Due to Richland County's current Health Advisory, masks are required to enter & tour The Ohio State Reformatory.
Tours
Discover The Ohio State Reformatory
We are currently offering Self-Guided Tours.
PUBLIC Guided tours are currently unavailable. Due to recent developments concerning the status of COVID-19, our team has decided that PUBLIC Guided Tours would interfere with our mission to protect the safety and health of our guests.
PRIVATE Guided Tours are available.
Private guided tours are available Friday - Sunday with set times. The cost of a private guided tour is $250.00/group. Group sizes are a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 guests. We do require two days notice if scheduling a tour. Please note these tours are subject to availability.
| FRIDAY | 10:30 A.M. | 1:00 P.M. | 3:30 P.M. |
| SATURDAY | 10:30 A.M. | 1:00 P.M. | 3:30 P.M. |
| SUNDAY | 10:30 A.M. | 1:00 P.M. | 3:30 P.M. |
Please call 419-522-2644 or email Josh@mrps.org to schedule a tour.
There’s a tour to match your passions, no matter what brings you here. Explore the OSR’s 250,000 square feet through self-guided tours with audio wands, or choose from three different guided tours, each one takes about 1.5 hours.
Tickets & Admission
| TICKETS | SELF-GUIDED | GUIDED |
| Adult (18 & up) | $25 | $30 |
| Students (ages 7-17) | $23 | $28 |
| Seniors (ages 60+) | $23 | $28 |
| College ID/Military | $23 | $28 |
| Youth (6 and under) | Free | Free |
| Audio Wand | $5 | N/A |
TOUR SEASON:
Spring - Summer
April 1st - September 30th
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Open 7 Days a Week
Autumn - Winter
October 1st - March 31st
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday - Sunday
Closed all major holidays. In September and October, we offer only Abbreviated Tours, due to Halloween events.
History Meets Hollywood Tour
(Currently Unavailable)
Explore the reformatory’s historical prison timeline alongside the equally iconic, fictional story of Andy Dufresne from the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption. Tour also includes information on the warden’s living quarters and other films and music videos filmed onsite.
Beyond the Bars Tour
(Currently Unavailable)
Access the areas of the Reformatory not open to the general public. The tour includes the West Attic, stories of inmate punishment, the “yard” where Andy and Red would sit and talk, the sub-basement, and the inner workings of The Ohio State Reformatory.
Note: This tour includes extensive stair climbing.
Life of an Inmate Tour
(Currently Unavailable)
Learn about life behind bars from tour guide Michael Humphrey, who spent 14 months here in the late 1960s. Michael leads you through a normal day for an inmate and shares stories that have stuck with him all these years.
Note: This tour contains adult themes and is intended for a mature audience. Children under the age of 13 are not permitted on the Life of an Inmate Tour unless they are accompanied by a consenting parent or guardian. Please be advised that this tour contains strong language, graphic descriptions of violence and abuse, themes of injustice, cruelty, and inhumane treatment of prisoners. If you become uncomfortable with the content of this tour, please inform a staff member and they will escort you to your preferred location of The Ohio State Reformatory.
Shawshank Bus Tour
(Currently Unavailable)
Tour the Shawshank Trail in style! Visit 11 filming locations in 3 hours while being led by a professional guide. Finish with a walking tour of Shawshank Prison using Andy's entrance.
Note: Children under the age of 13 are not permitted on the Shawshank Bus Tour. Please be advised that this tour is rain or shine. The minimum number of guests is 6 and the maximum is 12. Total tour duration is 4.5 hours. This tour is available Saturday and Sundays at 8:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Private Guided Tour
Private group tours are scheduled Friday - Saturday with a flat rate of $250.00 for up to 10 guests.
Dates, Discounts, and Tour Information
SAME DAY DISCOUNT
If you are interested in taking more than one guided tour, each tour after your first is just $8 a person. Admission to our guided tour also includes access to the self-guided tour route.
Members of the Preservation Society receive a discount on admission.
ABBREVIATED TOURS
Abbreviated tours are offered in September, October, and November due to our Halloween event.*
FEATURING: Administrative Areas, Residential Quarters, chapel, one tier of the east cell block, and central guard room. And for our daring guests, check out an exclusive behind the scenes sneak peek of our Halloween Event, ‘Escape from Blood Prison’! Museum will also be available.
*Please Note: Certain areas on our normal tour route will be closed off. We offer a $6 discount on tour tickets during this time.CLOSED FOR TOURS
No tours will be offered on the following dates in 2020:
January 30th & 31stFebruary 1st
May 25th
July 4th
September 7th
December 21st - January 1st
SPECIAL EVENTS
Due to special events at the reformatory, ticket prices and availability are subject to change on the following dates in 2020:
July 10thJuly 11th
July 12th
Please check the calendar for complete tour options and closures.
The Ohio State Reformatory
100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield, OH 44905
Phone: (419) 522-2644 • Email: info@mrps.org
