Kids Wanna Hunt Ghosts at Mansfield, Ohio Reformatory? All yours for $8

Who wants to tiptoe around an old, possibly haunted reformatory at night? That’s right, we do.

The infamous Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio is opening its doors on select Fridays and Saturdays between March 13 and December 11, 2010 to give ghost hunters from all over a chance to walk among the spirits still inhabiting the facility.

While you’re encouraged to bring your own flashlight as the facility is not lighted, volunteer tour guides will provide stories of the reformatory’s sinister past and answer questions. Braver participants are even permitted to explore the prison on their own. 

For $65 a person, visitors age 21 and over can access the reformatory from 8pm to 5am and enjoy some comfort food like pizza and soft drinks to ease their nerves.

For the younger paranormal experts, Ghost Walks are offered from 8pm to 10pm, and are $8 for children 12 to 17 and $15 for each accompanying adult. On these walks through dark corridors, guests will hear haunting tales of murder and death that took place in the reformatory. Advanced reservations for all tours are required. In addition to these special offers, public tours of the Reformatory are given each Sunday, May through early September. 

On a historic background note, the Ohio State Reformatory was built in 1886 and had served as a working prison for 94 years, before closing its doors on December 31, 1990. The total amount of prisoners during its operation tallies up to 155,000 men.

The facility, named one of the Travel Channel’s “101 Things to do before you die,” was even the setting for the 1994 film, "The Shawshank Redemption." The prison is also renowned for boasting the world’s largest freestanding steel cellblock. All proceeds from the Ghost hunts and walks will be devoted to the restoration of the historical structure.

If you’re looking to stay in Mansfield, a number of hotels have teamed up with the reformatory and are offering special rates including amenities such as free WiFi, outdoor pool access and full breakfasts. Be sure to check out the Mansfield Tourism website to find the best hotel deals and don’t forget to mention the “Ghost Recovery Package.”

More information and reservation details for the Ohio State Reformatory can be found at the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society website or by calling at 800/642-8282.

For more things to do in nearby Columbus, Ohio, read Susan Finch's article on Columbus, Ohio Fun Activities for Toddlers. For those truly mad about prisons, David Wilkening can show you what's behind locked doors in his piece, Tourists: Go to Jail.