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Dell’Osso Farms — a-mazing this time of year
maze
Amanda Correia and the Manteca Adult Transition Program celebrate finding their way out of the Pumpkin Maze at Dell’Osso Family Farms. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT / The Bulletin

The legacy of Dell’Osso Family Farms come this time of year are the corn mazes.

Up until 2007, these mazes were done by hand and farm equipment. But thanks to modern technology – specifically, computers and a GPS system – the Pumpkin Maze is furthermore a labyrinth of confusion.

A testament of that was last Friday with a group of teachers, parents and students from the Manteca Adult Transition Program, scrambling their way through one of the mazes.

Every year, Dell’Osso incorporates a pumpkin into the design of the maze, making each of the various options challenging for people of all ages.

According to Amanda Correia, who is a paraprofessional for the special education program, her group is no stranger to Dell’Osso Family Farms.

“We’ve been here (for Special Day on the Farm),” she said, mentioning the day held prior to the fall season event at the 60-acre Lathrop family farm hosted by the various Kiwanis clubs over the year – recently, the Kiwanis Club of Stockton has spearheaded Special Day on the Farm, which attracts an estimated 2,200 from the various programs in San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Merced counties.

Correia’s group was here for the early bird weekday special – Mondays through Fridays before 2 p.m. at a discounted rate.

“That’s usually the best time to come,” said manager Shari Deardorff. “The weekends get busy – even more so later this month.”

For Correia and company, they tried using the Scramble Challenge map furnished at the entrance of the Pumpkin Maze to find their way through the high stalks of corn. At times, they hit a few dead ends. Other times, they appeared to be going in circle.

“We could be stuck here for 2 ½ hours,” said Correia during one of the many lost moments.

She and her group finally found the exit – or maybe back to the entrance? – and even celebrated the moment.

The Pumpkin Maze is only one of the many attractions for the 23rd annual fall event at Dell’Osso Family Farm.

“There’s something here for everyone in the family,” Deardorff said.

Included is the Haunted Castle, the Dell’Osso Express Train, hay ride, scarecrow ride, goat walk, duck races, tire pyramid, the Dell’Osso Speedway, Ball Shoot Arena, tire play area, super slide, pig races, walk the plank, Spinning Pumpkins, the Rat Roller, and the Children’s Interactive Pirates Show, to a few,=.

Other attractions outside the price of admission - $12.95 early bird (before 2 p.m.), Mondays through Fridays and $19.95 after that – consist of Gem Mining ($6), Pumpkin Blasters ($7), Zip Lining ($10 / $15), Pony Rides ($7) and Pumpkin Painting ($5).

In addition, the Country Store and several vendors are open for business along with the Pumpkin Maze through Oct. 31.

Dell’Osso is located at 26 Stewart Road, Lathrop, off of Interstate 5 south of the San Joaquin River.

For more information, call 209.982.0833 or log on to www.pumpkinmaze.com.