Fritzler corn maze bounces back after devastating August hail storm

LASALLE, Colo. -- After a devastating summer of hail and rain, the Fritzler Corn Maze has bounced back and is set to open this weekend.

The 15-acre maze is located about 45 minutes north of Denver on Hwy. 85, just south of LaSalle. The maze and pumpkin patch were all but decimated by a hail storm Aug. 2.

”Mowed them down to nothing," said owner Glen Fritzler. “You work all summer long and then a hail storm comes through and it’s just devastating.”

But Fritzler and his staff didn’t quit. They kept irrigating every week and now, six weeks later, the maze and pumpkin patch have nearly fully recovered.

“I’m so excited, you can’t even imagine,” Fritzler said.

Now in its 17th season, this year’s corn maze is a tribute to the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl 50 win. It includes a huge Super Bowl logo, with the upper-torsos of three players behind it.

Fritzler says this will be a special year because of the recovery.

“I’m not sure we’ll turn a profit, but we’re just hoping to break even,” he said. “I'm blown away. I never dreamed in a million years that we were going to have one-tenth of the pumpkins that we have out here."

They’ve also added a beer garden and a few new attractions this year. And, at night, there’s even a haunted maze.

“Phase 2 is the one haunted at night," Fritzler said. “I think this is going to be a good year.”

Scream Acres and the Fritzler Corn Maze will be open every weekend from now through Halloween.

For more information, you can visit them online at Fritzlermaze.com.