Lose & Confuse Yourself in the Annual Halloween Maze

“Mom, is the maze open yet?!” I started hearing this question around Labor Day! If you’re new to Ridgewood, soon enough you’ll start hearing about the maze on Sheridan Street where the Stewart family invites strangers to their backyard every year to confuse, scare and lose themselves. A unique Ridgewood tradition, the Stewart Family has been designing and constructing the maze for over 20 years, and every October, the maze attracts many people of all ages from all over! Made up of 7-foot-tall stakes, twine, clear glass, one-way glass and a hay-covered floor, the maze is not an easy one to solve. In fact, it takes the average first-timer 50 minutes to get through.

The Stewarts take maze-planning seriously!

The design of the maze changes every year and is carefully planned out by the family. Each box of the maze is 27″ x 27″. When you enter through a door, there could be one right behind you that you could easily overlook…keeping you searching for the way out a little longer. If you really get desperate, one of the Stewarts is there to shout out clues like, “You tried that door twice already!” The maze is fun for little ones during the light hours. Or come in the evening for a spookier feel when occasionally a giant clown lurks around corners or real hands might grab you.

The whole town thanks you, Stewart family, for bringing so much joy and excitement to our kids year after year!

The maze is located at 124 Sheridan Terrace, Ridgewood. Beginning October 2,  the maze is usually open 3:30 to 9 p.m on weekdays, and 1:00 pm to 9 p.m on weekends however the hours vary based on the family’s schedule! Admission is free.

Watch this video to see how the Stewart family does it: