The Ohio State Reformatory is found at the posted coordinates. This former prison is the primary filming location for the 1994 film, The Shawshank Redemption. Each year, movie fans from all around the midwest to visit Mansfield, Ohio to tour the famed Shawshank Prison.
What most people don't realize is that most of the other scenes in the movie were shot around the area as well. This virtual trail geocache will guide you to 10 local (and 2 bonus/ not required) filming sites for the movie in order as they appeared in the movie. (You'll waste less time by planning these out on your own by location rather than going for them in the order below.)
Logging Requirements
The local chamber of commerce has marked each of the locations below with a physical sign designating it as a movie filming site (see pictures below). The coordinates for each stage are ground zero for the sign at that location.
You are required to submit a photo that includes the sign at each stage. Ideally, it would be really cool to see some photos of my fellow cachers with the sign, but I'll accept an image of your GPS or some other "signature" item of yours in the foreground with the sign in the background. YOU MUST SUBMIT A PHOTO FOR EACH STAGE (except the bonus stages 11 and 12).
STAGE 1: GLEN QUINTIN'S CABIN
Appears around 0:00:40 of the film.
N 40° 38.816 W 082° 23.503
The film opens with Andy contemplating his next move as he sips whiskey in his car outside a cabin occupied by his wife and her lover, Glen Quintin.
In reality, this cabin is located on the grounds of the Malabar Farm State Park in nearby Lucas, Ohio. Don't approach the cabin without the consent of park personnel. Also, this location is strictly daylight hours only.
STAGE 2: SHAWSHANK PRISON
Appears around 0:06:10 of the film.
N 40° 46.943 W 082° 30.061
The next location on the trail is Shawshank Prison, itself. The scene opens with the unforgettable scene where Andy arrives on the bus at the prison.
Obviously, the majority of the film was shot at The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. Now, a notable tourist attraction, the historic part of the prison now hosts tours of all sorts including music festivals, conventions and ghost hunts. In the fall, the prison hosts an elaborate haunted prison experience.
In addition to the obvious prison scenes, the interior shots of Brooks’ and Reds’ room at the halfway were actually filmed here at the prison.
Please note: While the sign required to photograph for credit on this cache is located outside the fence, you won’t be able to reach the prison during non-business hours. Check the reformatory website for updated hours: https://www.mrps.org/
STAGE 3: THE BREWER HOTEL/ THE PORTLAND DAILY BUGLE
Appears around 0:58:50 of the film (exterior as The Brewer Hotel) and again around 1:56:25 (interior as The Portland Daily Bugle).
N 40° 45.819 W 082° 30.919
Nearly an hour into the film, Brooks’ halfway house at the Brewer Hotel is introduced. Moments before the building appears on the screen, the audience watches Brooks’ nearly get struck by a vehicle while crossing 5th Street heading north on Main Street just 250 feet south at N 40° 45.779 W 082° 30.914. Also, later on in the movie, the interior of this building is used as the front office of The Portland Daily Bugle.
The infamous Bissman Building is found at this filming location. Like the prison, this building is notorious for its ghost stories and hauntings. Private tours can be arranged.
STAGE 4: BROOKS' PARK BENCH
Appears around 1:00:05 of the film.
N 40° 45.528 W 082° 30.897
Having a hard time adjusting to life outside of prison, Brooks spends time feeding pigeons from a park bench in hopes that his old pet crow, Jake, might show up for a visit.
This bench is located in the heart of Mansfield at Central Park.
Just 1500 feet east is the Renaissance Theater on Park Avenue at N 40° 45.530 W 082° 31.237. The Shawshank Redemption’s world premier occurred at this historic theater in 1994.
STAGE 5: MAINE NATIONAL BANK
Appears around 1:55:30 of the film.
N 40° 52.116 W 082° 18.932
A few minutes before the 2 hour mark, the audience watches Andy walk into a bank to lay claim to his “severance pay for 19 years”.
This bank is actually located at a former bank on Main Street in Ashland just 13 miles north of Shawshank Prison. There is a private business there now. Photo options are limited, but please try to get the Shawshank sign in the background.
STAGE 6: PAWN SHOP WHERE RED BUYS COMPASS
Appears around 2:04:40 of the film.
N 40° 45.700 W 082° 30.920
A few minutes into the second hour of the movie, like Brooks, Red is having a hard time adjusting to a life that’s a little less “institutionalized.” As he strolls along a city sidewalk, Red peers into a pawnshop window here while he contemplates breaking his parole.
This part of downtown embodies the heart and soul of small, Midwestern cities like Mansfield. Well-stocked antique shops, charming restaurants and even a historic carrousel can be found here. Take some time here to enjoy yourself.
STAGE 7: RED'S WALK TO BUXTON
Appears around 2:05:30 of the film.
N 40° 36.989 W 082° 25.725
Red eventually hitches a ride in the back of a truck to the outskirts of Buxton. The truck drops Red off at this intersection and the audience watches Red start walking towards town.
This intersection resides in Butler county 15 miles southeast of Shawshank Prison. In the film, the truck is seen heading northeast on Snyder Road before turning right onto Hagerman Road and stopping. Red gets out of the truck and continues on foot northeast on Snyder Road passing by a fictitious sign reading, “Buxton”. The truck continues on southeast on Hagerman Road.
STAGE 8: THE OAK TREE
Appears around 2:07:00 of the film.
N 40° 39.196 W 082° 23.478
Red finds the hay field and finally makes his way to the ominous oak tree Andy mentioned in his directions.
Sadly, after sustaining heavy damage from storms in 2011 and 2016, the oak tree has been completely removed from the private property. Nevertheless, a Shawshank Movie Site sign marks the spot at which visitors can view the former site from the roadside.
Please note that ground zero for the tree is on private property that is heavily monitored for trespassers. DO NOT CROSS THE FENCE LINE OR YOUR WILL BE TRESPASSING.
STAGE 9: TRAILWAYS BUS STATION
Appears around 2:11:00 of the film.
N 40° 52.226 W 082° 18.930
The temptation to join Andy becomes too much for Red, so he decides to break his parole and hit the road. At this location, the audience finds Red standing in line for his bus ticket to Fort Hancock, Texas.
Outside the Shawshank universe, this location currently houses a thrift store in Ashland. (Plan on doing this location right before or after Maine National Bank!)
STAGE 10: RED'S BUS RIDE TO FORT HANCOCK, TEXAS
Appears around 2:11:30 of the film.
N 40° 36.552 W 082° 24.443
In one of the very last scenes, we see a smiling Red soaking in the sun on the bus heading towards Texas with his arm resting on the open window and soaking in the sun.
During these shots, the bus is shown traveling north on State Route 95. As the camera changes to a view of the rear of the bus going down the road, the audience can see a large red barn with white shutters. That same barn is still visible from ground zero here.
Stages 11 and 12 are both located just under an hour west of Mansfield in Upper Sandusky. As a result, finding them is strictly for bragging rights. An Ohio Historical marker can be found at ground zero, so feel free to include a photo with it if you are so inclined.
STAGE 11 (Bonus Location - Not Required To Log Find): Andy's Trial
Appears around 0:02:05 of the film.
N 40° 49.640 W 083° 16.870
The Wyandot County Courthouse in Upper Sandusky, Ohio is the filming location for Andy’s trial. As long as court isn’t in session, it is possible to make arrangements to view the exact court room in which Andy’s trial took place.
STAGE 12 (Bonus Location - Not Required To Log Find): Prison Woodshop
Appears around 1:08:40 of the film.
N 40° 49.508 W 083° 17.078
Now a gym, this location housed the prison woodshop as seen in the film.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.