By JESSICA SCHIEBER
Bradt’s Menagerie is closing for the remainder of the year, and their “Haunted Hay Maze” has been canceled due to dry harvest conditions.
One of Northwestern Oklahoma State University students’ favorite pass times around this holiday season is going out to Bradt’s Menagerie to attend their “Haunted Hay Maze.” This year, however, there will be no hay maze for the students to go out and enjoy.
Bradt’s Menagerie has had Oklahoma’s largest round bale hay maze for ten years. The first hay maze that the menagerie had was in 2015. This year, the owners of the menagerie have decided to take a reset and rest this fall. The menagerie will not be open to the public over the fall. They will reopen in March of 2027.
One of the driving reasons for the menagerie not being open this year is the fact that they couldn’t harvest. According to the Oklahoma farm report, July had 30 of the driest days and 20 of the hottest days on record. During the summer more than 25% of Oklahoma was categorized in extreme or exceptional drought, which are the two most critical levels on the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Because of the heat and the dryness of the summer, many farm ponds and stock tanks have dried up. Farmers and ranchers in the western half of the state had to haul water and feed supplemental hay to sustain their livestock, and major reservoirs in Western Oklahoma dwindled down.
According to News 9, cattle farmers were forced to buy feed after the drought had taken a toll on wheat crops. The heat of the summer lead to the decision to not open the well-loved menagerie. However, there were some premade agreements that the owners have committed to upholding.
While the menagerie won’t be open to the public this fall, they are still keeping their animals for when they open back up in the spring.