The Shawshank Trail in Mansfield, Ohio: If you like spooky, creepy places mixed with some nostalgia then this road trip is for you!
The movie, The Shawshank Redemption has been consistently ranked as one of the best movies of all time. It speaks to feelings of setting right personal injustices and making the best out of terrible personal circumstances.
After rewatching the movie, it was time to go exploring… First stop- the Courthouse where ANDY’S CONVICTION took place, then the SHAWSHANK WOODSHOP where the men worked in the prison, next was BROOKS’ BENCH where Brook rested and fed the birds after getting released from prison, and his hotel, the BREWER HOTEL.
It was also fun to see the Renaissance Theater where the 1994 MOVIE PREMIERE was held, as well as the PAWN SHOP WINDOW where Red saw the compass which he purchased to find the SHAWSHANK OAK TREE which is also on the trail. Our last stop was Pugh’s Cabin where Andy sat outside handling his gun and contemplating what to do in the OPENING SCENE.
We also went on a nice hiking trail with our dogs from that spot. We ran out of time in our day to get to all of the spots on the trail such as the ROAD TO BUXTON, RED’S BUS RIDE, MAINE NATIONAL BANK, and the TRAILWAYS BUS STATION.
But even if you don’t get to everything, your trip will be worth it if you visit just one place: The Shawshank Prison, i.e. THE HISTORIC OHIO STATE REFORMATORY. This place was amazing!
Andy’s Conviction (Wyandot County Courthouse) 109 S Sandusky Ave, Upper Sandusky- call ahead if you want to go inside
Shawshank Woodshop 226 S 8th St, Upper Sandusky- call ahead if you want to go inside
1994 Premier (Renaissance Theatre) 138 Park Ave W, Mansfield
Brooks’ Bench (Central Park) Corner of Main St. (SR. 13) and Park Ave. West
Pawn Shop Window (Carrousel Antiques) 118 N Main St, Mansfield
Brewer Hotel (The Haunted Bissman Building) 193 N Main St, Mansfield
Shawshank Prison (The Ohio State Reformatory) 100 Reformatory Rd, Mansfield
Shawshank Oak Tree Bromfield Rd & Pleasant Valley Rd, Monroe Township
Opening Scene (Pugh Cabin at Malabar Farm State Park) 4050 Bromfield Rd, Lucas, OH 44843 (You will need to ask for directions from here)
Road to Buxton (Snyder Road & Hagerman Road)
Red’s Bus Ride (Ohio 95 & Hagerman Road)
Maine National Bank (Crosby Advisory Group, LLC.) 19 W Main St, Ashland, OH 44805
Trailways Bus Station (Revivals 2 Thrift Store) 345 Orange St, Ashland, OH 44805
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and photographic essay of The Shawshank Trail in Mansfield, Ohio!