Ghost hunts, Paranormal Institute offered at Ohio's 'Shawshank' prison
MANSFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) — Made famous as the backdrop of the film “The Shawshank Redemption,” the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is also known as one of America’s most haunted places.
Now, ghost-hunting fans are being reminded not to miss the popular 2025 paranormal events at the roughly 125-year-old former prison that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Destination Mansfield has announced that just a few summer dates remain for travelers to take part in the former prison's Paranormal Institute, Ghost Hunts and Ghost Walks.
Ohio State Reformatory's Paranormal Institute
• Saturday, July 26
• 2:30 p.m. to midnight
• Cost: $135 for adults, $75 for youths 13 to 17
One final summer session remains for this comprehensive study and exploration of the supernatural. Attendees 13 and up can learn everything they need to know about locating spirits by going to this ghost-hunting school at the reformatory. It includes two hours of classroom study, followed by a four-hour guided ghost hunt. July’s session focuses on audio and electronic voice phenomenon, apparitions, shadows and orbs.
Ohio State Reformatory's Ghost Hunts
• Saturdays, July 5 and 12, Aug. 2 and 9, Nov. 22 and Dec. 6
• 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
• Cost: $104
• Complimentary water, coffee and hot chocolate are available throughout the night.
The enormously popular overnight Ghost Hunts, listed on the Travel Channel's “101 Things to do before you die,” are a sell-out risk, with spots reserved months in advance. Available to adventure seekers 18 and older, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allows ghost hunters to spend hours in the reformatory, searching for evidence of the departed.
The proceeds from these hunts are used to restore the building's historic architecture.
Ohio State Reformatory's Mini Ghost Hunts
• Fridays, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8
• 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Cost: $65, book the Ghost Walk for the same night and get a $10 discount.
For curious visitors 18 and older who are short on time, the reformatory offers Mini Ghost Hunts. Tour organizers recommend sturdy shoes and a flashlight; ghost-hunting equipment can be rented for the experience. The gate opens at 9:30 p.m. and all guests must be out of the building by 2 a.m.
Ohio State Reformatory's Ghost Walks
• Fridays, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8, Nov. 5 and Dec. 5.
• Registration from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., guided tour from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
• Cost: $45 for adults, $40 for youths 13 to 17
Fans of the unnatural can get all the haunted highlights the reformatory has to offer with its Ghost Walks. Knowledgeable tour guides lead guests on a two-hour walk through the dark halls and corridors straight to spots where paranormal activity has been reported, while recounting stories of eerie experiences, murder and death.
Ghost hunting equipment rentals
The reformatory offers ghost hunting equipment for rent during its public paranormal events. Attendees must reserve the items in advance when booking the experience.
For rent:
• 8+1 electro-magnetic field meter (EMF), $10
• EMF meter with temperature and an audible alert, $10
• K2 meter, $10
• Red laser grid, $15
• Micro Red Pod, $15
Additionally, the reformatory hosts the annual Inkcarceration Music and Tattoo Festival, which takes place this year from July 18 to 20. In October, a haunted house event called “Blood Prison” features costumed actors and special effects that provide scares and thrills beyond reality.
A wide range of other tours, including those for movie and history buffs and younger visitors, can also be booked this summer.
The Ohio State Reformatory opened in 1896. It housed 155,000 men over its nearly 100-year existence as an operating prison, before a federal court order closed it in 1990 due to “inhumane conditions and overcrowding.” Before being demolished, local volunteers saved it as a museum and historical site. It receives financial support from donors, filming fees, special events and tour proceeds. Tours can be booked on its website.