Dolly Parton, with her radiant smile and angelic hair, has appeared in corn mazes across the United States and Canada this fall.
Twenty large farms with diverse corn maze designs have been created in honor of this country music icon and great philanthropist, aimed at raising funds for her Imagination Library, which provides free books for children.
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Parton's Death and Memorials
Parton's death from cancer on August 25 in Nashville at the age of 80 prompted a wave of memorials. These memorials included efforts to rename the country music capital's airport in her honor and an increase in online streams of her songs, including "9 to 5" and "Islands in the Stream."
Now, she has been immortalized in a way through the design of corn mazes in about twelve states and two provinces. These mazes, in addition to their unique features, also include trivia games and photo opportunities.
Corn Maze Design
Bert Hurst, founder of the consulting company The Maize Inc., which designed these mazes, called Parton a "true American treasure." He said, "Dolly's impact on the world and her love for agriculture are immeasurable, and our corn maze memorials now have a new and significant meaning."
The company announced that planning for these mazes began months before Parton's death and is part of an annual campaign to honor the shining stars of country music. In past years, figures like Reba McEntire and Luke Bryan have also been featured.
Parton, known for her humble roots in Tennessee, had thanked organizers for supporting her charity before her passing. In a statement, she said, "Get lost this year in the country music corn maze for some fun and laughter and find a real reason to get lost."
One of these mazes is located next to the Twins BBQ restaurant in Brookfield, Connecticut, featuring an image of Parton with the phrases "Dolly" and "an American treasure."
Daniel Galap, one of the owners of this business, admitted that he had little knowledge about Parton before attending the corn maze conference at Dollywood, but was impressed afterward.
He said, "They told us everything about her integrity and how she ran her businesses, how smart, generous, kind, and very ethical and humble she was. These are all the qualities we look for as business owners."
Galap added, "Her death gave this more meaning. She was a symbol."
Stephanie Chen and her young son, William, were among those strolling through Parton's maze on Sunday. They said the easiest part was passing through the section where "Dolly" is written in large letters.
Galap said the most challenging part of the maze is Parton's hair. "She has a lot of hair, and it ends in small shapes, and you don’t know where to look for the next opening. I got lost several times."
The most memorable part of the experience was seeing visitors dressed up for the occasion.
Galap said, "We saw people in cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Dolly Parton t-shirts. Seeing all this love for her has been really great."
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Source: independent.co.uk
