A backpack sprayer, some dye and a clipboard are still enough to turn a field in Anthony into a 13-acre maze.
La Union Maze does not use drones or GPS-guided tractors to map its paths. Longtime employee Martin Medrano walks the field, marks the design and helps cut it by hand — an old-school method that has endured as the family operation around it has grown.
Now in its 27th season, La Union Maze traces its roots to Dorman’s father, a commercial farmer who grew cotton and chile in the Anthony area. After learning that farmers elsewhere were experimenting with mazes, the family decided to try one of its own.
“We started as really just a corn maze and a tent on the side of the road,” Dorman said.
That first operation, about two miles from the maze’s current location, included a smaller maze, a corn roaster, and a concession stand. Today, the farm has more than 20 attractions, two kitchens, two gift shops, and more than 25 acres of pumpkin production, with over 35 varieties of pumpkins and gourds.
The next generation is now helping to run it. Dorman and her sister, both daughters of the owners, manage the operation alongside their husbands while working to maintain its family-run character as crowds have grown.
Dorman estimated 85,000 to 90,000 people visit during a typical season, many traveling from Las Cruces, El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
The crop surrounding visitors has changed, too. Although the maze began with corn, the family switched to sorghum years ago because it stays green longer, holds up better through the season and can reach six to 6½ feet tall. Dorman said the switch also eliminated problems with visitors pulling corn from the stalks and throwing it.
Farming leaves much of the operation dependent on conditions outside the family’s control. Dorman said the farm uses both surface water and wells for irrigation, supplementing when necessary. Rain can help the pumpkins and sorghum during the growing season, but fall storms can leave crews repairing muddy areas, reinforcing parts of the property or closing attractions.
That uncertainty affected the start of this year’s season. Heavy rainfall and muddy conditions forced La Union Maze to cancel its scheduled Sept. 26 opening. The farm had hoped to hold its grand opening the following day, weather permitting, while continuing to monitor conditions.
“Every season we deal with some inclement weather events where we have to readjust and remain flexible,” Dorman said.
This year’s maze design recognizes New Mexico agriculture while marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Dorman said past themes have often reflected the surrounding community, though alien and crop-circle designs remain among her favorites.
“I think it’s super fun,” Dorman said of the alien theme. “It’s so New Mexico.”
The 2026 season also brings the Hen House Hustle, a mini-maze race in which competitors maneuver a giant chicken egg through the course. New menu offerings include spicy lemonade, pickle lemonade and loaded brisket macaroni and cheese.
Getting to opening day begins months earlier. During the summer, much of the family’s attention goes toward protecting the pumpkin crop before shifting to hiring and training seasonal staff, preparing the grounds and putting the finishing touches on attractions.
For Dorman, the finished product carries a meaning beyond another fall season. She spent seven years away from home while her husband served in the Navy before returning and rejoining the family operation. Today, she watches people who visited the maze as children return with children of their own.
“Knowing that we get to be that for somebody else,” Dorman said, “it makes us feel like we are able to continue to provide something really wholesome and something to really look forward to.”
There is one thing 27 seasons around a maze haven’t taught Dorman. How not to get lost in one.
Visitors sometimes call the farm’s business phone from inside the maze asking staff to help them find their way out. Dorman understands the problem.
“You would think that after some time, I would have improved my navigational skills, but my sense of direction is still quite poor after all these years,” she said.
Dorman may still get lost in it, but Medrano knows every turn — he put them there.
