Ohio’s notorious prison gets rehabilitated as a one-of-a-kind incentive travel venue
Once a penitentiary, then a film set, now an event venue—Mansfield’s Ohio State Reformatory finds unexpected redemption in the incentive travel market. For meeting and incentive planners searching for the next unforgettable destination, one unlikely location is doing hard time as an event venue: the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.
Yes, that prison.
Immortalized in The Shawshank Redemption, the towering Gothic facility that once housed inmates from 1886 until its closure in 1990 has undergone not one, but two stunning transformations. First, from prison to film set. Then, from cinematic relic to a one-of-a-kind experience for incentive travel and corporate events. And in the process, it’s helped rewrite the narrative of the entire town of Mansfield.
From “Institutional” to Inspirational
Following the shutdown of the prison, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society stepped in to save the imposing structure from decay. But it was the 1994 release of The Shawshank Redemption that changed everything. Today, facility is no longer a crumbling relic of America’s correctional past—it’s a cult tourism magnet and, increasingly, a premium event venue.
Visitors can walk in Andy Dufresne’s footsteps—past the yellow “fresh fish” line, through the infamous parole board room, and even crawl through a replica of the tunnel Dufresne dug through his cell wall. The warden’s office, Brooks’ boarding house room, and the institutional chapel are also intact, turning every inch of this grim setting into a movie buff’s paradise.
And planners are cashing in on it.
A Scene-Stealing Setting for Incentives
Let’s be honest—when it comes to incentive events, there’s arguably nothing more exclusive than a prison setting. After all, these were places that, when operational, were incredibly hard to get into—and even harder to get out of. Now, for award recipients, getting their names on the guest list at Mansfield’s Ohio State Reformatory says they’ve made it—just not in the way the original residents did.
The facility offers a dramatically different setting for recognition events, team-building experiences, and association gatherings. Incentive groups can host a banquet in the Central Guard Room under soaring ceilings once patrolled by corrections officers, or book the East Diagonal for receptions that flow seamlessly into walking tours of the cellblocks and film sets. Smaller VIP groups can dine in the warden’s private dining room—yes, the real one.
FURTHER READING: WHY FORMER PRISONS ARE THE NEXT UNFORGETTABLE EVENT VENUES
Planners can also take advantage of immersive add-ons, like guided “Hollywood Meets History” tours and paranormal investigations. (Let’s face it, what says “bonding” more than a group ghost hunt?)
“We were looking for something completely unexpected—and this was it,” said one corporate planner who hosted a sales incentive dinner on-site. “It was eerie, cinematic, and weirdly inspiring. Our group’s engagement shot through the roof.”
From Shawshank to Side Hustles
Ohio State Reformatory’s fame has spread well beyond the prison walls, invigorating Mansfield’s economy with film tourism and event-driven dollars. The Shawshank Trail—a self-guided driving tour of filming locations around town—brings thousands each year. The nearby INKcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, the “Blood Prison” haunted house, and the Shawshank Hustle 7K race have turned what was once a hard-luck Rust Belt town into an unlikely entertainment hub.
Located within easy reach of Cleveland, Columbus, and Akron (each roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car), Mansfield is an easy in-and-out destination for groups seeking a high-impact experience without a long-haul flight or major logistics headache.
Not Just a Gimmick—An Experience
To be clear, this venue isn’t for everyone. There are no on-site hotel rooms or banquet catering (though preferred vendors are available). The venue does not host weddings or large receptions during its haunted house season in fall. But for planners who want to wow with originality—and appeal to teams with a taste for movies, mystery, or the macabre—it’s hard to beat.
From Hollywood nostalgia to historic gravitas, the Ohio State Reformatory is more than a backdrop—it’s a full-sensory setting that elevates a reward trip into something unforgettable.
Incentive travel has always been about creating stories. In Mansfield, they just happen to start with a prison break.
Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.
Photo by CC BY-SA 4.0
