‘No good thing ever dies’: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ marking major milestone

MANSFIELD, Ohio (WJW) – Mark your calendars and prepare to “get busy livin’.”

A multi-faceted celebration is planned for the weekend of August 9th – 11th for the 30th Anniversary of the release of “The Shawshank Redemption.”

“We can say no one else has anything like this in the world,” said Jodie Snavely, Special Project Director with Destination Mansfield.

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A significant portion of the movie was shot in Ohio.

There are eleven filming site locations in Mansfield, two in Upper Sandusky, and one in Ashland.

They can be toured year-round as part of Shawshank Trail, but special events are being planned for the anniversary.

“We will be announcing soon cast members who are coming back, and of course the movie will be shown at the Renaissance Theatre, where it premiered in 1994,” said Snavely.

One of the biggest and most popular attractions is always the historic and haunted Ohio State Reformatory, which inspired the director’s portrayal of Shawshank State Prison.

“We have added a ton of new Shawshank props including actual set worn costumes,” said Ashleigh Ramey, Ohio State Reformatory Program Director, “And we do have possession of the rock hammer, obviously we had to jump through some insurance hoops there.”

Many aspects of the museum have been expanded and restored including to name a few: Andy’s workspace, Warden Norton’s Office, Brooks and Red’s room, the Parole Board setting, the tunnel to freedom, cafeteria scene and solitary confinement.

There is a staggering 250,000 square feet of the prison to tour; including areas like the original chapel where actual prisoners tried their own daring escape but could not dig through the solid brick and limestone wall.

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“There’s always something new to see, and I’ve been here many many many times,” said Snavely.

Ironically, the movie was a flop at the box office but has increased in popularity ever since and is listed as IMDB’s number one movie of all time.

Last year alone over 170,000 visitors from 38 countries traveled to Mansfield to tour the Reformatory.

“Folks tend to feel awe inspired by our building when they pull up,” said Ramey.

The gothic limestone exterior is both iconic and foreboding and was designed by prominent architect and Cleveland native Levi Scofield who also designed the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors monument at Public Square.

Inside the prison, which operated from 1896 to 1990, are six tiers of menacing cages, the world’s tallest free standing steel cell block.

It was meant to inspire hope but instead provoked fear and was ultimately closed due to increasingly inhumane conditions.

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“As the years went on there was overcrowding, poor conditions, pest problems and heating and cooling issues,” said Ramey, “The inmates referred to it for a time as Dracula’s Castle.”

More than 200 people are confirmed to have died inside the prison, some from illnesses and others murdered, leading to many reports of ghostly activity and attacks.

Executive Director Paul Smith says even some actors and extras became uncomfortable during filming.

“There have been folks who come out with scratches on their back, hair pulled, things like that,” said Smith, “And they did have those experiences too, because sometimes they were here in these cellblocks 8,10,12 hours waiting for one scene to be shot.”

The state scheduled the prison for demolition, but it was given a shot at its own redemption by Shawshank Director Frank Darabont.

“The wrecking ball was literally sitting out front the morning Castlerock came to start recording,” said Ramey.

The Ohio State Reformatory Preservation Society was established and has been hard at work ever since, restoring it to its original grandeur and celebrating their 30th Anniversary too.

There are now three museums inside the Reformatory: The Shawshank Redemption, Ohio Prison Museum which includes the electric chair dubbed “Old Sparky”, and the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum.

Also new this year and just in time for the anniversary celebration are nearby Airbnbs.

Across the street, brick row homes that were built in 1810, and then used as housing for guards and their families have been renovated and restored.

“When you’re on the front porch, you get a great view of the Reformatory,” said Ramey, “Book a night at one of our Hancock Heights Airbnbs and receive significant discounts on your tours of the Reformatory.”

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And this is just the start, they say many more big announcements pertaining to the anniversary are coming soon and will be announced on ShawshankTrail.com.

“It’s going to be something you don’t want to miss,” said Snavely.

“We just can’t wait for it!” added Ramey.

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