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Ohio State Reformatory continues to spook guests with overnight ghost hunts

by Libby Zay (RSS feed) on Oct 20th 2011 at 11:00AM

Exotic animals may have terrorized a small town in Ohio, but guests looking to get really scared should head to the infamous Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield--one of the ultimate places to go for a ghost hunt. For the Halloween season, the reformatory is offering a haunted house-style "Haunted Prison Experience," but next spring the real frights will begin when the facility that housed over 154,000 prisoners over its lifetime will host ghost walks and overnight ghost hunts for those with serious interest in paranormal activity.

The spooky facility was made famous by the film "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), and has been used in a number of other films and TV shows--including a long list of paranormal investigation shows such as Ghost Adventures, Scariest Stories on Earth and Scariest Places on Earth. Ohio-born Marilyn Manson also did a photo shoot at the reformatory, as well as Godsmack and Lil Wayne.

Built between 1886 and 1910, the reformatory remained in operation for 94 years until a federal court ruling ordered the facility to be closed. Five years later, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society was formed to turn the prison into a museum and conduct tours. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Place, the prison boasts the world's largest free-standing steel cellblock.

Those looking to book a tour through the dark halls and corridors of the reformatory--which, by the way, are led by tour guides well-versed in the eerie history of the prison--should book now, as the tours are extremely popular and sell out months in advance. All proceeds go directly to restore the architecture of the reformatory.

The Central Guard Room at the Ohio State Reformatory

An Aerial View of the Ohio State Reformatory

Just a sampling of the spookiness that awaits at the Ohio State Reformatory.

Filed under: Photos, United States

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

AMWeirick Oct 20th 2011 11:39AM

This is a great post. I've been to the prison and it is an amazing tour! The Shawshank connection is huge there and you can still see sets from the movie. They even host events and parties there; my sister even went to a wedding at the prison last year, gives new meaning to the perjorative term "the old ball & chain."

Krista Oct 20th 2011 7:24PM

Very nicely written! My boyfriend is the ghost hunt manager. We are very pleased with the article!

Kathie Oct 25th 2011 8:24PM

Who do we contact to sign up for a tour next spring???

Paul Oct 26th 2011 4:09AM

The article either has some major errors on dates or something isn't right ..

According to the dates given, the prison was only shut down in 2004??? That would also mean it was still operating 10 years earlier when Shawshank was made, which I'm sure would not have been allowed.

Lori Oct 25th 2011 11:14AM

While things like this scare the heck out of me, it is would be interesting to tour the Ohio State Reformatory. There is something similar in Philadelphia that was hosting a tour last year. My husband loves these kinds of things :-)

Frito Oct 25th 2011 5:52PM

I believe you are thinking of Eastern State Penetentiery. Yes, that is a very interesting place to visit.

Cynthia Oct 25th 2011 11:49AM

Nicely written but, they already offer overnight stays. I have done three overnight ghost hunts so far. We have captured several unexplainable images on digital camera and also video. This is a great place to go, if you don't see any ghosts at least you can see the beautiful architecture. If you're really brave you can also go to Waverly Hills Asylum in Louisville.

Joe Papierz Jr Oct 25th 2011 1:30PM

Thank you AOL. This is the kind of article I look for and enjoy on AOL. Keep up the good work.

vicki Oct 25th 2011 1:27PM

I believe that both my brothers spent time in this reformatory. I'm sure they had personal experiences with the inmates in the 60s. They told scary stories about the living inmates. Maybe some are still there.

G Oct 25th 2011 2:59PM

Hi Today, your comment is very interesting - please let me know (if possible)
what U mean by "living inmates" and "maybe they are still there?"
Is that a reference to the ghosts that your brothers, believed to have inhabited
the building, or what?

Have your brothers, said, whether or not, they were actual witnesses to seeing
or hearing the "ghosts?"

Also, do you why it is called a "reformatory" and later, named a prison -
I thought reformatory was for youth - to "reform" their behavior -
Well, there really isn't much of a difference in the two terms - with the exception
of the more common thought, that a reformatory, is a place for youth to be,
to change their behavior.

Maybe, it's just what "prisons" were called during that time frame.

Thanks Vicky, I'm sure waiting on your reply.

frank wilder Oct 25th 2011 2:55PM

QUESTION.
if i go out to ohio to the prison,is there any chance i can meet a ghost so i can talk to them ????

jim Oct 25th 2011 3:22PM

sureeeeeeee.....ill make an appointment for you...... hows that.?

Jer Oct 26th 2011 12:34PM

Vicky, I'm SURE Your Brothers "HAD A LOT of PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE OTHERS INMATES" lol... Due Tell... lol

Jim Petersen Oct 25th 2011 6:52PM

Hey Jer:

As to your statement about "personal experiences etc" and :/Do Tell;" I don't think Vicki meant it quite that way. Also, I'm wondering if Vicki's brothers were actually incarcerated there or were employed with the prison system. I would hardly think that someone would make a general announcement about having relatives who "spend time" in any kind of a prison, but then again, I could be wrong.

Jim

wayne Oct 25th 2011 5:00PM

Jer
Funny you should think that way !?

Chilly Willy Oct 25th 2011 5:16PM

What they are calling the Central Guard Room was actually the visiting room in the late 60's. It was a rough place, and defined the term "Hard Time". The aerial view only shows the remaining main cell block and administrative building. The power plant, chow hall, and furniture factory, school, auto shop, E dorm, baseball field, yard, gym, movie theater, honor farm, cannery, warehouse, and the majority of the buldings are long gone, just the main structure is in the picture. Most of those buildings were located beyond where the parking lot show behind the main building. I was a self contained city and held inmates from teenagers to adult men. When the men hit 40 years old the were transfered to the Ohio Penitentiary. Every bad story you have heard about prison was an everyday reality in this institution.