Corn Maze at Lark Ranch is Ideal Southern Indiana Family Entertainment!

Loogootee Man Starts 'A-maize-ing' Tradition

	Matt Lark hopes to have 20,000 visitors at his ranch this fall.

Using a global positioning system and other technology, ranch owner Matt Lark has been able to cut a 15-acre maze into one of his corn fields. For the past five years, he has invited school and church groups and families to wander similar mazes at Lark Ranch on scavenger hunts for fall-themed items.

But the Indianapolis attorney and Martin County rancher raises more than corn on his 600-acre ranch between Dover Hill and Loogootee. Visitors will also see varieties of sunflowers, milo, soybeans, cotton and pumpkins. There's even red, white and blue popcorn that can be popped right off the cob in a specially-manufactured microwave bag.

Other activities available include hay rides, a nature trail and a petting zoo featuring various farm animals. Wine tasting from Carousel Wineries is available on Saturdays only.

Also, a campfire area was made. A ring of sandstones were placed around a campfire. The sandstones, used for seating, are hand-hewn and more than 200 years old. The stones were once the foundation of a Bramble home owned by Sonny Smith.

Lark Ranch opened Sept. 19 and will remain open through Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Visitors should bring flashlights after dark.

Matt Lark has three longhorn cattle on his 600-acre ranch between Loogootee and Dover Hill.

Lark also owns other farms in Martin County and raises longhorn cattle.

"I've just always loved farming," he says, adding that his goal with Lark Ranch was to provide some clean, non-commercialized family fun.

What's more, Lark uses his ranch to support Relay for Life, church groups and scouting. He schedules such groups to run the concession stand as fund raisers. The $5 admission to the ranch for people over 5 years old only goes to cover insurance, he says.

Although the ranch does not routinely offer camping, Lark is willing to work with groups who desire this activity. He especially encourages church groups to visit and says he would let them camp at no charge if they contact him.

For souvenirs, schoolchild­ren are each given a small pumpkin. But larger pumpkins and soybean candles are also for sale, along with vari­eties of Indian com, popcorn and blue and white pumpkins. Lark planted five times as much popcorn this year to help meet the demand.

Photo by Shannon Graber