Ohio State Reformatory: The Shawshank Prison
The Gothic "castle" prison from The Shawshank Redemption — now famed for shadow figures in the world's largest cell block.
A cathedral for criminals
Built to look like a Gothic castle to "inspire reform," the reformatory opened in 1896 and held over 150,000 men before closing in 1990. It houses the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world.Screen fame and hauntings
Movie fans know it as the prison in The Shawshank Redemption. Visitors know it for shadow figures in the cell blocks, slamming doors, and cold spots tied to its decades of hardship and death.Visit
The reformatory runs history tours, ghost hunts, and a major haunted attraction each fall.Find real haunts near you 🎃
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