Press Release: September 21, 2017
Denver Downs Farm Corn Maze & Fall Festival
ANDERSON, SC – Denver Downs Farm’s Corn Maze & Fall Festival opens this week for the 2017 season and will be open weekends through November 5th for family fun.
This year’s maze design celebrates the State of South Carolina’s three National Collegiate Championships won in the past year — Clemson University winning the National Football Championship, University of South Carolina Women’s Basketball winning the NCAA Championship, and Coast Carolina Baseball winning the College World Series. What an incredible achievement! Let’s celebrate!
A giant football, baseball, and basketball, each about the size of a football field plus “National Champions” in letters larger than distance of a “half court” shot are cut into the 10 acres of corn planted by 4th generation farmer, Tom Garrison. It’s a family business and Tom’s sister, Catherine Garrison Davis, is in charge of special events at the farm.
“This was such incredible achievement for SC to win three National Championships in one year, so we opted to carve our cornfield in celebration. We thought that folks from all around South Carolina — USC fans, Clemson fans, and Coastal Carolina fans from the low country — would have fun with it! Only wish we’d had time to add a golf club in the design, since SC golfer Doc Redmond won the US Amateur Championship last month!” says Catherine.
Trivia about each of the teams is posted throughout the maze, and non sports trivia is available to view on visitors’ smart phones. Maze explorers can also use their smart phone to record their time from start to maze exit.
Each weekend is packed with special events. A special “Celebrate the Champions” weekend will be held October 21-22, featuring baseball, football, and basketball throwing contests, a Saturday night concert with “Dirty Grass Soul” and the farm‘s first ever fireworks show!
The Pumpkin Patch, pick-your-own flowers and farm fun activities surround the maze. Barnyard activities for all ages include a Sports Ball Zone, hay barn play area, Jumping Pillow, bonfires, and more. New activities this year are the a zipline and Farmin’ Foosball. Visitors will enjoy live music on the weekends. Come hungry, as the concessions area has been expanded.
The Garrison family has owned and operated the 900-acre farm since 1872. “We love sharing our family’s farm heritage with the community, and seeing folks of all ages just having fun! We work on this all year and really enjoy it, too,” says Lee Garrison Smith, Field Trip Coordinator and sibling involved with running the Fall Festival.
Starting at the end of September through Halloween, Denver Downs will be hosting the 3rd year of the Harvest of Horror Haunt. There are four haunted attractions this year, including a Haunted Freak Show, Santa’s Slay House, Haddenfield Inn, and the Camp Crystal Lake Bus Ride.
“We’ve been working on this since last Halloween, and it has turned out to be an excellent production. I think visitors will be entertained, scared and feel like they got a good value coming out to Denver Downs for this haunt.” Says Ron Smith, Operations Manager for the Fall Festival. Admission to the haunt includes the four attractions, plus maze, barnyard activities, and live music.
