Tillamook takes a murderous turn

Many of the pumpkins have been picked, and plenty of people have perambulated through the corn maze at the Hydrangea Ranch in TIllamook.

Now, it’s time to get the you-know-what scared out of you when the largest corn maze on the Oregon Coast turns to muuuuuuurder on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22 and 23.

The “Maze of Murder” is a “fright night,” recommended for people aged 13 and older.

“It’s very scary,” ranch owner Monica Zweifel said. “But you can go through as many times as you want... if you dare.”

Equipped with the maze map, visitors can try different routes and see all the different scary features hidden throughout the maze.

“You can hear people screaming, but also laughing,” Zweifel said. “It’s meant to be frightening but in a fun way.” 

This is the seventh year of the creepy corn maze, and it gets more popular every year, with people returning to try the challenging pathways and enjoy the characters that change every year.

And, because the weather is also different every year, Monica recommends checking the Hydrangea Ranch Facebook page before heading out.

“We usually still go on of it’s light rain,” she said. “But we cancel for the sake of the character players if it’s too bad, because no one in their right mind is going to want to spend four hours in a corn field during a storm.”

The Maze of Murder is open from dusk to 10 pm. Entry is $10 per person.

The Hydrangea Ranch is located at 9455 Kilchis River Road, Tillamook, just past the two-mile marker.

For more information go to hydrangearanch.oregoncoastalflowers.com.