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Please Note: Labor Day through Mid-November there are changes to our tour route, due to the Blood Prison Haunted House setup. During this time, the self-guided tour has no access to solitary confinement, the ground levels of the cell blocks, or the showers. Our guided tour availability changes and Hollywood Meets History and Beyond the Bars are replaced with the Fall Guided Tour and the Beyond the Scare. If you would like the full tour experience, please plan to visit before Labor Day or after November 22nd. We do offer a self-guided tour discount during this time.

Get inspired and intrigued (and maybe a little freaked out) when you tour The Ohio State Reformatory.

Whether you’re here to explore history, Hollywood, horror — or all three — you‘ll be captivated by each of our guided tours.

With the purchase of one or more of the guided tour options below, we’ll give you a complimentary self-guided tour. You get to explore the Reformatory’s 250,000 square feet at your own pace with a personal audio device, too.

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All online ticket purchases are final and non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we can reschedule your tour. No strollers, carts, or wagons of any kind allowed on our guided tours. For safety reasons, we strongly recommend that all children be at least 42″ tall. Children must not be unattended at any point in time.

Hollywood Meets History Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

door and door knob leading into the warden's office

— The Experience —
Step into the storied world of the reformatory and experience its history both as a prison and the shooting location for 1994’s acclaimed film, The Shawshank Redemption. Serving as our most comprehensive tour, you’ll learn about the Reformatory’s architecture, the warden’s living quarters, and discover what films and music videos have been shot onsite.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Year-round with the exception of Labor Day — Nov. 22nd due to “Blood Prison” scheduling.

— Appropriate For —
Everyone! This tour is family-friendly and highly recommended for first-time guests.

— Keep in mind —
We do not offer free guided tours to children age 6 and under. All children must have a student ticket to be on a guided tour.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Beyond the Bars Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

— The Experience —
Take a deep dive beyond and behind bars with this physically challenging tour exploring the inner workings of the prison and its inmates’ punishments. Get access to areas normally off-limits to the general public while you explore the West Attic, the sub-basement, the “Jesus Room”. And if weather permits, you’ll be led up to the imposing guard tower. This tour requires 439 stairs total.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Year-round, with the exception of Labor Day-Nov. 22nd due to “Blood Prison” scheduling.

— Appropriate For —
Ages 8+ only.

— Keep In Mind —
Participants must be 8 years of age or older due to the mature topics discussed and physical strain of the tour.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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The Walls of Time

Tour Duration: Approx. 2.5 hrs

— The Experience —
Beginning with the 1867 initiative to establish an Intermediate Penitentiary, The Walls of Time explores the obstacles overcome to construct the facility in Mansfield, its evolution into a global model of reform, and the cruel, brutalizing, and inhumane conditions that led to its closure in 1990. It concludes with the efforts of the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society to maintain and honor the site’s legacy. The tour will start as a sit-down presentation and will visit various public and restricted sites throughout the building.

— Ticket Price —
$55 per person

— Dates Available —
Currently this brand new tour is available only on Sundays at 1pm, but is offered year-round, with the exception of Labor Day-Nov. 22nd due to “Blood Prison” scheduling. We anticipate adding additional days to the schedule as interest in the tour grows. Please check our online ticket calendar for availability.

— Appropriate For —
Ages 8+ only.

— Keep In Mind —
Participants must be 8 years of age or older due to the mature topics discussed and physical strain of the tour. Although there are not extensive stairs on this tour, there are stairs and being a 2.5 hour tour, it could be strenuous for some.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Old Sparky: Capital Punishment in Ohio

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

Electric chair on display at reformatory museum.

— The Experience —
Our most “shocking” tour explores the personal stories of inmates who were executed. Starting with a 1-hour sit-down presentation, guests will learn about the history of capital punishment in Ohio and the development and design of the electric chair, concluding with a guided walking tour of the Reformatory that includes visiting its electric chair.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Old Sparky is a tour given by one of our long-time volunteers and is subject to guide availability. To check availability, please check our online tour calendar by using the “Book Your Experience” button or call our office.

— Appropriate For —
Ages 13+ only.

— Keep In Mind —
Participants must be 13 years of age or older due to this tour’s sensitive subject matter.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Fall Guided Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

— The Experience —
This seasonal tour offers our popular “Hollywood Meets History” experience along with the bonus of unique access spots featured in our “Beyond the Bars” tour. Guests will still visit the cell blocks at a higher tier and get the added experience of walking through the West Attic.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Offered Labor Day — Nov. 17th only.

— Appropriate For —
Everyone! This is our comprehensive tour, great for first time guests!

— Keep In Mind —
Due to our “Blood Prison” experience that runs from Labor Day to Nov. 17th, features such as solitary confinement, the ground levels of the cell blocks, the showers, and the bullpen are not included in this tour.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Beyond the Scare Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

— The Experience —
Want to know what “Blood Prison” looks like with the lights on? See it for yourself on our newest guided tour. You’ll learn the history of the Reformatory and see some of our “Beyond the Bars” tour locations, including the sub-basement, the “Jesus Room,” and the Guard Tower (weather permitting).

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Offered Sept. 27th — Nov. 2nd, 2024.

— Appropriate For —
Our guests who would like to explore “Blood Prison” but have sensitivity to light and/or sound will enjoy this tour experience. Ages 8+ only.

— Keep In Mind —
Content Warning: There will be blood, gore, mannequin nudity, and disturbing scenes. Participants must be 8 years of age or older due to this tour’s sensitive subject matter.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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American Sign Language (ASL) Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs

— The Experience —
Presented in American Sign Language (ASL), our “Hollywood Meets History” tour experience allows you to step into the storied world of the reformatory and delve into its history both as a prison and the shooting location for 1994’s acclaimed film, The Shawshank Redemption.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
The 1st and 3rd weekends of most months throughout the year with the exception of Labor Day — Nov. 17th due to “Blood Prison” scheduling.

— Appropriate For —
Our guests who communicate through sign language. All ages.

— Keep in mind —
There is no audibly spoken component for this tour. It is presented in ASL only. If you are not fluent in ASL, please plan to take the Hollywood Meets History tour to receive the same information verbally.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Shawshank Bus Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 4.5 hrs

— The Experience —
The Shawshank Bus Tour will not be available in 2025. Due to extreme construction in downtown Mansfield, we do not feel as though the experience our guests would receive would be up to our standards. We are sorry to disappoint our Shawshank fans, but we hope to see you in 2026!

Let us do the driving! This fascinating tour will allow you to stop at a variety of filming locations you’re sure to recognize from The Shawshank Redemption. Included in your ticket price is the popular “Hollywood Meets History” tour inside the Reformatory.

— Ticket Price —
$99 per person

— Dates Available —
April-October (rain or shine)

— Appropriate For —
Ages 13+ only

— Keep in mind —
Only certified service animals are permitted on the bus tour (and inside the Reformatory). Alcohol is not permitted on the bus. Due to tour length, there will be opportunities to use the restroom and to hydrate. Photo opportunities are also available, so make sure to bring your camera/phone along for the ride.

— No Discounts —

Book a Tour

Picture of a doorknob leading into an office

Self-Guided Tours

Explore the Reformatory independently at your own pace.
Learn about the history of the facility and its many Hollywood and paranormal connections through a personal audio guide, which works in conjunction with our self-guided tours.
Visit the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum, included as part of the self-guided tour. (For more information about NCOIM, please visit their webpage at ncoim.org)
Audio can be added to any self-guided tour for $5 per person.
Reservations not required for the self-guided tour.
Tickets are always available at our front desk and never sell out.
Ghost hunting and ghost hunting equipment are prohibited during the daytime. Please click our site’s Paranormal tab to learn when they are permitted.
Tour Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
The self-guided tour route is modified and the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum is completely closed from Labor Day through mid-November because of our Blood Prison Haunted House setup. A discount will be offered on self-guided tickets during this time.
From Labor Day through mid-November, guided tours remain 90-minutes long, but there is no access to solitary confinement, the ground floor of the cell blocks, the showers, or the bullpen. If you want full access to the tour route, please plan to visit the Reformatory outside of this window.
$30 per person.
$5 discount for students, seniors, and military.

Book a tour

Private Guided Tours

Starting at $500 per group of up to 10 guests.
Requires two weeks of advance notice to book.
November-March private guided tours can be scheduled for 11:30 AM or 2:30 PM, Thursday-Sunday.
April-October private guided tours can be scheduled for 11:30 AM or 2:30 PM, Monday-Friday. We do not offer private guided tours on the weekends during our summer months.
Call or email Derek Wilson to schedule or for more information at (419) 522-2644 or derek@mrps.org.

Tour Season

TOUR SEASON:
Spring, Summer, Fall*, Winter

April 1st – October 31st
11AM – 4PM
Open: 7 Days a Week

November 1st – March 31st
11AM – 4PM
Open: Thursday – Sunday

CLOSED FOR TOURS
No tours will be offered on the following dates in 2024: March 31st, May 27th, July 4th, July 15th-22nd, September 2nd, November 28th, and December 23rd-January 2nd.

*Subject to change*

Discounts

STUDENT, SENIOR, AND MILITARY DISCOUNTS
A $5.00 discount will be given to students, senior citizens ages 55-or-older, and any member of the military or military veteran. Children 6-and-under receive free self-guided tours. Note: This discount is only valid on full-price tickets and does not apply to seasonal pricing (i.e. from September through November).*

SAME DAY DISCOUNT
We offer same day discounts for multiple tours. A second tour on the same day is only $20 per person!

PURCHASE A GUIDED TOUR, GET A COMPLIMENTARY SELF-GUIDED TOUR
Admission to our guided tour also includes complimentary access to the self-guided tour route.

PRESERVATION SOCIETY DISCOUNT
Members of the Preservation Society receive a discount on guided tours and free self-guided tours.

*Adjusted tours only from Labor Day through November 17th. Due to the Blood Prison Haunted House setup, which is in place during this time, several areas of the building will be unavailable for touring, including solitary confinement, the bullpen, the ground level of the cell blocks, and the showers. During this time there is a $6 discount on self-guided tours, while guided tours remain full price and include tours of additional areas.

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