Brett Herbst, owner of the Maize Co., which designed two of Greater Cincinnati's maize mazes this summer, has had a hand in creating more than 330 labyrinths across the country. He estimates that more than 2 million people have gotten lost in cornfield mazes he designed.

        In an interview with the Enquirer, he shared his views on the appeal of corn mazes, the surprising lessons corn mazes can teach and even a few secrets about the making and navigating of his intricately designed puzzles.

The Incredible Maze of Warren County, on Bunnell Road, opens today. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Question: Why would anyone want to get lost in a cornfield?

        Answer. One reason is just being out on the farm. There's nostalgia for that nationwide. The fresh air. Most people live in a subdivision type of atmosphere. Getting out in the country or open fields is kind of a treat. They smell the flowers and hear the birds and bees and listen to the rustling corn as the breeze moves it.

        Q: Yeah, that's nice. But what's special about the maze itself?

        A: People really like a challenge. We all have a competitive edge to us. Life would be boring if there were no challenges. A maze is like the perfect thing for that.

        But what I think is the true value when people go through a maze is the interaction that is created between family, friends or peers. “This person got lost while they were in there.” Or “So and so got so scared when that gorilla came out of the corn.” That's going to be the memory that they're going to remember a week or a month or a year later.

        It's that interaction with other people and whatever that mysterious thing that they might find out there on a trek to solve the maze.

        Q: What kind of mysterious things do people find out in a maze?

        A: A maze is probably one of the most unique ways to learn about people. If you listen to what people have to say while they're standing at the intersection points figuring out which way to go, you see which one is the more dominating person, which is more of a follower and which do their own thing. Those are the people who say, “I'm not going to go with you guys” and head off in their own direction. Even married couples can get kind of crazy in a maze. Sometimes the little competitive edges come out.

        Q: What kinds of people are best at solving a maze?

        A: Kids can always make it through faster than most adults. I think adults are more followers than kids. Kids like to explore every inch. Adults will pass somebody and turn around and follow these people they don't even know. They try to think their way through it too much, second-guess themselves, instead of just following their own intuition.

        Q: When's the best time to go through a maze?

        A: In the month of October it just gets crazier and crazier. A lot of farmers will have spooks out there at night time. Someone said the second most scary place to be in the world is a cornfield at night, and it's true. Most haunted houses are man-made; this is 100 percent natural. A lot of times in a haunted house, every single corner you're expecting something to jump out at you. People have a tendency to let their guard down more in a cornfield. You'll go awhile and then not see anything; not every corner has a spook. But some do. It's a perfect environment to scare people.

        We've all seen things like the movie Signs about the mysterious unknown in a cornfield. But it could be real. It could be a real snake or a real furry animal rustling in the corn.

        Q: Has the movie Signs made cornfields seem scarier?

        A: I think the movie Signs is kind of like the movie Jaws. People look at the water totally different after watching Jaws. After watching Signs they look at a cornfield and think, “Wait a minute.” It adds this whole mysterious element.

        Q: You've designed hundreds of mazes. Is there a secret to navigating a maze?

        A: It depends on how it is designed. Some mazes, if you hold your left hand on a wall it will eventually lead to an exit. But sometimes, if you have bridges and stuff, you can break that cycle. It will take you around and lead you right back to where you came from.

        Q: So there really is no secret to solving a maze?

        A: The secret is just don't be a follower. Plow on into it. Be like a kid.

        Q: OK, so you won't tell us the real secrets of getting through a maze in record time. At least tell us how you make the maze. You do the design on a computer. But how do you actually cut that pattern into the cornfield?

        A: Well, I can't say too much about that. You've got to leave a little mystery. (His voice turns conspiratorial now.) But, you know, all you have to do is watch that movie Signs and you'll know exactly how we do it.

        Q: Really. (Interviewer's voice starts to sound extremely gullible now.) I didn't see the movie. Does it show the whole thing exactly?

        A: Oh, yeah. You didn't see it? Well, I'll tell you anyway. It's those crazy creatures from outer space that do it.

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