This year marks the return for one of the most popular mazes in the U.S., located 40 minutes north of Atlanta, in our very own Dawsonville. Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch opens on August 30 for a seventh fall campaign. And with an election-year theme cut into the cornfield, owner Mike Pinzl is calling the agri-tainment venue "Corn-paign 2008." He expects 40,000 patrons to navigate through the living cornstalks from August 30 to November 16.

Uncle Shuck's commemorates the presidential campaign with fun maze

The 2008 design commemorates this fall’s presidential election hoopla, with one side of the maze cut into the pattern of a donkey and one side cut into the pattern of an elephant. “Will one maze have all right turns and the other have all left turns? We just had the trails cut in early August, so you’ll have to come out to see if there really is a new twist to the trails. It’s an election year, so you never know what might happen,” said Mike Pinzl, owner of Uncle Shuck’s.

The maze continues to be owned and operated by Mike and Roxanne Pinzl of Alpharetta, Georgia. There are almost 500 corn mazes across North America, all seasonal operations to coincide with the living walls of cornstalks that create a thrill for children and adults. Pinzl has used MazePlay, based in Idaho, all seven years to professionally design and cut his maze.

The attendance at Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze has tripled since the inaugural year of 2002.  In 2007, the 20-acre complex, with maze trails, hayrides, bonfires and pumpkin patch, attracted close to 40,000 people, making it one of the most well-attended mazes in the country, according to Jane Eckert, past president of the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association and founder of Eckert AgriMarketing. According to Eckert, the average attendance for a maze in North America is approximately 10,000 to 12,000. Only a dozen mazes or so actually reach crowds like Uncle Shuck’s.

The maze, seasonal pumpkin patch and other on-site activities are open for 12 consecutive weekends, from Labor Day weekend to November 16.  Admission into the maze trails is $9 per person, age four and over; maze admission is free for children 3 and under.

There are additional activities at the agri-tainment complex, such as a tractor-drawn hay ride, bonfire area and a corn cannon, and fees vary. A combo ticket for $12 includes admission to the maze, a hay ride and a bonfire pass with a make-your-own-s’mores package.

The October Haunted maze will be an additional $3 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Program. There is no admission fee for the Picnic Pavilion, Kiddie CORNer with soybean maze, Sunflower Garden, tractor display and family photo area.

Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is located two miles west of GA 400 on Highway 53 in Dawsonville. Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is only 40 minutes from metro Atlanta, just two miles from the North Georgia Premium Outlet Mall.

The days and hours operation vary each month. Visit www.uncleshucks.com for schedules and additional information or call 1-888-OSHUCKS.