Martinek said when he bought the 62-acre farm two years ago, he thought it would be great for a corn maze, but he thought the aging barn would have to be torn down. But after hearing that it dated to 1851 and the Joel Swigart family, he hired Architectural Reclamation Inc. to restore it, using as much of the original wood as possible.
Now the building has been named 2009 Ohio Barn of the Year, PBS plans to film it for an upcoming program, and it will serve as the starting point for visitors to the maze.
“Had I known how much it was going to cost, I don’t know if I would have done it,” Martinek said, chuckling.
“But it’s been there for 160 years, and now I think it’s going to last another 160. I hope people enjoy it as much as we do. ... This is history, it’s a story. It’s more than a building.”
And while many will appreciate the barn, others will come for the adventures. The four mazes, cut in July by a company called MazePlay, will vary in length, but combined they have more than 6 miles of paths through corn that is more than 10 feet high in places. A watchtower will offer a bird’s-eye view, and walkers will find hidden mailboxes to put together a picture of the Dayton-themed maze.
Bonnie Martinek, Ed’s sister-in-law, said Adventure Acres also will offer pumpkin patches, a mini pirate ship for climbing, a toddler maze near the shade of the barn, target shooting with “corn cannons” and even go-karts.
The hay rides will go through woods and a creek bed into a secluded clearing where people can roast marshmallows and hot dogs under a huge tree.
Bonnie Martinek said two generations of the family, including Ed’s brothers Tom and Jerry, are hurrying to get everything ready for the grand opening at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.
“Usually people start these a year in advance,” she said. “But a couple of months ago, Ed said, ‘Let’s do it,’ and it’s been a mad rush ever since.”
Adventure Acres will be open Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free for children 5 and under, $5 for kids 6 to 10, and $8 for ages 11 and up.
The entire opening weekend will be half-price. Call (937) 427-3276 for more information.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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