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Please Note: September 3rd – November 22nd there are changes to our tour route, due to the Blood Prison Haunted House setup. During this time, the self-guided tour has no access to solitary confinement, the ground levels of the cell blocks, or the showers. Our guided tour availability changes and Hollywood Meets History and Beyond the Bars are replaced with the Fall Guided Tour and the Beyond the Scare. If you would like the full tour experience, please plan to visit before Labor Day or after November 22nd. We do offer a self-guided tour discount during this time.

Get inspired and intrigued (and maybe a little freaked out) when you tour The Ohio State Reformatory.

Whether you’re here to explore history, Hollywood, horror — or all three — you‘ll be captivated by each of our guided tours.

With the purchase of one or more of the guided tour options below, we’ll give you a complimentary self-guided tour. You get to explore the Reformatory’s 250,000 square feet at your own pace with a personal audio device, too.

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Self-guided Tours?

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All online ticket purchases are final and non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, we can reschedule your tour. No strollers, carts, or wagons of any kind allowed on our guided tours. For safety reasons, we strongly recommend that all children be at least 42″ tall. Children must not be unattended at any point in time.

Hollywood Meets History Tour

Tour Duration: Approx. 1.5 hrs
door and door knob leading into the warden's office

— The Experience —
Step into the storied world of the reformatory and experience its history both as a prison and the shooting location for 1994’s acclaimed film, The Shawshank Redemption. Serving as our most comprehensive tour, you’ll learn about the Reformatory’s architecture, the warden’s living quarters, and discover what films and music videos have been shot onsite.

— Ticket Price —
$40 per person

— Dates Available —
Year-round with the exception of Labor Day — Nov. 22nd due to “Blood Prison” scheduling.

— Appropriate For —
Everyone! This tour is family-friendly and highly recommended for first-time guests.

— Keep in mind —
We do not offer free guided tours to children age 6 and under. All children must have a student ticket to be on a guided tour.

— Discounts —
$5 off for Military, Seniors, & Students

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Private Guided Tours

  • Starting at $500 per group of up to 10 guests.
  • Requires two weeks of advance notice to book.
  • November-March private guided tours can be scheduled for 11:30 AM or 2:30 PM, Thursday-Sunday.
  • April-October private guided tours can be scheduled for 11:30 AM or 2:30 PM, Monday-Friday. We do not offer private guided tours on the weekends during our summer months.
  • Call or email Derek Wilson to schedule or for more information at (419) 522-2644 or derek@mrps.org.

Tour Season

TOUR SEASON:
Spring, Summer, Fall*, Winter

April 1st – October 31st
11AM – 4PM
Open: 7 Days a Week 

November 1st – March 31st 
11AM – 4PM
Open:  Thursday – Sunday 

CLOSED FOR TOURS
No tours will be offered on the following dates in 2024: March 31st, May 27th, July 4th, July 15th-22nd, September 2nd, November 28th, and December 23rd-January 2nd.

*Subject to change*

Discounts

STUDENT, SENIOR, AND MILITARY DISCOUNTS
A $5.00 discount will be given to students, senior citizens ages 55-or-older, and any member of the military or military veteran. Children 6-and-under receive free self-guided tours. Note: This discount is only valid on full-price tickets and does not apply to seasonal pricing (i.e. from September through November).*

SAME DAY DISCOUNT
We offer same day discounts for multiple tours. A second tour on the same day is only $20 per person! 

PURCHASE A GUIDED TOUR, GET A COMPLIMENTARY SELF-GUIDED TOUR
Admission to our guided tour also includes complimentary access to the self-guided tour route.

PRESERVATION SOCIETY DISCOUNT
Members of the Preservation Society receive a discount on guided tours and free self-guided tours.

*Adjusted tours only from Labor Day through November 17th. Due to the Blood Prison Haunted House setup, which is in place during this time, several areas of the building will be unavailable for touring, including solitary confinement, the bullpen, the ground level of the cell blocks, and the showers. During this time there is a $6 discount on self-guided tours, while guided tours remain full price and include tours of additional areas.