NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — A corn maze cut in the shape of Dolly Parton at Irons Mill Farmstead is drawing visitors and social media attention this fall, one of 20 tributes to the country music legend planted across North America before she died, none of which opened while she was alive.
The maze, in Lawrence County near the Pennsylvania-Ohio line outside Pittsburgh, opened Aug. 28. It is one of 20 in 15 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces designed by The MAiZE Inc., a Utah corn maze company, for the 31st anniversary of Parton’s Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she founded in 1995 that has given away more than 300 million free books. A share of each maze’s ticket sales goes to the program.
Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80. The Irons Mill maze debuted three days later.
“We are beyond humbled to honor Dolly’s legacy, joining the world in mourning the passing of a true American treasure,” Brett Herbst, founder of The MAiZE Inc., said in the company’s announcement. “Dolly’s impact on the world and her love for farming is immeasurable, and our corn maze tributes now take on new meaning and significance.”
The mazes had been in the works for months, the latest in an annual series that has honored Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan and Lainey Wilson. Parton recorded her own invitation before she died: “I’m grateful for the support of my Imagination Library and am excited to invite people out to get lost in this year’s country music corn maze for a little fun, laughter and a real good reason to get lost.”
In a video on Irons Mill Farmstead’s website, Parton introduces the design: her face in profile, ringed by butterflies, a guitar, and the farm’s “IMF” initials cut into roughly 10 acres of corn. The farm, which has run a fall festival since 2012, is offering the maze as part of the festival throughout the season.
Travel blogger Amanda Emmerling, who posts as Toddling Traveler, called the farm her “favorite fall festival near Pittsburgh” in an Instagram video and said the maze is “so cool from the aerial view.”
