A haystack minion with his arms stretched open

Drive by the Minions, I-80 near Dixon

A smaller haystack minionWhen you travel south on I 80, between Dixon and Vacaville, you will go past an unexpected sight. Minions, from the popular movie, stacked three haystacks high. Juan Ramirez, a seasonal farmworker, is the creator of these hay sculptures. They have been popping up to greet the drivers on I-80 for years now. And if you travel up and down regularly, you can be part of watching them fall apart. I know this sounds gruesome, but it is actually part of the natural process, like seeing someone age.

An angry looking minion made of hayCooley Farms, where the minions are displayed, is no stranger to big attractions. They are the people behind the largest corn maze in the area. In fact, they held the Guinness World Record for the largest maze twice! 

It’s such a great advertisement that brings momentous joy and something to look forward to every time I pass by there.

Two minions at the Cooley FarmsThe Sacramento Bee interviewed the creator last year: 

Minions made of hay delight millions driving on California’s I-80. Meet man who made them

Overview of the maze from one of the bridges. Sprayed on: Lost in da cornmaze

Don’t Get Lost in This Corn Maze in Dixon

Signs for Cool Patch Pumpkins with pumpkins in the backgroundPumpkin patches and corn mazes are popping up all over the country. You’ll find Dixon’s corn maze at 6150 Dixon Ave West, near Interstate 80, in Dixon. Dixon’s Cool Patch Pumpkins holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest corn maze. Yes, this one is considered exercise. It took us about an hour and a half from start to finish. But let me start from the beginning. 

They do offer other entertainment besides the corn maze, mostly for little kids, like a corn bath, think ball bath with corn kernels, a pumpkin patch, and some cool insta-worthy photo opps. The corn bath is $5 no matter how old you are.

Image showing map for the corn maze and the entrance of the mazeSince we came for the maze we did not get distracted with the other fun things. The maze is $20 per person, but we are talking about the world’s largest corn maze, so I thought it was totally worth it. You’ll get a map and tickets and off you go!Me in front of the sign that reads: congrats! You just completed the world's largest corn maze

There are five colorful bridges, which break up the walk and help you orient yourself. The first bridge is nicely done as a test-drive for this experience. They say you can’t really get lost. If you feel uncomfortable just walk through a row of corn and find the edge of the maze. You’ll be surrounded by, I would say, 8 feet high corn, and if you really needed to follow the emergency instructions it would not be as easy as it sounds. Luckily we made it through without a case of claustrophobia, or need for a bathroom break. 

This brings me to my recommendations to enjoy the maze:

  • Find the little markers on the ground. Those give you a clue on where you are. Oh, and don’t lose your map, or better yet take a picture of the map.
  • There are no bathrooms within the maze, so you know what to do.
  • The pathway is uneven. Wear comfortable shoes and something that you don’t mind getting dirty. It is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
  • The paths are half in the shade, but it is still good to wear a hat.
  • Come early, Dixon warms up to over 80 F later in the day. 
  • Bring some water with you. 
  • There are no trash cans in the maze, so please take any of your trash with you. 

A pile of trash on one of the bridges in the mazeThe last point was a bit upsetting, seeing all this trash that people tossed. This is still a corn field and the corn will get harvested later in the season. Please don’t leave any trash in the maze. 

Cool Patch Pumpkins is open until October 31st everyday from 9:00am – 8:00pm.

On weekends there is food and coffee offered. 

Have you conquered a corn maze before?