The Shawshank Trail

09/01/2026

The Ohio State Reformatory is more than just our favorite movie prison.

There is a LOT to do behind these walls.

Take a self-guided tour or go deeper with one of OSR’s guided experiences. We recently took the Beyond the Bars Tour, which gave us another look at the real history and stories of the Reformatory.

Then there are the museums.

🎬 Visit the Shawshank Museum and see authentic props, costumes and memorabilia from The Shawshank Redemption.

⚙️ Step into the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum, where you’ll find another side of Mansfield’s story, including a chance to meet Elektro.

🔐 Looking for something completely different? Try one of the escape rooms and see if you can solve the clues before time runs out.

👻 Interested in the paranormal? OSR also offers Ghost Walks, public ghost hunts and private paranormal experiences.

And then there are the seasonal events, special tours and new things continuing to take shape inside the Reformatory.

We even caught a little peek at something new coming soon. 👀

So yes, come because you love The Shawshank Redemption.

But don’t be surprised when you realize there is enough here to keep you busy for a whole lot longer than you planned.

History. Hollywood. Museums. Escape rooms. Paranormal. And still more coming.

There really is so much to do at The Ohio State Reformatory.

Planning a fall visit? Some tour areas and experiences change during Blood Prison season, so be sure to check the current OSR schedule before you go.

09/01/2026

Coming to Mansfield for The Shawshank Trail this September? Get busy living while you’re here. 🎬🍂

The Trail is a self-guided driving tour with 16 filming sites, so start where you want, stop where you want and see the locations at your own pace.

Then get busy living off the trail, too.

Catch racing at Mansfield Speedway, spend a day at the Bellville Street Fair, find live music and theatre, head to Malabar Farm for Ohio Heritage Days or browse more than 200 artisans at Prairie Peddler.

And if the Ohio State Reformatory is one of your Trail stops, check its calendar before you go. Tour routes change beginning around Labor Day as the prison prepares for Blood Prison, which opens September 25 and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through November 1. 👻

Come for Shawshank. Then see what else Mansfield and Richland County have to offer.

08/21/2026

🚨You know the Ohio State Reformatory as one of the most recognizable filming locations from The Shawshank Redemption.

But after dark this fall… Shawshank Prison becomes Blood Prison. 🩸

Tickets are now live for the 2026 season of Blood Prison, the award-winning haunted attraction inside the Historic Ohio State Reformatory.

The same massive cell blocks and corridors Shawshank fans walk during the day take on a very different personality after sunset.

👻 September 25 – November 1
📅 Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
⏰ Gates open at 6:45 PM
🎟️ Limited admission — tickets are sold online only

If you’ve walked these halls on The Shawshank Trail, the question is:

Would you walk them after dark? 😈

🎟️: BloodPrison.com

08/21/2026

Tonight’s the night at the The Ohio State Reformatory 👻

This Friday, August 21, step inside one of Mansfield’s most legendary haunted locations for two ways to experience the Reformatory after dark:

🔦 Public Ghost Walk | 7:30–9:30 PM
A 2-hour guided tour through the Ohio State Reformatory. Admission is $45 per person.

👻 Mini Ghost Hunt | 10 PM–2 AM
Ready to go beyond the tour? Spend four hours inside the Reformatory during a public paranormal investigation. Ages 18+ only.

Doing both? Book the Ghost Walk and Mini Ghost Hunt for the same night and receive a $10 discount.

Which one are you brave enough to try — the walk, the hunt… or both?

📍 Ohio State Reformatory | Mansfield, Ohio | www.mrps.org/

08/15/2026

They ran. They walked. They wheeled. They Hustled! 🎬🏃

Richland Source captured the people, stories and Shawshank spirit behind today’s 12th Annual Shawshank Hustle. Take a look, you might just spot yourself! 📸

MANSFIELD — Some ran, some walked, some wheeled, and one threatened to crawl in Saturday morning’s 12th annual Shawshank Hustle. In all, 1,500 participants from numerous states crossed 4.6 miles of pavement on a course that snaked out of the Ohio State Reformatory, through downtown Mansfield, an...

08/14/2026

🎬🏃 Tomorrow, we Hustle!

The 12th Annual Shawshank Hustle is almost here, and around 1,500 runners and walkers are getting ready to take on Mansfield. Whether this is your first Hustle or you’ve been with us year after year, there’s plenty happening beyond those 7K miles!

Here’s your race-day reminder:

🪙 FINISH THE MEDAL. After crossing the finish line, head to the Blue Tent near Hustlin’ with the Stars and pick up the YEAR COIN that matches the number of Hustles you’ve completed. Remember, coins will NOT be mailed!

🔎 THE WARDEN WANTS ANDY FOUND! Racers, keep your eyes open along the route. Find Andy, grab one of his limited lanyards and take the card to the Awards Ceremony for a $50 Second Sole Ohio gift card.

📸 FIND THE FAMILIAR FACES. Andy won’t be the only Shawshank face waiting for you. Grab those selfies along the way and watch for filming locations, too!

☕ FUEL UP. Relax, It’s Just Coffee will be open along Main Street.

🍩 GRAB A FREE DONUT. Coney Island Diner is opening for Hustlers for the first time, with FREE Cappuccino Cream-Filled Donuts while supplies last!

🍔 STICK AROUND THE REFORMATORY. V&M Kitchen will be there serving up plenty of post-race options.

🏆 AWARDS AT 10 AM at the start/finish line.

🎠 RIDE THE CARROUSEL. Your registration includes a FREE ride at Richland Carrousel Park during the 2026 season.

📷 FIND YOUR RACE PHOTOS. FREE professional race photos are included with your registration.

🍺 KEEP HUSTLIN’. The official Shawshank Hustle Afterparty at The Phoenix Brewing Company runs from 9:30 AM–2 PM.

🏰 COME BACK AND TOUR THE PRISON. Your registration includes admission to the Ohio State Reformatory during the 2026 tour season.

And if you’re not racing tomorrow, you can still be part of it! Come out, find a spot along the course and help us cheer on 1,500 Hustlers. 👏

Hustle veterans, what’s the one thing you’d tell a first-timer not to miss?

08/14/2026

The guys are all waiting for you… and you know they care. 😉🎬

You’ll find some familiar Shawshank faces along Main Street tomorrow for the 12th Annual Shawshank Hustle. Stop along the way, grab a selfie and keep hustlin’! 📸

Andy? Red? Brooks? Hadley? Norton? Who’s your favorite, and who are you grabbing a selfie with?

08/14/2026

It’s almost time to get busy hustlin’! 🏃🎬

Destination Mansfield’s Jodie Snavely joined WMFD TV’s Aaron Hines to talk about this Saturday’s 12th Annual Shawshank Hustle, welcoming 1,500 runners and walkers to Mansfield, the race’s connection to The Shawshank Redemption and what’s in store for this year’s Hustle.

Thanks to Aaron and WMFD TV for helping us get ready for race day!

🎥 Watch the full interview www.wmfd.com/article/destination-mansfield-s-jodie-snavely-talks-shawshank-hustle-ahead-of-12th-annual-race/22609

WMFD's Aaron Hines invited Destination Mansfield's Jodie Snavely to talk about the upcoming 12th annual Shawshank Hustle race at the historic Ohio State Reformatory on Aug. 15

08/10/2026

The Road to Redemption is calling.

For the 12th year, runners and walkers from across the country are coming to Mansfield for 4.6 miles through Shawshank history.

The Shawshank Hustle begins and ends at the The Ohio State Reformatory - Shawshank State Prison on screen - and takes participants past actual filming locations from The Shawshank Redemption.

🏃 The Bissman Building — Portland Daily Bugle & Brewer Hotel
🧭 Carrousel Antiques — where Red spotted the compass
🐦 Brooks’ Bench — where Brooks waited for Jake
🏰 Ohio State Reformatory — Shawshank State Prison

Then comes the final climb up the Road to Redemption and back to the Reformatory.

Of course, there are a few other Shawshank Hustle traditions: the collectible finisher medal, Guards vs. Inmates and the chance to Beat the Warden.

Twelve years later, this race has become another chapter in a movie story that continues to bring people to Mansfield and Richland County from around the world.

The 12th Annual Shawshank Hustle
Saturday, August 15 | 8 AM
Ohio State Reformatory

Time to get busy Hustlin’

07/31/2026

The Shawshank Trail family is deeply saddened by the passing of April Mullen, a founding member of the Shawshank Woodshop.

Together, April and Bill helped shape the Shawshank Trail from its earliest days, welcoming fans with warmth, generosity, and a shared vision for what it could become.

Our thoughts are with Bill and their family.

Thank you, April. Your legacy will live on in every visitor whose journey was made richer because of you.

View April A. Mullen's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.