Skip to Content

Carolina Moment: Local corn maze marks 20 years with focus on charity, community aid

<i>WLOS via CNN Newsource</i><br/>The Cold Mountain Corn Maize opened for the season last weekend and will have haunted Halloween nights starting in October.
WLOS via CNN Newsource
The Cold Mountain Corn Maize opened for the season last weekend and will have haunted Halloween nights starting in October.

By Steve Wilder

Click here for updates on this story

    HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — The Cold Mountain Corn Maize in Haywood County is celebrating its 20th year this fall!

“I grew tobacco for 36 years. When we lost tobacco I had to find something else,” said Skipper Russell, founder. “My late wife and daughter had been to a corn maze in Bryson City and brought the idea back to me.”

Since he started, Russell has always donated a portion of his proceeds to various local charities.

“My late wife passed away with cancer, so we did several years with the [American] Cancer Society.”

Over the years, Russell has helped support various causes from flood victims to Alzheimer’s disease.

This year’s charity has a special local connection with his friend JJ Singleton, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 27.

“Since he’s local, I decided to do something around him and his organization,” said Russell.

The theme of this year’s maze is “Man Up To Cancer.” Singleton described it as: “a men-only group.”

“Men don’t open up a lot. We tend to isolate a lot,” Singleton said. “But, when men find a safe space to open up, it helps with the mental and physical part we all have to deal with cancer.”

Singleton said he is grateful that Russell is helping out with this cause this year.

“I talk about cancer a lot, but having Skipper support me and my ideas and things that are important to me just means the world to me,” he said.

The Cold Mountain Corn Maize opened for the season last weekend and will have haunted Halloween nights starting in October.

Since starting the event, Russell has donated over $25,000 to local charities.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: CNN - Regional

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content