City in Ohio, United States
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Mansfield is a city in Richland County. It is known as the Carousel Capital of Ohio, Danger City, and The Fun Center of Ohio, and also as the filming location for Shawshank Redemption.
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Military base with huge C-130 aircraft and crews. No access to the base, but some planes can be seen from the surrounding areas.
The Living Bible Museum
Ohio's only life-sized wax museum, with over 70 scenes and more than 300 wax figures featuring original music and narration to bring Biblical scenes to life. Also features a live Christian dinner theater and other attractions.
Peter Bissman built the Bissman Building in 1886 for his expanded wholesale grocery store. In the early 1930s, residents of Downtown Mansfield would wake up to the rich aromas of the store’s personal coffee blends and return home to the smell of roasting peanuts. The building possesses an early Romantic Gothic style that closely resembles the Ohio State Reformatory. Both were designed by same architect, built the same year and both are believed to be haunted. In Shawshank Redemption the exterior served as the Brewer Hotel halfway house where Brooks and Red went to after their release from prison. The room where Brooks & Red stayed in was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory while the Food Way where they worked as a grocery bagger was filmed at the "Save A Lot" Supermarket which is listed among local grocery stores under "Eat" in the below. The front room of the Bissman Building served as the offices of the Portland Daily Bugle in the film where the editor received the warden's accounting ledgers accompanied by a letter explaining the warden's illegal activities. The Bissman Building is now vacant and is believed to be haunted.
Seen in The Shawshank Redemption, this 2-acre park features a playground, gardens and a gazebo which still functions as a city park for all. In Shawshank Redemption, Brooks (James Whitemore) sat here to feed the pigeons in hopes that "Jake", a crow he reared while in prison, would come by to say "hello." The bench where Brooks sat on is located towards S Park Ave in the southwestern part of the park. The listing marker is at the approximate location of the bench which is marked by an orange/white "Shawshank Trail" sign.
47 acres of gardens on former estate, a favorite spot for orchardists, gardeners and photography.
The Ohio State Reformatory (OSR), also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison located in Mansfield, Ohio in the United States. It was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until 1990, when a United States Federal Court ruling (the 'Boyd Consent Decree') ordered the facility to be closed. While this facility was seen in a number of films (including several while the facility was still in operation), TV shows and music videos, it was made famous by the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994) when it was used for most scenes of the movie. In addition to Shawshank Redemption, other filming productions produced there are Air Force One (1997); Tango & Cash (1989); Escape Plan 3: The Extractors (2019), among other movies, television programs and music videos, other activities and tours take place throughout the year. The prison also exhibits things used in the prison such as an electric chair and props from the movies that were filmed there such as the pipe that Andy crawled through to escape prison in The Shawshank Redemption and the portraits of Lenin & Stalin from Air Force One.
The factory was built in 1918 by Westinghouse, one of 39 factories in the U.S. with 5 stories on 4 acres along E 5th St. The Mansfield location was where they manufactured household appliances. By 1955 operations peaked with a workforce of 8,177 people working in 16 buildings on 42 acres. Westinghouse was the largest employer in Mansfield employing 1/3 of the city's populace of that time. By 1990 Westinghouse closed its Mansfield operations and the buildings stood empty till 2011 when the main buildings were demolished while others still stand. Scenes from the inside of the cell blocks of the fictional Shawshank Prison were filmed in a purpose built set built within the main Westinghouse Warehouse building that once stood along E 5th and Wayne St (demolished in 2011) while some scenes of Escape Plan 3: The Extractors were filmed in the nearby building on E 5th and Newman St by the railroad tracks (still standing on 200 E 5th St). The majority of the scenes of both films were filmed at the Mansfield Reformatory (see above).
In 1976, Malabar became an Ohio State Park. Dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield's farming philosophies, preserving the Big House artifacts, providing a place where visitors can explore life on the farm and beauty of nature. The following are some historic places of interest within the park, a couple of which were filming locations for Shawshank Redemption in 1993 (the marker is at Bromfield & Pleasant Hill Rd, the main entrance into the park from the north):
A 32-room Western Reserve style house built in 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louis Bromfield who lived there till his death in 1956. He wrote many of his books, attracted film stars, artists, politicians, writers, and conservationists. Bromfield also hosted Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall's wedding and honeymoon at Malabar Farm in 1945. While in town James Whitmore (Brooks) and Clancy Brown (Captain Hadley) were taken on a personal tour of the Big House at Malabar Farm by local tour guides.
The Miller's house, mentioned in the Pleasant Valley collection of ghost stories, was the 19th-century home of a young, mentally challenged girl named Ceely Rose. In 1896, Ceely Rose murdered her three-person family by poisoning their food with arsenic. Annually in October, the Ceely Rose Play is performed in the park's timber frame barn, as part of a ghost story trilogy. The other two plays are Phoebe Wise and Louie. In 2014, an episode of Ghost Hunters was filmed at the Ceely Rose House
Sports car racing
All kinds of roadracing, special track events, Driver education. Very important in Mansfield area.
Warren Rupp Observatory is one of the world's largest amateur-operated telescopes. It is nestled in a pastoral setting that boasts some of the darkest skies in the state. The Rupp Scope and the Richland Astronomical Society dedicate themselves to public awareness of astronomy. Public Nights are held on the first Saturday of each month, from March through November and special programs are offered on alternative weekends. If weather permits, you can look through the big telescope and smaller ones that people bring.
Equestrian Valley Farm
Take a trail ride on horseback on an historic Mohican style farm, established in 1815. The house, built in 1825, overlooks the pond and adjacent pastures. This 200-acre farm has trails on scenic rolling hills through open pastures and beautiful forests.
In the Historic Carrousel District in downtown Mansfield.
The bike trail is over 18 miles long, paved on the abandoned Ohio B & O Rail Road bed. It is well maintained and protected. It runs from Mansfield to Butler through one of Ohio's most scenic areas.
The 1,600-seat theatre opened in 1928 as the Ohio Theatre and serves today as the largest performing arts center in North-Central Ohio.
The second oldest, and largest continually producing community theater in Ohio, the Mansfield Playhouse has been in its current location for over 40 years. With an aggressive season consisting of 6 Main Stage shows, 2 Youth Theater shows, and 2 Second Stage shows.
The u-pick blueberry season is open from early July to early September and the u-pick raspberry season is open from mid August to frost. The Blueberry Patch has a gift shop, blossoms cafe, greenhouse and a nursery.
The fair is usually held during the first full week of August or sometimes in some years the fair is held during the second full week of August.
Air and auto show held at the airport
Very nice and friendly bakery. You can eat in or have baked goods delivered. Cookies, pretzels, scones, cake, etc.
formerly KV Mart
When Shawshank Redemption was filmed in 1993, this location was the E&B Market. It has since undergone extensive renovation and is once again home to a full-service supermarket offering fresh produce, meat, deli and hot foods located near downtown and more convenient for travelers staying closer in town. Once paroled from the Shawshank Prison, both Brooks and Red struggle to adjust to life on the outside while bagging groceries at the Food-Way which was filmed here.
Ask for discount card. There's also a Starbucks, CiCi's Pizza, Game Stop and an IHop Restaurant in separate buildings along the south end of the premises on Walker Lake Rd in separate buildings.
Coney Island Diner is Mansfield's oldest restaurant and is famous for its coneys and pea salad. The downtown eatery has been around since 1936 and has become famous among filmmakers and politicians.
The drive-in restaurant has been serving Mansfield since 1947 and its menu serves ice cream, sundaes, shakes, sodas (Pepsi products), fries, burgers, hotdogs, coneys, chicken and more. When you arrive at Dairy Land, you just park and one of the servers will help you in taking your order. Before you go, you may want to ask for a menu (a yellow paper menu full of good food and ice creams with prices listed) to take with you so you know what to order on your next visit. They are locally famous for their excellent shredded chicken sandwiches.
This Mexican restaurant with the best combination platters around is known for their fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. El Campesino also has a full bar that serves Margaritas, flavored margaritas and daiquiris, domestic and Mexican beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
Mexican restaurant that serves authentic Mexican cuisine and cantina.
Friendly local pizza place.
A live music venue.
Cornerstone has some of the areas best talented dart throwers. If you want some competition, then this is the place to go, and they have $1000 blind draws on a regular basis.
Serving beer.
Live music every Wednesday night, D.J. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, darts every Thursday night.
Relax
Great coffee. Great people. Great atmosphere.
Magnuson Hotels
Lakeside hotel near Malabar Farm SP and Pleasant Hill Lake Park
Alpaca Meadows Farm & Fiber Studio is a local alpaca farm that offers alpaca products including yarn, fiber, and fiber art equipment. They also host various events, including tours and art classes.
Features eateries and coffee shops, small antique, craft and gift shops and more. It is what turned the downtown around.
Open today as a boutique shop where you can find a variety of antiques, decor, furniture, and other upscale resale items. It was a filming location of Shawshank Redemption where Red came upon a pawn shop window offering guns and compasses. Red was tempted to buy a gun but instead he bought a compass which would later help him find the red box Andy hid for him in a 'hay field near Buxton'.
Family-made since 1945 by the Jones family. The Jones Potato Chip Company and retail store are located at the same address. The chips can be bought at any local grocery store or supermarket, where potato chips are sold.
Buy pet supplies and find a comprehensive list where kids can touch, feed and interact with animals in Ohio. Locations include petting zoos, wildlife safaris, horseback riding, aviaries, working farms, butterfly conservatories and more. Purchases are covered by warranty and have complete customer support.
By car
By bus
The Marathon Gas & 7-Eleven on 2424 O'Possum Rd, on SR-13 & I-71 (Exit #169 of I-71) in the south of town serves as a de facto bus station for:
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Columbus · International · CMH
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