Farmer's maize takes new turn
Entertainment Agritourism outing
Shawnee farmer's maize takes new turn

By Ann Kelley

Published: September 30, 2008

SHAWNEE — Tom Mikles wipes the sweat from his brow, looking up at the sky as if it broke a promise for cooler weather.

It's harvest time for Mikles, who stands among lavish green corn stalks. But the stalks have no corn. Mikles' crop isn't sweet kernels, but crowds drawn by his 6-acre corn maze.

For the past three years, Tom and Robin Mikles have given visitors a taste of country living with a maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo and an array of activities aimed at entertainment and education.

The theme of this year's maze is Oklahoma weather. Among its twists and turns are outlines of Oklahoma, a lightning bolt, a raindrop, a sun, a tornado and a snowflake.

Tom Mikles designed the maze, mowed the paths and used weed killer to keep native grasses from overtaking the routes.

Mikles said his entire farm is about 65 acres, which is too small to generate a lucrative crop, but the right size for the agritourism venture.

To get to Tom and Robin Mikles' farm, exit Interstate 40 at State Highway 18. Go north about 2.5 miles to Wolverine Road, and then three-quarters of a mile east.

The maze will be open through Nov. 15.

Hours of operation are 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Admission is $7.50 for ages 12 and older and $6.50 for ages 4 to 11.

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