The long and winding drive up to the River Bottom Bed and Breakfast is an experience in itself. Turing off the main road, visitors suddenly find themselves surrounded by fields of cotton, followed by tall stalks of corn that make up the edges of the now famous maize maze in the shape of the United States.

“I had no idea when I made the maze that it would get all this attention,” said River Bottom B&B owner Ted Johnson. “I’ve been getting calls from people all over the country. On Tuesday, I had 29 messages on my answering machine by lunchtime.”

The national attention began last week when an article about Johnson’s maze appeared in the Montgomery Adviser. In a short amount of time Johnson suddenly found himself on local television, CNN Headline News, USA Today, and a Los Angeles country music radio station, with more media outlets still calling him for interviews.

With the spotlight shining bright on Johnson and his B&B, there has been a flood of interest from schools in surrounding counties and across the Southeast who want to tour the maze.

“One lady called from Chattanooga (Tenn.) who wanted to bring 30 girl scouts,” Johnson said. “We’ve booked 169 children from at school in Tallassee, and yesterday we got a call from Daniel Pratt Elementary School in Prattville.”

The maze even received the support from a national corn growers association, which offered to furnish the corn seed for next year’s maze.

The interest in the maze from school, church and social groups is not just because it is a fun and unique activity. It also serves as an educational tool.

Each state is marked by a metal stake displaying information such as the state’s capital, its nickname, date it entered the union and the state bird.

“Of all the mazes I’ve seen, none of them had an educational feel to it,” Johnson said. “I wanted to do something where children could have fun and learn something from it. I don’t know why I choose do to the states. It just seemed like something to do.”

Along with the maze, Johnson also offers a petting zoo where children can see lambs, goats, calves, rabbits, ducks, ducks and chickens.

“They can come watch us pick cotton and see where peanut butter comes from,” he said.

For the adults, the B&B offers deer and quail hunting guides, pontoon river cruises, and a night in a spacious and attractive lodge as way to get away from it all.

“This place was built as a hunting lodge, but it was only in use in December through January. The rest of the time I was out here by myself,” Johnson said. “A friend of mine who lives nearby is an event coordinator. I wanted to do something to have guests and let people enjoy the lodge. My friend helped to redecorate the place and we turned it into a bed and breakfast.”

Johnson says he is a people person and enjoys having his home filled with guests.

“We had our grand opening in July,” he said. “Our first guests were from the Netherlands. They were touring the South and found us through the Internet.”

Though it is rare for a small town B&B to suddenly find major success, Johnson takes it all in stride.

Next year, Johnson says he isn’t certain if he will continue with the United States theme for the corn maze.

“I envision dong the 67 counties of Alabama, or possible doing something with the river system. I have no idea,” he said.