Some fall outings last an hour and leave everyone wanting more. This one asks families to block off the whole afternoon and still leaves activities on the table.
There is a 17-acre maze shaped by precision-planted corn, zip lines running down a hillside, bucking cow rides, giant hay bale playgrounds, and a view that reaches toward the horizon from the highest point in the county. Kids get tickets for games, grown-ups get a maze tricky enough to spark friendly arguments about which way is out, and the whole thing sits on a working farm that has been in the same family for generations.
Curious where all this happens and why northeast Ohio keeps coming back year after year? Keep reading, because the details are worth the trip.
Where the Adventure Unfolds in Mantua
Tucked into the rolling countryside of Portage County, Derthick’s Corn Maze sits at 5182 Twinsburg Warren Rd in Mantua, Ohio. The farm is easy enough to reach that families have made the drive from as far as Pittsburgh and still called it worth the trip.
The location is no accident of scenery. Derthick’s Hill is the highest point in Portage County, which means the fall colors spread out below you once you climb toward the top.
Word has it that on a clear day the view stretches all the way to Lake Erie from the top of the silo. Guests cannot climb that silo, of course, but the hillside itself gives plenty to take in.
The setting is rural without being remote, which makes it a comfortable day trip for northeast Ohio families. Open fields, barns, and a working farm layout give the place an authentic feel rather than a manufactured attraction vibe.
Everything you want for a full afternoon is gathered on one property. That convenience is part of why folks keep circling back each autumn.
A Working Farm With Deep Family Roots
Long before the mazes and zip lines, this was simply land that a family worked season after season. Derthick’s is a seventh-generation, family-owned and operated farm, and that history threads through everything on the property.
The corn does not just sit there for looks. Each kernel is precision planted into the shape the family chooses for that year, and once the season wraps up, the corn is harvested like any other crop.
That detail matters. It means the maze is both a creative attraction and a functional part of a real agricultural operation, not a set piece that gets bulldozed.
Employees have stuck around for years, and the family speaks of their crew as something close to relatives. That loyalty tends to show in how the place runs.
There is a quiet pride here that comes from decades of stewardship. Many farms have tried to copy the formula, but few match the care that generations of experience bring to it.
Coming here feels less like visiting a business and more like being welcomed onto someone’s land.
The 17-Acre Maze That Changes Every Year
The centerpiece earns its reputation honestly. Spanning 17 acres, the main corn maze is a genuine test of patience and sense of direction, with a fresh theme designed anew each and every fall.
Getting turned around is practically part of the deal. Plenty of guests admit to going in circles, and returning families still laugh about the year they got hopelessly lost in the corn.
To keep the frustration friendly, the farm builds in checkpoints throughout the paths. Those markers help you reorient without spoiling the challenge of finding your own way out.
Adults should not assume this is a walk in the park for kids. The full-size maze is big and clever enough to keep grown-ups scratching their heads well past the entrance.
There are three different mazes on the property, ranging from the large one down to a smaller version built for little ones. That variety means everyone finds a path suited to their patience level.
Redemption arcs are common here, with families returning to finally conquer the route that beat them the year before.
Zip Lines Down the Hillside
For those craving a little airborne thrill, the zip lines are the standout add-on. They run down the hill and give a jolt of adventure that stands apart from the slower pace of maze-walking.
The staff here shows real patience with nervous first-timers. Stories float around of kids working up the courage to try, walking back down twice, and getting cheered on the whole time.
That kind of encouragement turns a scary moment into a memory worth keeping. Some young guests leave promising themselves they will conquer the line next year.
Pricing keeps it accessible. A single zip runs $5, and two go for $9, so it stays an optional splurge rather than a budget-buster.
Not everyone climbs aboard, and that is fine. The farm treats the zip lines as an extra for the adventurous rather than something baked into general admission.
For families chasing a bit of adrenaline between corn rows, it is a highlight that rewards a leap of nerve.
Games, Rides, and Activities for Every Age
Even skipping the maze entirely, a family could fill an entire day here. The lineup of activities is long enough that most guests admit they never get to everything.
Little ones gravitate toward the bucking cow train ride, the hay bale playground, the corn box, and slides scattered around the grounds. Bounce pads, a big inflatable, and a bubble-blowing station keep the youngest guests busy for hours.
Older kids and adults find plenty too. Archery, an air cannon, basketball hoops, mini bikes, and oversized yard games give everyone a reason to keep moving.
Admission includes three tickets per person, geared toward the more kid-friendly attractions like the trampoline and miniature archery. Those tickets stretch the fun without extra spending.
The variety is the point. With options spanning toddlers to grandparents, nobody stands around waiting for their turn at the one thing they came for.
It adds up to a place where the whole crew stays entertained, no matter the age gap.
Farm Animals and the Petting Barn
Beyond the games, the animal barn draws its own crowd of curious guests. Friendly farm animals give kids a chance to slow down and connect with the living side of the farm.
The barn has housed baby pigs that tripled in size after arriving at just seven weeks old. Watching young animals grow across the season is part of what makes a working farm feel alive.
Barn cats roam the property as well, part of the everyday rhythm of farm life. The family tends to their animals through the ups and downs that come with real agriculture.
Weather sometimes changes the routine. During cold, wet stretches, mother cows and their babies get moved inside for warmth and health, even if the moms grumble about the arrangement.
For families with younger children, the barn offers a gentler counterpoint to the high-energy attractions outside. It is a chance to catch your breath and meet the residents.
The animals round out the sense that this is a genuine farm, not just an amusement lot dressed up for fall.
Pumpkins and Pick-Your-Own Blooms
Some traditions here have nothing to do with getting lost in corn. Picking pumpkins straight from the field ranks among the most beloved parts of a visit, and longtime guests count it as their favorite reason to return.
Pumpkins carry a modest additional charge, but the pricing stays reasonable enough that nobody blinks. Choosing your own from the patch beats grabbing one off a store shelf any day.
The farm also opens up its flower fields for pick-your-own bouquets. Sunflowers steal the show, joined by cosmos, zinnias, and cornflowers ready to be cut and carried home.
The blooms bring life beyond the petals too. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and goldfinches visit the fields, turning a simple flower-picking stop into a small nature outing.
Guests tend to leave with an armful of color and plans to do it all again. A homemade bouquet becomes a lasting piece of the day.
These quieter offerings prove the farm has more up its sleeve than the headline attractions suggest.
Prices, Hours, and Getting the Most for Your Money
Value is a big part of the pitch here, and the numbers back it up. General admission runs about $13 per person, and that ticket unlocks a whole host of included activities plus three tickets for the kid-friendly stations.
A few things carry small extra charges. The hayride adds $3 per person to help offset fuel costs, and the zip line runs $5 for one ride or $9 for two.
Pumpkins from the field cost a bit more but stay reasonably priced. The family positions the farm as one of the least expensive mazes in northeast Ohio for everything it packs in.
Families report spending two to three and a half hours here and still not finishing everything on offer. A group of seven managed a full afternoon for around $100.
Some weekends stretch the fun after dark, with the maze taking on a different feel at night and Saturday hours reaching late. Food trucks and live music have turned certain Friday nights into events of their own.
Come with a plan, arrive with the kids, and the admission stretches remarkably far.
Why Families Keep Coming Back Every Fall
Loyalty is the truest measure of a fall destination, and this farm has it in spades. Guests have returned yearly for over a decade, and many turn a single visit into a standing family tradition.
The staff earns much of that goodwill. Friendly, patient, and knowledgeable crew members show up again and again in the stories families tell, from tractor drivers who calm nervous kids to workers who stay cheerful even in chilly October weather.
Holding a solid 4.5-star mark across well over a hundred and sixty ratings, the farm has clearly struck a chord with northeast Ohio. Not every experience is flawless, but the overwhelming sentiment leans warm and enthusiastic.
What sets it apart is the sheer amount packed onto one working farm. Between three mazes, zip lines, animals, pumpkins, flowers, and a hillside view, a single admission fee opens a full day of options.
Bring a crew, plan for the afternoon, and save room on the calendar for the following autumn. Odds are you will already be planning your return before you reach the parking lot.
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