'A Great American Treasure': Corn Maze To Honor Dolly Parton In Monmouth County

MANALAPAN, NJ — Tributes to the Queen of Country have been pouring in across the U.S. following her passing in late August, and this fall, residents will be able to celebrate Dolly Parton's legacy right here in New Jersey.

Starting on Saturday, Sept. 19, Happy Day Farm in Manalapan will open its annual corn maze, which has been dedicated to Parton for 2026.

Each year, more than 10 acres of the farm are transformed into a corn maze with three miles of pathways and a lookout bridge.

Past themes have celebrated the U.S. Army, Snoopy, Super Mario and more.

For 2026, the Dolly Parton maze will offer two paths for visitors to go through: a shorter path (15-25 minutes) for those new to mazes, and a challenging path (45-60 minutes) for maze enthusiasts.

The Dolly Parton Corn Maze will be open Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 19 through Nov. 8.

"What was meant to be a celebration of the Queen of Country is now a bittersweet tribute to the incredible legacy of Dolly Parton," Monmouth County Tourism said of the maze in an online post.

"This year, Happy Day Farm has dedicated its famous corn maze to the legendary country music icon."

While Happy Day Farm planned for their corn maze to be a Dolly Parton theme prior to her passing, the farm said what was supposed to be a celebration "is now a bittersweet memory of [Parton's] amazing accomplishments throughout the years."

"You truly are a great American Treasure," the farm said in an online post.

Parton passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 25, following a brief battle with cancer, according to her publicist.

The county music icon and founder of the Imagination Library (which mails free books to children from birth until they start school in participating areas) died surrounded by loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Tennessee.

“She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history,” Her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, said in a video posted to her Instagram.

“She has always been on your television, your record player, your CD and on your phone playlist, becoming an extended part of your family, whether you liked it or not.”

Parton is being remembered by thousands as "the very best of the American Dream."

• Read More: Dolly Parton — Country Music Legend And Philanthropist — Dead At 80, Family Says