New York's Top Fall Attraction in 2026 Boasts a Record-Breaking Maze
Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm in Mattituck, New York, has added a 2.3-acre evergreen maze to Long Island's North Fork. Widely considered the largest evergreen hedge maze in the contiguous United States, it contains approximately 1,000 arborvitae planted to form a dizzying yet exciting network of paths and dead ends. For the price of a ticket, you can freely navigate this green labyrinth, complete a scavenger hunt, and explore the farm's pumpkin patch. Read on to learn more about this must-see autumn staple and plan out your next family getaway.
How This Impressive Maze Was Created
Jonathan Shipman began planning the maze back in 2018, sketching its turns and dead ends on graph paper before scaling the design to fit the farm. After clearing the land and planting grass, he marked the layout with athletic field marking tape. Arborvitae (a dense, fast-growing evergreen) planted in 2019 would eventually form the walls, and at the time, the young trees initially stood just 16 inches (41 centimeters) tall.
Growing those saplings into dense hedges took years of care, but by late 2026, the approximately 1,000 of them stood around 13.5 feet (4.1 meters) high, creating walls that visitors could no longer see over. Now, annual shearing is necessary to maintain their shape and keep the passageways defined. Moreover, Shipman planned for wheelchair users and larger groups, leaving broad paths between the planted rows. At the center, he also reserved a courtyard for gatherings and installed a large brick fireplace, perfect for warming up your hands after a journey in the cold.
The resulting 2.3-acre, record-setting attraction expanded the family's Christmas tree business, designed to bring curious adventure seekers in New York to the farm during the autumn season.
What Else Is There to Do on the Farm?
Finding your way through the maze is only part of the fun at Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm. All visitors are able to pick up a scavenger hunt checklist and search for objects hidden in the labyrinth's dead ends. That gives families a reason to investigate the various wrong turns in greater detail instead of simply retracing their steps, a great way to get children to help spot items as the group works through the pathways.
But beyond the hedges, a sizable pumpkin patch nearby provides another set of activities. You can pick pumpkins before or after exploring the maze, while the farm's miniature train takes passengers on a ride around the property. For a break, they also offer snacks and beverages, along with more fire pits where groups can sit together and warm up in the chilly fall weather.
You should note, however, that food, drinks, and train rides carry additional charges, so the maze admission is not an all-inclusive ticket. Seasonal offerings can vary, too, so keeping up with the farm's current announcements, whether online or by phone call, is useful when deciding what to include in your day out.
Later in the year, Christmas tree shopping, of course, becomes the destination's main draw, with available handmade wreaths, holiday decorations, and other chances to gift shop adding to the holiday charm.
Planning a Visit
Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm can more specifically be found at 20685 Main Road in Mattituck. Plan around the maze's seasonal schedule rather than assuming it operates all year, as autumn activities and Christmas tree sales have separate seasonal arrangements and usually a break period in between.
As mentioned, for those with disabilities, the maze's broad passageways were thankfully designed with wheelchair users in mind. Still, ask the farm about surface conditions and any mobility requirements before visiting.
Maze admission is noted to be priced at around $15 per person in October 2026, and opening hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week. Allow for ample time earlier in the day if you intend to complete the scavenger hunt, pick pumpkins, and take a train ride. For the maze portion, no fixed completion time is guaranteed, since wrong turns and searching for hidden objects affect your pace. In that case, late arrivals should definitely check the final entry time slot as well as the farm's general closing time.
Furthermore, wear comfortable shoes that are suitable for walking on grass, and consider the high potential for rainfall when choosing clothing. The farm also does not allow pets, so leave dogs at home.
Put the Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm on Your Fall To-Do List
What makes Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm's hedge maze so interesting overall is the sheer commitment behind its creation. Planting the walls was only the beginning; keeping them healthy and shaped is a major part of the farm's ongoing operations and will hopefully continue to be so for many years to come. This cool draw also simply gives tourists and residents alike on Long Island a different reason to spend time at a working tree farm outside of the Christmas holidays. With that, anyone in and around Lower New York State this autumn should drop by to solve a puzzle or two and maybe pick up a pumpkin afterwards at this new Long Island attraction.
