Worcester Business Journal

42 Worcester Business Journal | October 19, 2026 | wbjournal.com What has driven the growth of the Davis Mega Maze over the years? How have you personally helped it evolve? One of the biggest things I have focused on is making sure we never become complacent. We have an in- credible attraction with a long history, but I think a successful business always has to be asking, 'What can we do better, and what can we do next?' My role touches so many parts of the business, from operations and staffing to guest experience, marketing, special events, entertainment, and food and beverage. I spend a lot of time looking at the entire experience through the eyes of our guests. Sometimes growth means introducing a major new attraction, and sometimes it is making smaller changes that make someone's day easier or more memorable. What has been key to the Davis Mega Maze's success and keeping visitors coming back year after year? I think the biggest key has been our willingness to continually reinvent ourselves without losing sight of who we are. Families have more choices than ever when it comes to how they spend their time and their money, and we do not take it for granted that they are going to choose us simply because we have been here for a long time. We have to earn that visit every year. at means continuing to add value, introducing new experiences, and listening to what our guests respond to. At the same time, some things do not need to change. People still want to spend time together. I think that combination of tradition and con- stant innovation has been incredibly important to our longevity. What are the biggest challenges of managing such a seasonal business? Mother Nature definitely has a seat at the management table. When you are running a seasonal outdoor attrac- tion, there are only so many weekends available, and you do not get those days back. We are experiencing a perfect example of that right now. We spent months preparing to open (Sept. 26), and a nor'easter bringing heavy rain and high winds forced us to post- pone opening until Oct. 3. Safety al- ways has to come first, but when your season is this short, losing an entire weekend has a real impact. Weather also affects everything long before opening day. We are growing the attraction we will operate inside, so rainfall, heat, and growing conditions all matter. en there are the chal- lenges of staffing and training a large seasonal team of about 450, managing inventory, forecast- ing attendance, and being prepared for enormous fluctua- tions. One beautiful October Saturday can look complete- ly different from a rainy weekend. You have to be extremely flexible and able to make decisions quickly. ere is not much room in a seasonal business to say, 'We will fix that next month,' because by next month the season is over. e fall season is a very concentrated period of business, so the Mega Maze is cer- tainly significant, but it is also part of a much larger year-round operation and investment in the Davis family farm. What opportunities do you see for the future growth of the Davis Mega Maze? I think there is still tremendous opportunity for Davis Mega Maze. We are always asking how we can make the experience better and give people more reasons to visit, not necessarily just by making everything bigger, but by making the experience richer. Spe- cial events are a big area of opportu- nity for us, as are entertainment, food and beverage, nighttime experiences, and attractions that appeal to different age groups. is year's Fright Nights are a good example of us taking an asset we already have and creating an entirely different experience aer dark. At the same time, I think growth has to be thoughtful. We never want to become so focused on adding things that we lose what makes this place special. We are still a family-owned farm. e Davis family has been farming this land for generations, and preserving that history while continuing to inno- vate is really at the center of every- thing we do. is interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ Correspondent Sloane M. Perron. D avis Farmland in Sterling entered uncharted waters when it offi- cially launched its corn maze in1998. What started as an experi- ment has grown into a fall destination, with generations of visitors exploring the Davis Mega Maze. Today, the maze spans approximately 6.5 acres of corn with nearly 3 miles of pathways. Over the decades, the farm has expanded to include more than 60 attractions and activities, including live music, food and beverages, animals, games, zip lines, Knockerballs, and special events like Fright Nights aer dark. rough that growth, the corn maze has become a time-honored tradition for many families, according to Davis Farmland General Manager Nicolette Sacco, who has been manag- ing the maze for 15 years. Davis Farmland's general manager says the Mega Maze always reinvents itself W PHOTO | COURTESY ???????? Nicolette "Nicki" Sacco General Manager Davis Farmland, Davis Mega Maze & Davis BBQ Age: 38 Hometown: West Boylston Residence: West Boylston Education: Worcester State University Company location: Sterling Year company was founded: 1996 Number of employees at the company: 450 Nicolette "Nicki" Sacco of Davis Farmland

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