This summer will mark 20 years since York Maze first cropped-up on the York tourism scene in 2002
This summer will mark 20 years since York Maze first cropped-up on the York tourism scene in 2002. What started as a small farm diversification project by local farmer Tom Pearcy has grown to become the biggest attraction of its kind in Europe and one of Yorkshire’s most popular summer family days out, picking up an impressive collection of awards along the way.
Past maize maze designs have often been linked to an anniversary or notable occasion and York Maze has welcomed a host of famous faces over the years to officially open the maze. The 6th Doctor Colin Baker materialised in his Tardis to open the 50th anniversary Doctor Who maze. Brian Blessed and Geoff Boycott both came to see their faces carved in the giant Yorkshire Legends themed maze in 2014. Jamie Anderson, son of Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson opened the Thunderbirds 50th anniversary maze, and the Roald Dahl centenary maze was opened by actress Julie Dawn Cole who played Veruca Salt in the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film. There was a lightsabre battle at the opening of the maze in 2017 when Darth Vader came face to face with characters from the rebellion to open the Star Wars themed maze!
York Maize Mr Men 2021
Says Tom Pearcy, ‘Excuse the corn themed puns but, cornsidering where we started we have certainly come a long way from the early days when an old double decker bus was our ticket office, café, gift shop and my office cornbined! It hasn’t always been easy, challenges have cropped up along the way, we’ve had to corntend with hurricanes, floods and drought and of course in 2020 due to Covid we didn’t get to open at all! The maize maze is still at the heart of what we do and now York Maze has grown to be a full day out with over 20 attractions, rides and shows. We are always innovating and developing new attractions to give visitors new reasons to return. Last year the new Crowmania tractor & trailer ride was a massive hit, with its live actors and animatronic animals it has even been cornpared to a Disney ride! This year for our 20th anniversary we are unveiling two new shows and three new attractions!
“It is fantastic to speak to visitors who first visited us as children and are now returning with families of their own. We will corntinue to evolve and innovate, bringing our unique brand of corn themed fun to a new generation of visitors and look forward to the next 20 years being as amazing as the first 20!”
York Maze opens from Sat 16th July – Monday 5th September 2022. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and are not available on the gate www.yorkmaze.com.
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