Beyond Shawshank: A Haunting Look at the Ohio State Reformatory

Visit the Haunted Mansfield Prison

The Ohio State Reformatory is a unique historical spot that is incredibly popular with movie buffs and fans of the paranormal. This site has not only been used for several recognizable films and music videos, but it also has no shortage of ghostly hauntings since it had over 200 deaths onsite during the years it was run as a prison. Visitors can go on self-guided or guided tours to learn about the history of the Reformatory and about the scenes and videos that had been filmed on the grounds. You can even sign up to participate in several different paranormal activities including a ghost hunting class. There are also some fun special events available throughout the year like a haunted house that they host each October.

History

The Ohio State Reformatory started housing inmates in 1896. The facility originally functioned as an ‘intermediate penitentiary’ with the goal to reform and rehabilitate its inmates. The men that were sent here had committed minor offenses. Each prisoner was committed for 18 months segments. After 18 months, it was then decided whether they were able to be released or if they needed to be sentenced to another 18 months. The focus at this institute was on religion, education, and teaching a trade. The program was actually quite successful during this time.

Unfortunately, despite the success that the Reformatory was having, the state stopped its financial support, and the site was converted into a maximum-security prison in the 1960s. Within 20 years, the facility was so rundown that the inmates won a lawsuit filed against the State of Ohio to get a new facility built. The Reformatory finally stopped housing prisoners in 1990.

The Reformatory Today

Currently, the Ohio State Reformatory is run by the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society dedicated to the maintenance and restoration of this historical building. There are several tours and events that you can participate in depending on your interests. It is also home to the Ohio State Corrections History Museum and The North Central Ohio Industrial Museum. This site has been used for filming in movies and music videos and is quite popular with those interested in the paranormal.

The Ohio State Reformatory is open year-round, but they are closed on holidays. From April to October, they are open from 11 am-5 pm every day of the week. From October to March, they are open from 11 am-4 pm Thursdays to Sundays. During September and October, some tours may be shortened due to the prep work for the Halloween festivities. The tours will have a $6 discount during this time.

Tours

No matter what your interest, there is a tour for you! You can choose between self-guided and guided tours. All tours are estimated to last around 1.5 hours. There is a discount if you choose to do more than one tour on the same day. Each additional tour would only be an extra $15. There is also a $2 discount for students, senior citizens, and military members or veterans.

Self-Guided Tour

The $25 self-guided tour covers the history of the building along with pointing out the filming locations from different music videos and movies and several paranormal stories. To get the most of this tour, I do recommend spending the extra $5 to get the audio wand for each person. My husband and I tried sharing the wand and we had to take turns using it to be able to hear the audio properly.

Guided Tours

Most guided tours are $35 and will also include the self-guided tour mentioned above.  Some of these tours do have a minimum age requirement due to the subjects discussed. Be sure to look closely on the website before you book if you plan to have younger children with you.

The “Hollywood Meets History Tour” will tell you about the movies and music videos filmed here with a focus on “The Shawshank Redemption”. You may also recognize some areas filmed during scenes in “Air Force One” and Lil Wayne’s music video for “Go DJ” among others.

Take the “Beyond the Bars Tour” to learn more about the inner workings of the Reformatory along with stories of previous inmates and their punishments. You will also get to see some areas in the building that aren’t typically accessible on the other tours.

The last guided tour option available onsite is the “Inmate Confessions Tour” where you will hear personal stories from your guide who was an inmate at the Ohio State Reformatory back in the late 1960s. This tour costs $40. After hearing his stories and learning about everyday life in the prison, you will be able to take the self-guided tour with the audio wand included.

If you are a “Shawshank Redemption” fan, there is a 4.5-hour bus tour available that will take you to 10 different filming locations from the movie. After the bus tour, there is a short walking tour of the Shawshank Prison. There is a minimum of a 4 guest requirement for this tour to occur and it is only available Saturday mornings. This tour is currently unavailable.

Paranormal Experiences

For those interested in the paranormal, these next event options are for you! The Ohio State Reformatory allows you to sign up for Ghost Walks, Ghost Hunts (public or private), and even Ghost Hunting Classes. Each of these experiences has different costs and you will have to book your spots in advance. Be aware that these events are popular so plan on buying your tickets at least a month or two in advance. For an extra fee, you can also rent or purchase ghost hunting equipment from the museum store to make your experience even better.

Ghost Walks consists of a 2-hour guided tour where you will hear stories about different hauntings they’ve had on-site. Participants do need to be at least 13 years old. This tour costs $35 a person and can either start at 8 pm or 10:30 pm.

Ghost Hunts are open to those 18 years and older. You can choose between being a part of a public or private experience. The public hunts are $99 a person and the private hunt prices are dependent on the number of people attending and the day that you choose to book your experience on. Both public and private events will provide pizza and beverages for the group, and you will have access to the building from 7 pm- 3 am. For those that choose the public hunt option, you will be split into beginner, intermediate, and advanced ghost hunting groups for a better experience.

Ghost Hunt Classes are open to people 13 years and older and cost $115 per person. The class is made up of two parts: a seminar and a ghost hunt. The seminars are earlier in the afternoon either at 1 pm or 4 pm and are where you will learn the basics of ghost hunting and the history of the Reformatory. The Ghost Hunt itself will start at 8 pm where you will be able to use the knowledge you learned earlier to help properly record any paranormal activity that you find.

Special Events

The Ohio State Reformatory hosts several special events every year. Check their website and calendar for the most up-to-date event information. In addition to hosting Murder Mystery dinners and other festivals on occasion, they do host several annual events.

• The Inkcarceration Festival brings together tattoo artists and live rock music every year.
• Runners will love the Shawshank Hustle 7K where you run past several sites featured in the Shawshank Redemption movie.
• Halloween fans will want to buy tickets to the Reformatory’s Haunted House: Escape From Blood Prison that is open Friday- Sunday nights for the entire month of October.

Tips:

• I do recommend getting an audio wand for each person for the self-guided tours. It was hard to hear and many times my husband and I had to take turns listening to the same audio clip so we both could understand what was being said.
• If you want the best spooky daytime experience- try to book your tour on an overcast and stormy day- it added the perfect atmosphere as we toured through the more haunted sections of the Reformatory.
• Wear sturdy footwear. Some areas of the floor can be uneven, and I appreciated my tennis shoes on some of the staircases.

Nearby Attractions:

Mansfield is perfectly placed between Cleveland and Columbus which means there are multiple nearby attractions for you to choose from that are only about an hour’s drive away.

• Visit Cuyahoga National Park and ride the scenic train, go kayaking on the river, and enjoy some beautiful hikes.
• The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland and is a great stop for the whole family while you travel down the road of music history.
• Columbus Zoo or Cleveland Zoo are both fantastic zoos if you want to get your animal fix.

Why You Should Visit:

Whether you like Hollywood films, the paranormal, or the history of historical buildings, the Ohio State Reformatory is a fantastic place to visit. With all the choices of tours and experiences, you could easily spend an entire weekend onsite. Take a guided tour led by an ex-inmate of the facility so you can hear firsthand stories about the day-to-day life of the prisoners that resided here. Or you can choose from one of the after-hours paranormal experiences, so you will have the best chance of encountering a spirit. There is even a course so you can learn how to properly record your experiences. This is a stop that should be added to your bucket list!

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