Shawshank Redemption is an all-time classic starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freedman. The movie won several awards and was filmed in central Ohio. So when I learned that most of the movie was filmed in Mansfield, I jumped at the opportunity to download the “Shawshank Trail Drive It Yourself Tour” and began my trek up north. Fourteen sites identify where Hollywood filmed the movie including the Ohio State Reformatory, which is now a museum and open to the public for tours. Here are the details of my tour. SPOILER ALERT!
Shawshank signs and decals identify the sites that are listed on the tour. The drive begins at the Ohio State Reformatory and ends in Upper Sandusky, Ohio where two of the sites were filmed about an hour outside of Mansfield.
Please note: I have put the sites in order in which they appear in the movie and not in the sequence of the driving tour.
At the start of the film, Andy Dufresne is sitting outside of his wife’s lover’s house where he knows she is inside. The façade of the home is Pugh Cabin located at Malabar Farm State Park in Lucas, Ohio.
Located in Upper Sandusky, the Wyandot County Courthouse is the site where Andy’s trial took place. Because I completed the driving tour on a Saturday, the courthouse was not open. NOTE: Should you visit from Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 4:30, it is required that you ask permission of a courthouse employee prior to taking photos of the inside of the building.
When Red and the other prisoners come out to watch the new prisoners enter the prison yard, there are several angles of the Ohio State Reformatory that are familiar in these scenes.
The guard tower is seen from several angles, but as Red is entering the courtyard of the prison, the view of the post can be seen in the background.
One of my favorite shots in the movie is when the film follows the entrance road up to the façade of the Ohio State Reformatory leading into an aerial view of the prison. It is such a dramatic part of the film that highlights the fascinating architecture of the building.
A view of the bullpen occurs when the prisoners, upon entering the penitentiary, are required to line up on the yellow line. It is here where the new prisoners experience their first sight of police brutality on the inside.
The area set aside for Solitary Confinement is marked within the Ohio State Reformatory. It is here where the prisoners would be sent as additional punishment for not following the rules.
At one point, Andy is washing his face, which shows the inside of his prison cell.
The shower scene in the movie looks very similar to the showers inside of the reformatory except for the fact that the movie shower heads are larger.
Another angle of the shower shows where the towels and clothes of the prisoners are hanging from hooks along the back wall.
Moving away from the Ohio State Reformatory, the next location site is the Shawshank Workshop. Inside of this building is where the filming took place that represented the workshop inside of Shawshank Prison. There are several scenes which shows the prisoners working in the workshop. The most notable scene is when Andy locks himself up in the warden’s office and plays opera over the load speaker for the prisoners to hear, playing Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”.
There is a scene in the movie where Andy is coming down the stairs with the warden. Although painted a different color than the film, this scene was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory.
If you look closely to the floor where Andy works on the same level as the warden’s office, you will notice the circular tiles. This floor is located on the first floor of the Ohio State Reformatory and is part of the administrative offices and gift shop.
The façade of the Blissman Building was used as the Brewster Hotel as well as the Portland Daily Bugle. The hotel was where Brooks would stay after being released from prison and would later on, hang himself in his room. On the corner of Main and Fifth is where Brooks would try to cross the street, only to realize that the times are now moving faster and is almost hit by a car. This building is considered haunted and is included in the Haunted Mansfield Tour.
The set for Brooks’ room can be seen at the Ohio State Reformatory.
The scene where Brooks is waiting for his crow, Jake, to return has been replaced with a gazebo.
On the other side of the park is a bench that has been designated as a prop for the movie as the location where Brooks sat waiting for his pet crow, Jake.
On the ground floor of the Ohio State Reformatory is the model for the tunnel where Andy dug his way out to freedom. This is the actual film prop where the Warden throws one of Andy’s stone images that happens to expose the hole from which Andy escapes.
The most memorable prop is that where Andy crawls his way out of the sewage pipe that leads outside of the prison and ending at a creek. According to the museum, the sewage was created by using sawdust, chocolate syrup and water.
One of the most thrilling events of the movie is when Andy enters the Maine National Bank and cashes in his account under the name of Randall Stevens and drops of a package for the bank to mail on his behalf. You can find the location where they shot this scene at what is known as Crosby Advisory Group, LLC. There is the vault door and an office upstairs that was used in the movie.
After Red is released from prison, there is a scene in the movie where he happens to look inside of a storefront window and gazes upon a compass. It will be this compass that will help Red find the Oak Tree that Andy directs him to find.
One of the movie locations that requires a little driving is approximately 15 miles outside of Mansfield on the country roads of Bellville. It is one of my favorite scenes where Red, looking for the Oak Tree, hitches a ride with a man driving a pickup truck. He drops him off at an intersection and is one of the prettiest scenes in the movie. It is at the intersection of Snyder Road and Hagerman Road in Bellville.
The movie zooms in on Red as he continues his journey searching for the Oak Tree.
It is an exciting moment in the movie when Red eventually finds the Oak Tree and the treasure that Andy has left for him. The scene shows Red walking along a hay field and then following a small wall of rocks until he reaches the tree. Located in Pleasant Valley near Malabar Farm, only half of this tree remains due to a lightning strike on July 29, 2011.
UPDATE: On July 22, 2016, winds damaged the 200+ year old tree and the remainder of the tree was cut down on April 9, 2017.
Once Red finds the treasure, he returns back to the Brewer Hotel to pack his belongings. It is here that he also leaves his mark at the hotel “So Was Red”, next to his dear friend’s last message “Brooks Was Here”. This image can be found at the Ohio Reformatory in Mansfield.
Inside of this building is where Andy waits in line to purchase his bus ticket to Fort Hancock, Texas, located at the American/Mexican border. This building is located on Orange Street in Ashland, Ohio.
As Andy rides the bus towards Fort Hancock, Texas, there is a view of the bus heading down a road along the beautiful countryside. This scenic location is also in Belleville, on the corner of Hagerman and Route 95. This is another one of my favorite scenes because it shows a brand new beginning for Red and the opportunity for him to have a second chance.
Shawshank Redemption is a movie about friendship, loyalty, innocence and revenge. It is a thrilling drama where the good guy wins and the bad guy has a second chance. Although it was not a box office success, the US Library of Congress added this film to their National Film Registry finding it “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” I couldn’t agree more.
Have you seen Shawshank Redemption or taken the Shawshank Trail in Mansfield? What were you thoughts about the movie? I would love to hear about your experience and thoughts if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many Thanks and Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Malabar Farm State Park
4050 Bromfield Road
Lucas, OH 44843
Telephone: 419 892 2784
- Admission Fee: No fee to drive up to the cabin at Malabar Farm State Park
- Hours: Park grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
- Amenities: Mt. Jeez lookout, picnic areas, restroom facilities, campgrounds, guided tours, Malabar Restaurant, 32-room country mansion
- Scenic View: Pugh Cabin, the façade of the house was filmed as Andy Dufresne’s wife’s lover; the park is extensive with scenic views, especially the Mt. Jeez Lookout
- Length of Visit: 30 minutes, unless you continue to explore this beautiful state park
- Tips for Your Visit: If visiting the park from November through April, some of the facilities may be closed/unavailable
Wyandot County Courthouse
109 S. Sandusky Avenue
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
Telephone: 419 294 3826
- Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Length of Visit: Less than 30 minutes
- Tips for Your Visit: You must have permission to take photographs inside.
The Ohio State Reformatory
100 Reformatory Road
Mansfield, OH 44905
Telephone: 419 522 2644
- Admission: Self-guided tours for adults (18 & up) are $12 while guided tours cost $17. Students (7 – 17), Seniors (age 60+) and College ID and Military are $10 for self-guided tours and $15 for guided tours. Children 6 and under are free and there is an additional $5 cost for the audio wand. NOTE: Cash only, but there is an ATM machine provided.
- Hours: Winter Hours (February 2 to March 31) are from 11 AM to 4 PM, Friday, Saturday and Sunday only; Spring/Summer Hours (April 1 to September 2) are from 11 AM to 4 PM, daily; Holiday Tours (November 24 to December 17) are from 11 AM to 4PM, daily
- Amenities: New for 2018, the reformatory will be open for abbreviated tours (September 4th – November 4th – Thursdays through Sunday only in October); self-guided tours; guided tours offered regularly between June and August on Saturdays and Sundays; Specialized guided tours include: History Meets Hollywood Tour, Beyond the Bars Tour, and the Inmate Tour led by Michael Humphrey who spent 14 months here in the late 1960s. This tour contains adult themes and is intended for mature audiences only. Please contact the Ohio State Reformatory to confirm when this tour is available.
- Scenic View: There are several scenic views of the reformatory from the Warden’s Quarters and other locations throughout the prison.
- Length of Visit: For the basic self-guided or guided tour, allow 1.5 to 2 hours for your visit. Depending on the number of guided tours you purchase, you will require additional time.
- Tips for Your Visit: Pay the additional fee for the audio tour which provides interesting information about the reformatory. Admission is cash only but there is an ATM machine provided. Wear proper shoes due to the condition of the metal stairs in the cell block. If you think you can handle it, visit during the overnight ghost tour.
Blissman Building
193 N. Main Street
Mansfield, OH 44902
Telephone: 419 295 2537
- Admission Fee: No Fee, but donations are appreciated
- Hours: If the door is open, come on in! Let the staff know you are on the Shawshank Tour
- Scenic View: The façade represents the Brewer Hotel and the Portland Daily Bugle
- Length of Visit: Less than 30 minutes
- Tips for Your Visit: Only the façade was used for the movie.
Brook’s Bench
Park Avenue West and Park Street
Mansfield, OH 44902
Telephone: 419 744 9820
- Admission Fee: No Fee, public location
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Scenic View: From the park bench there is a beautiful gazebo in the park.
- Length of Visit: Less than 30 minutes
Crosby Advisory Group,
19 W. Main Street
Ashland, OH 44805
www.crosbyadvisory.com
- Admission Fee: No Fee, but donations accepted
- Hours: 8 – 4; Monday through Friday
- Length of Visit: Less than 30 minutes
- Tips for Your Visit: This building may not be available even during the hours of operation, The vault door, teller line and one of the offices upstairs were used as scenes from the movie.
Road to Buxton: Crossroads of Snyder and Hagerman
Shawshank Tree – on Pleasant Valley Road between Malabar Farm and Malabar Farm Restaurant
Revivals Thrift Shop
345 Orange Street
Ashland, OH 44805
Telephone: 419 903 0303
- Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Open Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
- Length of Visit: 30 minutes
- Tips for Your Visit: The location was used as the Trailways Bus Station in the movie. It is a Christian outreach and ministry today.
Route 95 near Hagerman Road in Butler, OH is where Red rode the Trailways Bus after leaving the Shawshank State Prison,
Zihuatenejo
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Telephone: 340 773 4554
- Admission Fee: No Fee
- Hours: Open on Saturday to Sunday only and is closed from April to August for turtle nesting season
- Amenities: None
- Scenic View: The coast of Sandy Point is absolutely stunning with its crystal clear waters and gorgeous white sand beaches
- Tips for Your Visit: Do not visit this beach alone. You cannot put a stake in the ground (i.e., for an umbrella) so bring plenty of sunscreen. The water has a drop off and becomes deep very quickly. Turtles and rays are seen here.
Where to Stay:
Wishmaker House Bed and Breakfast
116 Main Street
Bellville, OH 44813
Telephone: 419 886 9463
Where to Eat:
Malabar Farm Restaurant
3645 Pleasant Valley Road
Lucas, OH 44864
Telephone: 419 938 5205
I started my meal with the mushroom soup which was creamy and full of flavor. As my main meal, I ordered the highly popular Reuben sandwich made of slow cooked brisket, kraut, marble rye, artisan Thousand Island and served with chips. Blog post coming soon!
The Vault Wine Bar
29 W. Main Street
Shelby, OH 44875
Telephone: 567 292 9081
The Suite Life of Travel Blog Post
I had already eaten a big lunch and decided to order the stuffed dates at The Vault which are stuffed with bleu cheese, wrapped in bacon, baked and then drizzled with balsamic reduction. I could have ordered two servings they were amazing!
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