A suburban Chicago farm that boasts having the “World’s Largest Corn maze” is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the world’s most famous fictional secret service agent.
“It’s a different theme every year,” said George Richardson, co-owner of Richardson Adventure Farm. “We’re highlighting 60 years of James Bond this year, a very fun theme for us.”
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The intricate maze, set to open Saturday, Sept. 10 features over 10 miles of trails and sits on 28 acres in Spring Grove, Illinois, north of Chicago.
The character James Bond, or 007, was first created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953. Now, Bond is a household name, thanks to the perpetually popular books and films.
“(I was) looking around and was like, ‘60th anniversary of James Bond, how fun is that, you know?’” said Richardson. “Great movies, I think it has wide audience appeal and it could make a good picture.”
The first Bond flick ever released was “Dr. No” starring Sean Connery in 1962.
Fast forward 60 years to 2022; London-based Eon Productions has put out a total of 25 Bond movies that altogether have garnered over $7 billion to date, making it the fifth-highest-grossing film series of all time.
Richardson says the maze is made using high-tech corn planter tractors outfitted with GPS and special shutoffs. So as the tractor travels across the field, corn seed is dropped to plant the maze’s pattern down to the tiny details of their chosen design.
“It’s a pretty big process, but, you know, it’s a lot of fun,” said Richardson. “It’s very enjoyable and to see the results, it’s really amazing.”
If the maze isn’t tantalizing enough for 007 fans, Richardson says the 2002 Aston Martin used in the Bond movie “Die Another Day” starring Pierce Brosnan will also be on display at the farm for the maze’s opening weekend.