Overview
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.
12 sights · 10 things to do · 17 places to eat · 9 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mansfield
179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard
Military base with huge C-130 aircraft and crews. No access to the base, but some planes can be seen from the surrounding areas.
Biblewalk
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 attrac…
Bissman Building
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 re…
Kingwood Center
47 acres of gardens on former estate, a favorite spot for orchardists, gardeners and photography.
Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Project
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, wh…
Old Westinghouse Warehouse Factory
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 …
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 20°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Akron)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CMH John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Columbus — 56 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland — 57 mi away (major hub). Directions
The nearest airports for commercial flights are:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bissman Building, Richland Carrousel Park, Central Park
- Lunch Buckeye Bakery Inc.
- Afternoon Mansfield Playhouse, Old Westinghouse Warehouse Factory
- Dinner Blackbird Bakery
- Evening The Electric Co.
Day 2
- Morning Malabar Farm State Park, Ceely Rose House, "Big" House
- Lunch Save A Lot
- Afternoon Warren Rupp Observatory, Equestrian Valley Farm
- Dinner Meijer
- Evening Cornerstone Bar & Grill
Day 3
- Morning 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Project
- Lunch Athena Greek Restaurant
- Afternoon Biblewalk, Mansfield Lahm Airport Day
- Dinner City Grille and Bar
- Evening Horseshoe Burger Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Named after Jared Mansfield, Surveyor General of the United States in the early 19th century, the city sits on a fork of the Mohican River in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, a hilly region surrounded by fertile farmlands, and its elevation is among the highest of Ohio cities. The highest elevation in Mansfield is at the Woodland Reservoir (1,493 feet or 455 meters above sea level), which is on the southwest side of the city. The elevation of Central Park, which is on the square in downtown Mansfield, is 1,243 feet or 379 meters above sea level. Mansfield is known as The Heart of Ohio. It is home to the historic Renaissance Theatre, Miss Ohio Scholarship Program Pageant, and was the filming location for "Shawshank Redemption" (1994); Air Force One (1997); Tango & Cash (1989); Escape Plan 3: The Extractors (2019), and other movies, television programs.
Tourist information center
Place Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Mansfield/Richland Convention & Visitors Bureau also offer free brochures and separate website at ShawshankTrail.com regarding the filming and their locations in the 1994 film, Shawshank Redemption for a self-guided tour to the sites. The filming sites have been marked with an orange/white "Shawshank Trail" sign and are identified in this and in the Upper Sandusky and Ashland articles.
Get in
By plane
The nearest airports for commercial flights are:
By car
- Interstate 71 (I-71). Mansfield can be accessed by I-71 which provides connection to Cleveland to the northeast and Columbus and Cincinnati to the southwest, running its course into Kentucky southwest to Louisville. From I-71 Mansfield is accessed via SR-13 at Exit #169 and SR-39 Lucas Rd at Exit #173.
- US 30 carries the Martin Luther King Jr. Freeway along it length through Mansfield. The freeway provides connection to Wooster, Canton and Pittsburgh to the east and Ontario, Bucyrus and Fort Wayne to the west.
- Park Ave E goes through Mansfield and the downtown district. It provides connection to Ashland to the northeast and Lexington and Mount Gilead to the southwest.
- Main St & Diamond St go through Mansfield and the downtown Historic Carrousel District. It provides connection to Bellville to the south and Norwalk and Sandusky to the north. At Exit #169 of I-71.
- goes through Mansfield and by the downtown Historic Carousel District. It provides connection to Shelby to the northwest and Lucas and Amish Country to the southeast. At Exit #173 of I-71
- OH-309 starts out at U.S. Route 30 near the Home Road overpass in Mansfield. It provides connection to Ontario and Galion to the west.
- OH 430 goes through Mansfield and the downtown business district. It provides connection to Ontario to the west and Mifflin to the east.
- OH 545 starts out at Ohio State Route 39 in Mansfield. It provides connection to Olivesburg and Savannah to the northeast.
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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RCT #3 (South Main/Southside) bus connects the nearby Wal-Mart and the 7 Eleven store (Greyhound & Go bus stop) to downtown Mansfield.
Get around
By bus
By taxi
Place C & D Taxi
See
See 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard
Military base with huge C-130 aircraft and crews. No access to the base, but some planes can be seen from the surrounding areas.
See Bissman Building
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.
See Central Park
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.
See Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Project
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.
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See Old Westinghouse Warehouse Factory
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).
See Malabar Farm State Park
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):
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See "Big" House
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.
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See Ceely Rose House
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
* Pughs Cabin This authentic, rustic log-cabin style home was built in the 1940s by Bromfield's neighbor, Jim Pugh, within the modern-day park. The cabin is available for rent, for weddings, reunions, company holiday parties and other private gatherings. It was used in the opening scene in Shawshank Redemption, in which Andy Dufresne's (Tim Robbins) wife and her lover had their last rendezvous (before being murdered) while Andy sat in his car with a gun on his lap and getting drunk. * Sugar Camp Used every spring during the Maple Syrup Festival when the maple sap is boiled into pure maple syrup and sold at the giftshop. * Visitors Center Location of the park administration, museum, educational exhibits, guided tours, library, gift shop, restrooms and a conference room for rent. * "Shawshank Tree" The white oak tree became a major tourist attraction following the filming of Shawshank Redemption. In the film the tree is in a hayfield near Buxton where Red (Morgan Freeman) went to find the box containing a letter and some money Andy had left for him after Red's release. A lightning strike cut the tree in half in 2011, and it toppled over in 2016 in a windstorm. The tree stood on private land across the road from Malabar Farm State Park so whatever is left of it can only be seen from the main public road. It's located across the street from the main entrance into the park along Pleasant Hill Rd. The following are a couple of sites in the rural areas south of Malabar Farm State Park, near the town of Butler, and one location in town where scenes from Shawshank Redemption were filmed which may be of an interest to movie buffs. The locations are marked with an orange/white "Shawshank Trail" sign: * Intersection of N Main & E 5th This is where Brooks nearly got hit by a car as he attempts to cross the street to get to the Brewer Halfway House (The Bissman Building). For the filming he started at the SE corner of the intersection and walked north along the east side of Main St. (Brick building at 160 N Main St w/ "City Mills" sign in the background.) * Intersection of Hagerman Rd & Snyder Rd Towards the end of the film Red was dropped off here by a pick-up truck where he walked towards Buxton to find the box Andy hid for him. * Intersection of Hagerman Rd & SR-95 Second to the last scene where a bus is seen leaving town with Red on board going towards Ft Hancock, Texas. The bus went north on SR-95 from Hagerman Rd for the filming. The final scene and end credits where Red (Morgan Freeman) and Andy (Tim Robbins) met again as free men on a beach in Zihuatanejo was filmed at Sandy Beach National Wildlife Refuge in St Croix, USVI.
See Warren Rupp Observatory
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.
Do
Do Equestrian Valley Farm (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.
Annual events
Learn
Buy
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Shop Carrousel Antiques
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'.
Shop KritterMall
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.
Eat
Bakeries
Eat Blackbird Bakery
Very nice and friendly bakery. You can eat in or have baked goods delivered. Cookies, pretzels, scones, cake, etc.
Grocery stores
Eat Save A Lot (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.
Eat Meijer
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.
Restaurants
Eat Athena Greek Restaurant
Eat Coney Island Diner
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.
Eat Dairy Land
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.
Eat El Charrito
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.
Eat Rancho Fiesta
Mexican restaurant that serves authentic Mexican cuisine and cantina.
Eat Two Cousins Pizza Co.
Friendly local pizza place.
Drink
There are plenty of choices for alcohol. Most grocery stores carry it, as well as the gas stations, drive-throughs and convenience stores.
Drink The Electric Co.
A live music venue.
Drink Cornerstone Bar & Grill
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.
- Fresh Apple Cider This area is to apple cider, what Florida is to orange juice. In the fall, through late spring, fresh squeezed, unadulterated cider flows freely at the local orchards. Some freeze it for year around use. (It only makes it sweeter.)
Drink Horseshoe Burger Company
Serving beer.
Drink Lew's Tavern
Live music every Wednesday night, D.J. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, darts every Thursday night.
Drink Martini's on Main, Taverna e Pizzeria
Drink Relax It's Just Coffee (Relax)
Great coffee. Great people. Great atmosphere.
Sleep
Stay safe
The non-emergency number of the police department is +1 419-755-9724.
Go next
- Ashland is 10 mi northeast on U.S. Route 42 or Interstate 71. A couple more Shawshank Redemption scenes were filmed there.
- Canton is about 1 hour and 15 minutes east on U.S. Route 30.
- Cleveland is about 1 hour and 25 minutes northeast on I-71.
- Columbus is about an hour southwest on I-71.
- Cincinnati is about 2 hours and 50 minutes southwest on I-71.
- Lexington is a rural village about 7 miles southwest of downtown Mansfield on U.S. Route 42.
- Ontario is a suburban city west of Mansfield. It is a major regional retail hub with a shopping mall serving the entire North-Central Ohio area.
- Upper Sandusky is the location for a couple more Shawshank filming scenes, one of which is a dedicated museum to the film. The town (and county seat of Wyandot County) is 46 mi west on US Hwy 30.
- Amish Country centered in Holmes County to the southeast of Richland County on Ohio State Route 39.
- Mohican Resort & Conference Center located in southern Ashland County is surrounded by 6,000 acres of Mohican State Forest and borders Pleasant Hill Lake. Hiking, swimming and boating are nearby. 96 guest rooms offering a private balcony. The dining room is also open Sundays with a great buffet for $12.95. An Ohio Department of Natural Resources facility.
Nearby
Ontario
City / town · 21 listings · 4 mi away
Lexington
City / town · 23 listings · 6 mi away
Bellville
City / town · 16 listings · 9 mi away
Shelby
City / town · 14 listings · 11 mi away
Ashland
City / town · 26 listings · 13 mi away
Galion
City / town · 14 listings · 14 mi away
Loudonville
City / town · 14 listings · 17 mi away
Fredericktown
City / town · 10 listings · 19 mi away
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