Get Lost : Human Maze Craze Is Latest Japan Import

The latest import from Japan hit Northern California on Tuesday, but this is no high-tech competitor for Silicon Valley. From the land of small cars, computer chips and Godzilla comes WOOZ, the human maze.

Hoping to expand a fad that has seen more than 100 maze amusement parks built in Japan since 1984, Sun Creative System Inc. opened a three-maze complex in Vacaville, about halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento on Interstate 80.

The Japanese company currently operates three maze parks in Japan and will open a combination maze and water park in Taiwan later this month.

The park, called WOOZ (for “Wild and Original Objects with Zoom,” a nonsensical English phrase created in Japan), consists of three mazes created of 7-foot-high redwood partitions, with emergency exits that lead the claustrophobic--or the cheater--to a speedy escape. The mazes, which cover an acre, will be redesigned every month by computer to present maze aficionados a constant challenge.

The company says the average time to escape the maze in Japan is one to two hours. The quickest time so far was 3 1/2 minutes; the longest, 5 1/2 hours.

“There’s nothing (in Japan) this sophisticated,” said Larry Friday, a spokesman for the Vacaville WOOZ. The $10-million complex includes a gift shop, video arcade and snack bar; a restaurant is scheduled to be completed in October.

Admission is $7 for adults, $4.50 for children 5 to 12, $5 for senior citizens. Children under 5 get in free.

Many among the 500 or so people who showed up for opening day Tuesday agreed that the idea of people running around like laboratory rats may take a while to catch on in this country.

But WOOZ officials are optimistic. “We’re looking for 1,000 to 1,500 visitors a day within a year,” said Friday, who added that the company hopes to have sites for 60 franchises across the country within two years.

At least one opening day visitor who normally doesn’t like amusement parks enjoyed WOOZ. Said 10-year-old Kristin Kittl, one of the first and fastest to complete the maze: “It was fun. You don’t know where you’re going. It’s adventurous.” With her slightly less enthusiastic grandmother in tow, Kristin finished in just 12 minutes.

Two older customers finished together in 35 minutes--just under the 40 minutes needed to qualify for a free crack at the most difficult Super WOOZ--but said they were too “woozy” to try. (Those who take more than 40 minutes must pay $3 to attempt the Super WOOZ.)

“Maybe next time I’ll wear tennis shoes,” said a puffing Norm Baldinger, 34.

Land developer Jeff David added that he liked the combination of mental and physical exercise. “It’s like your crossword puzzles, a physical crossword,” he said.

Inside, frustration was rampant. “There’s no way to get through,” said Judy Riggert after she turned the same corner several times. “I don’t really think they have a finish line.”

Riggert and her three maze mates, visiting Northern California from Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, had little hope of qualifying for the free maze, but refused to separate for fear they would never find each other again.

Asked if customers ever become angry or frustrated in the mazes, WOOZ General Manager Sabrina Ho laughed.

“It never happens,” she said, reciting the virtues of the WOOZ--relaxation and exercise. “Every day we work at a desk, there’s so much stress. Here you don’t think of anything.”