her father-in-law with a "crazy idea" that he should start a corn maze. His response?
"Nobody's gonna pay us to walk through corn," she recalls him saying.
When West and her husband took over the farm, they decided to give that crazy idea a shot. The first year was a bit of trial and error, but they knew they were onto something. Now, more than two decades later, they host thousands of guests over five weeks in the fall.
"We would personally take families around and do all the activities with them, and then it just got bigger and bigger. And now we do over 50,000 people in five weeks," West says.
The maze has a distinct theme and design each year. The 2025 edition featured dogs, with the maze meandering in the shape of man's best friend and supporting local animal organizations.
"We've partnered with all these rescues and other organizations to help raise money," West says.
The 7.5-acre maze was designed and mapped by MazePlay from Firth, Idaho.
This year's maze design honors America's 250th anniversary, featuring the Statue of Liberty and an eagle's head.
For those with younger kids or just looking for something a little less daunting, West Farm has a .4-mile path through the maze.
Once you make your way out of the rows, take a load off with a hayride through the property, or let the kids enjoy the farm-inspired play area. There are plenty of animals to spend time with and feed, and vendors offer an assortment of fall goodies for the whole family.
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382 Olde Farm Road, Lexington
(803) 730-2863
"It was an accident."
That's how Clinton Sease describes his farm's path to starting a corn maze. In the early 2000s, Sease ran a roadside stand, and one day, a special set of visitors stopped by.
"A group of people came by that were going to Harmon's Tree Farm as part of a convention out of Charlotte," Sease explains. That convention was part of the International Agritourism Association.
After a few conversations with the folks who got off the bus, Sease's wife and sister went to the same conference to learn about agritourism and how they could start welcoming people to their farm. By 2004, Clinton Sease Farm was in the corn maze business.
Now, the farm has become a staple Midlands attraction. It's come a long way since its early maze days, when Sease cut pathways through the cornfields himself with a lawnmower and help from workers on the farm.
"The first three years, we lined it off by hand," Sease says. "I went through with twine and a bucket."
Today, GPS has made it less of a manual process. In addition to the maze, which features a lookout tower, Clinton Sease Farm has a pumpkin patch and games for kids of all ages. And this year, a jumping pad and apple cannon will make their debut.
This year's maze design will also honor the celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
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1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant
(843) 884-4371
While many folks associate the mountains or rural farms with pumpkins and corn mazes, historic Boone Hall Plantation has hosted fall festivities for more than two decades. And it's been farming for a lot longer.
Boone Hall Plantation is still in use as a production farm, and its history stretches back to well before the country's founding, having been established in 1681.
The Lowcountry landmark is a popular destination on cooler autumn days and offers plenty of farm fun.
"The corn maze is just one portion of our whole Pumpkin Patch festival," says Jason Young, Boone Hall's director of marketing. "We have a wagon ride through the woods with different fall (and) Halloween scenes for kids, entertainment shows, petting zoo, mini golf, live music, photo ops, food, cider, pumpkins and so much more."
This year's corn maze has something special in store for visitors. Berkeley Electric Cooperative, which sponsors Boone Hall's corn maze, has chosen to use the logo of Bright Ideas as the design for this year's 8-acre maze. Bright Ideas is a Berkeley Electric-funded program that gives grants to teachers to help fund innovative classroom experiences.
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Cooley Farms—Strawberry Hill USA
3097 Hwy. 11 West, Chesnee
(864) 461-7225
Don't be deceived by the name. Strawberry Hill USA, operated by Cooley Farms, is a year-round operation, and its fall festivities are just as big a deal as its springtime fruit namesake. The farm dates to 1900 and has been in the Cooley family since the beginning.
Strawberry Hill's 10-acre corn maze is a doozy and a go-to place for fun in the Upstate. Once you make your way out of the maze, homemade ice cream awaits as a prize, and pumpkins are ready to be picked.
And make a stop at the Strawberry Hill USA Café, famous for its cat head biscuits.
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29247 Hwy. 151, McBee
(843) 335-8611
Farming has long been a cornerstone of life in McBee, and McLeod Farms embodies it as one of the area's oldest farms, first established in 1916. The farm's corn maze and pumpkin patch are highlights of the fall experience, but visitors can also enjoy yard games and wagon rides through strawberry fields and the peach fields that have made McLeod Farms famous.
The on-site store has plenty of homemade goods, including delicious ice cream, and a burger from Big's Meats & More is a must-have.
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1515 Denver Road, Anderson
(864) 556-3394
The Upstate farm, owned by the Garrison family since 1869, is steeped in history. Denver Downs has gone full fun after years as a working plot. It has staples including a pumpkin patch and corn maze, but this farm takes fall fun to a whole new level.
More than 30 activities are available for kids and the whole family, including weekend entertainment. Pumpkin Nights allow visitors to experience the farm after the sun goes down and enjoy the Candy Corn Forest trail, rent a private bonfire and catch live music.
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What to pack for a day in a maze
- Comfortable shoes—There's lots of walking in store at a corn maze (sometimes a few miles!). Comfortable walking shoes are a must.
- Bottled water—Even though it's fall, it's not unusual for days to be in the 70s, or even warmer. Be sure to stay hydrated during all that walking and fall adventure.
- Light jacket—While the day may be warm, if you plan to start early or go later in the evening, expect the temperature to drop.
- Flashlight—Several mazes are open into the evening hours, and the sun sets fast as fall deepens. A dependable flashlight can help you navigate the path.