Columbus, OH

The Ohio Reformatory at Mansfield is actually a beautiful piece of classic architecture. This is such a strange situation, because the former prison now has its own non-profit organization that dedicates itself to maintaining and restoring the buildings. So lovely is it, that many people actually get married there.

People intentionally wanting to get married at the prison. Freaky huh?

But not as freaky as what happens there every October. Each year the reformatory is taken over by spooks and spirits, freaks and zombies and monsters of every kind.

This year the haunted prison theme is “The Night ‘They’ Came Home.” This is the longest haunted attraction in Ohio and one of the best. In past years they have done things like split up your party separating the guys from the gals. They are advertising “Cell Block Hell” so who knows what kind of surprises they have in store for visitors this year?

Good To Know Before You Go:

This is one of the longest running and most popular Haunted Attractions in Ohio. Prepare to wait for two hours or more before entering the prison. The closer it gets to Halloween, the longer you will have to wait.

This is not for small children, leave them at home.

NO REFUNDS

Do not enter the haunt unless you want to finish it. This is not a run through and finish it in five minutes kind of thing. It will take about 45 minutes for you to complete the haunt.

The idea behind the haunt is “Special FX meets the Supernatural.” Yes, the prison is actually supposed to be haunted, so while there are actors there to “boo” you, you never know who else might actually be there.

Admission is $15, they do not run out of tickets, but you may run out of time.

The website lists a VIP waiting area. As with Dead Acres, I have no idea what constitutes a VIP.

Through Halloween:
Thursdays 7-11, Fridays and Saturdays 7-12, Sundays 7-10

Note: If the “Halloween Haunted Attraction” thing really isn’t for you, you can wait until after the commercial haunting season is over and take either a Ghost Hunt or go on a Ghost Walk through the prison. The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society offers them throughout the year.

BTW–if you think the prison looks familiar you are probably right. This is the location where they filmed the Stephen King film, The Shawshank Redemption.

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Columbus, OH