Projects: Hop Dots, Rope, Bamboo, Tire Mazes, Labyrinth Maze and Fairy Paths
Hop Dots
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Hop Dots is a colorful maze that invites children to make their own rules and games. The "official" rule is to get from one corner to an opposite corner by hopping from one dot to another if the inner circle is the same color, or the outer circle is the same color. There are six mazes to solve.
It is installed as concrete pavers, painted on asphalt, and indoors on painted wooden discs. Hop Dots is being installed in more and more venues and is very popular. It is also included in the A-MAZE-D exhibit. Dave Phillips |
Rope Mazes
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I have designed a fair number of rope mazes. They are very poplar since children can follow the maze, or they can duck under or climb over the ropes. They feature a central tower goal. I recommend pirate flags on the tower to enhance a fun, nautical theme. I include a game that scores depending on the time it takes to solve the maze.
You may think these mazes are easy to follow, but adults can spend twenty minutes in one of my rope mazes swearing it is impossible. There is nothing obscuring the view of the tower but the perspective of the rope and posts is bewildering. The solution spirals around the center in such a way that one must make a choice away from the center. Dave Phillips |
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Bamboo Mazes
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I love bamboo mazes though they are a commitment to install and maintain. It takes about two years for their roots to establish. I highly recommend including fencing to protect and support the walls from damage as children will want to cut through. With the pitfalls in mind, live bamboo makes a magical maze. When it matures, the bamboo creates a dense canopy, a relief on hot days. New shoots emerge in the spring and grow to full height in a season. They are easily discouraged from growing in the paths. Dave Phillips |
Tire Mazes
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I designed a tire maze for Sease Farm in North Carolina. It is made of thousands of used tires stacked about 6 feet high. The tires form a solid barrier and is a wonder to experience. The design is consecutive circles around the central goal of an observation tower. Naturally, I take advantage of the curving paths in such a way that if one makes choices to move closer to the center, one never reaches it.
The tires were free and make great walls once filled with dirt. If you are interested in an installation like this, I will also put you in contact with Clinton Sease. Dave Phillips |
Fairy Path
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I designed a woodland fairy maze for the Spoutwood Fairy Festival in Glen Rock PA. The festival is on the first weekend in May attracting old hippies, gypsies, and city folk out for a wonderful day of music, and fairy fancies.
My maze covers a couple of acres of woods and consists of winding paths. I make use of a wonderful magical tree of seven trunks with leaves of seven (it is a hickory). The key to making the maze magical is the use rough branch walls and the liberal use of gauze and fairy baubles. If not a maze, I recommend any excuse to make a magical woodland trail. Spoutwood also includes a woodland trail with fairy habitats. Contact me for more information on fairy festivals. Dave Phillips |
Sunflower Maze
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The Sussex County Sunflower Maze, located in New Jersey, must be the happiest maze I have designed. Giant sunflowers greet you at the entrance to the maze then surround you in over a mile of pathways.
The maze takes the shape of a giant sunflower with an accompanying bee. When I went, it seemed every sunflower had at least one bee collecting honey. That’s a lot of bees. I included my crayon rubbing game in the main maze, and the very popular Finger Game in the bee. Dave Phillips |