I had visited only once when it was a haunted house. But the building itself is beautiful and full of history, so I’d been craving a visit in its non-Halloween form. Not to mention there are several movies and music videos that have been filmed here. Where are my Shawshank Redemption fans at?!

In one of the stairwells near the offices, audio wand in hand. And yeah, I took my mask off for a hot second for the photo — there weren’t many people around.

Note: I visited during COVID, and thus could only do a self-guided tour. As such, this article is written based on a self-guided tour alone. I hope to visit again soon, and update the article at that time.

Some History About the Mansfield Reformatory

The reformatory was originally called the Intermediate Penitentiary and was meant to be just that – an in-between point between the boys’ penitentiary in Lancaster and the State Penitentiary in Columbus. The prisoners here had committed lesser crimes, such as larceny and the ever-problematic horse stealing. Inmates often served 18-36 months.

In 1891, the name was changed from the Intermediate Penitentiary to the Ohio State Reformatory. Its purpose was literally to reform the inmates, turning them from petty criminals to contributing members of society. Inmates could take classes for their high school diploma or further education, as well as learn a trade like barbering or furniture building.

Construction began in 1896 and continued to 1910 due to funding issues. Though originally built to house one inmate per cell, the reformatory quickly became overcrowded, resulting in two inmates placed in each cell. A prisoners’ class action suit against the reformatory for overcrowding and inhumane conditions caused the reformatory’s closure in 1990.

No death penalties were carried out at the reformatory. Nevertheless, over 200 people died there, including two guards who were killed during escape attempts. As with any old building where people have died, there have been a number of paranormal sightings and encounters at the reformatory. In addition to movies like Shawshank Redemption and Air Force One, and music videos like Godsmack’s “Awake” and Lil Wayne’s “Go DJ,” several TV shows on the paranormal have been filmed at the reformatory.

Related: Interested in more paranormal places and tours in Ohio? Check out these posts on Columbus Ghost Tours, the Fairfield County Infirmary, and the Moonville Tunnel.

Mansfield Reformatory Tours

There are seven tours available – six guided tours and one self-guided tour.  The guided tours include: History Meets Hollywood, Beyond the Bars, Old Sparky, Fall Guided Tour, Beyond the Scare, and the Shawshank Bus Tour. There is also History Meets Hollywood tour done in American Sign Language. If you prefer a private tour, these can be arranged for up to 10 guests.

If you purchase a guided tour, you will also receive a free self-guided tour, giving you time to explore at your own pace.

Generally speaking, guided tours are $40 each, except for the bus tour which is $99, and self-guided tours are $30 each. However, be sure to check the website, as there are a few discounts available, as well as limited availability for the self-guided tour in the fall due to the haunted house setup.

An audio wand for the tour is $5, which I highly recommend! You can see some cool sites without the wand, and the signs indicating which location you’re at will give a tiny snippet about where you are. But the details are in the wand and will give you a much better appreciation for what you’re seeing!

How Was the Tour?

I friggin’ loved it!

They say to allow two hours for the tour, and you can certainly do it in that amount of time. My friend and I took our sweet time, so we took a bit longer than that. I also think some of the normal tour may be blocked off with COVID right now because our audio wand numbers jumped about ten spots at one point and I could see that area blocked off.

Whether you have the wand or not, there are several areas with historic items from the reformatory days when it was still in use, as well as a couple rooms dedicated to information about the filming of Shawshank Redemption, so you can get some more information through those signs.

Even if you don’t enjoy history, the architecture and ambiance of this building are incredible! The outside is amazing, the chapel is breathtaking, the peeling paint in the cell blocks adds to the eerie atmosphere. I could literally spend the whole day there just taking pictures and soaking it all in.

The Chapel at the Reformatory, which was my favorite part! It’s so cool!…In a decrepit building kind of way.

Overall Thoughts on Mansfield Reformatory

I would absolutely love to visit the Mansfield Reformatory again, and hope to do so soon! The reformatory is incredibly photogenic and the history is fascinating!

Whether you’re a history buff, enjoy the cinematic connections, or just enjoy old haunted buildings, this place is interesting for a wide variety of guests, kids included.

So check out the list of the reformatory’s appearances in movies and TV, watch a couple to introduce yourself to the scene and better appreciate it during your visit, then go check out the site. I feel I can confidently say you’ll be happy you visited.

A typical cell in East Cell Block. They were initially built to hold one inmate, but overcrowding lead to two inmates.

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