MANSFIELD, Ohio – The Shawshank Trail has now been in operation for 17 years, allowing fans of “The Shawshank Redemption” to explore the filming sites for the classic movie. As a result of the film’s popularity, a 10-stop guided bus tour has been added to a drive-it-yourself tour. 

The highlight of both tours is the historic Ohio State Reformatory, which stood in for the film’s Shawshank Prison. It is located in Mansfield, halfway between Cleveland and Columbus.

Directly across the street from the Ohio State Reformatory, two 1840s houses served as home to reformatory guards and their families in Mansfield’s historic Hancock Heights neighborhood. Beautiful restorations of Retro House and Hatlan House have just been completed, and the private homes are now offered as unique travel accommodations via Airbnb. The brick twins offer modern amenities with a charming 1940s vintage vibe. Unique touches from the historic prison and its role in “The Shawshank Redemption” – such as bedrooms themed as Andy’s Cell and Warden Norton’s office and custom – make overnight stays more memorable.

Visitors can take the same path that Red, Andy, Brooks, Warden Norton and others walked while filming the movie – either on a driving tour or in a luxury motorcoach emblazoned with scenes from the movie.

The complete Shawshank Trail itinerary and a booking link for the guided Shawshank Bus Tour are available at ShawshankTrail.com. It’s recommended to allow two to three days to experience the full trail. Details on lodging, dining and other tourism experiences are available at DestinationMansfield.com or by calling 800 642 8282.

The Shawshank Trail features 16 different filming sites in and around Mansfield, plus Sandy Point in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which stood in for the final scene as Zihuantanejo, Mexico.

The tour starts at the historic Ohio State Reformatory and takes visitors step-by-step through the movie’s most meaningful scenes. One of the five largest castle-like structures in the United States, the historic Ohio State Reformatory surrounds visitors with the intriguing history of not only the movie, but of the reformatory itself. 

The prison houses a Shawshank Museum with ephemera from the film, but the imposing six-story structure itself truly was the star of the film, housing the world’s tallest free-standing steel cellblock and the solitary confinement cells known as “The Hole.” Because of its remarkable history and architecture, the reformatory was selected as the set for a number of other major motion pictures, national TV shows, music videos and other productions, including “Air Force One,” “Tango & Cash” and shows on SciFi and the Travel Channel, among others.

After visiting the reformatory, the trail continues to other Shawshank scene settings, like the Brewer Hotel, the pawn shop window and Brooks’ Bench. The nearby countryside hosted the film’s opening scene at Malabar Farm State Park. The farm has a long history of Hollywood connections, including hosting major stars of the 1940s and ’50s and is where Bogey and Bacall tied the knot.

In addition to movie filming sites, community businesses also embrace the legacy. After touring, travelers can enjoy Shawshank-themed craft beer at The Phoenix Brewing Co. and Penitentiary Pinot Grigio, Reformatory Red and other wines along the area’s Wine & Trail. 

For a free Mansfield visitors guide, go to  DestinationMansfield.com.

Pictured at top: A group tours the Ohio State Reformatory cell blocks, where scenes from “The Shawshank Redemption” were filmed.