Fans Plan Travel For 30th Anniversary Of ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

When The Shawshank Redemption was released in 1994, it was a critical success. It went on to resonate with audiences around the world, but few could have predicted the loyal fan base that would still surround the film 30 years later.

Although The Shawshank Redemption movie was set in Maine, its principal photography was shot in Mansfield, Ohio. The Ohio State Reformatory served as the prison, and many other locales from the film can still be found in Mansfield. Now, to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary, the town of Mansfield invites fans to come and be a part of their planned celebrations from August 8 to 11, 2024.

The Origins of a Classic Film

Written and directed by Frank Darabont, the screenplay for The Shawshank Redemption was based on Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, a 1982 novella by Stephen King. Among its many accolades, in 2015, the Library of Congress selected the feature film for preservation in the National Film Registry.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Frank Darabont acquired the rights to Stephen King’s story for only $5,000, and he went on to adapt the novella into the beloved script that was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Week reported that King never cashed that $5,000 check, returning it to Darabont with a note that said, “In case you ever need bail money. Love, Steve.”

The movie received seven Academy Award nominations. Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins both told Vanity Fair that The Shawshank Redemption is the film that fans always mention to them. Freeman said people tell him it’s the “greatest movie”, while Robbins said people often tell him it changed their life. Tim Robbins even remarked how Nelson Mandela mentioned how much he loved the movie when the two met.

In 1996, Warner Bros acquired the rights to the movie, and the film achieved great financial success with its home media sales and television licensing by Warner Bros. That allowed it to reach an even greater audience who could watch it repeatedly any time they wanted.

The 30th Anniversary Weekend For ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

The Shawshank Redemption has remained a legend around the world and especially in the area where it was filmed. The movie’s August 8-11 anniversary weekend is full of tours of over a dozen filming locations in the Mansfield, Ohio area. It also will include meetups and photo opportunities with actors from the film.

There will be screenings and panel discussions with the movie’s writer/director Frank Darabont in addition to some of the film’s actors and background actors. You can get schedules and tickets at the Shawshank Trail website. (Just keep in mind that they expect to sell out, so you want to plan as early as possible.)

Filming Locations From ‘The Shawshank Redemption’

With the anniversary weekend taking place in Mansfield, Upper Sandusky, and Ashland, Ohio, both guided and self-guided tours are available for the filming locations from the movie. Bus tours will be available at the event that will stop at major locales from the movie.

The Shawshank Redemption Trail is a self-guided driving tour that’s available to do year-round, and it can, of course, be enjoyed during this celebration. Most filming sites are free to visit, and you can look for the trail signs that identify each site when you arrive. Here are some of the locations to visit.

Historic Ohio State Reformatory In Mansfield

Home to the Shawshank Museum and a major filming location for the movie, The Historic Ohio State Reformatory is the first stop for most visitors who want to visit filming locales in Mansfield, Ohio. The museum has props, costumes, and set pieces from the movie on display. The Ohio State Reformatory became its own character in the film, and the director was able to effectively portray the brutal nature of pirosn life the characters experienced in this setting.

You can customize your visit because there are numerous experiences and tours available. You can learn about its history and alleged paranormal activity within the “haunted halls”. Alternately, you can stick to the movie focus and walk in the footsteps of Andy and Red, the film’s main characters, in the stark prison they called home.

Other films that were shot in this former reformatory include Air Force One, Tango and Cash, Harry and Walter Go To New York, and Judas and the Black Messiah.

Mansfield Antiques Gallery In Mansfield

Seen as the pawn shop window in the film, the Mansfield Antiques Gallery is located in the Historic Carrousel District. It’s a fun place to stop for selfies.

Central Park In Downtown Mansfield

Brooks’ bench can be found in Central Park in downtown Mansfield. In The Shawshank Redemption, Brooks sat on the bench in the park to feet birds and hope that his pet crow would show up. The original bench used in the movie is where the gazebo stands, according to The Shawshank Trail, and a replica bench sits along a walkway that’s just west of the gazebo. It’s green with a Shawshank plaque. It’s designed to be selfie-friendly, so don’t hesitate to take out your smartphone or camera to get a shot.

Road To Buxton in Butler

If you want to see the road that Red (Morgan Freeman) headed down when he set off to Buxton, go to the corner of Snyder Road and Hagerman Road in Butler, Ohio. In the movie, the character gets out of the red truck and embarks on his new adventure, and it is also a great site for selfies for fans of the film.

Visit The Shawshank Trail website for full information on all locations on the trail and how to best access them.

Star-Studded Events In Mansfield Featuring Morgan Freeman

The celebratory weekend begins on Thursday, August 8, 2024, with a screening of The Shawshank Redemption that’s done drive-in style. The film is going to be played on a big screen that’s set up in the historic Renaissance Theatre’s back lot just for the weekend. Other screenings inside the theater are planned for Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, August 9, there is going to be a 30th Anniversary Cast Discussion. It is going to be led by writer/director Frank Darabont, Turner Classic Movies Host Ben Mankiewicz, and other key figures from the movie. Earlier in the day, there is going to be a Behind the Scenes & Beyond Panel with Kokayi Ampah, the location manager for The Shawshank Redemption; he will share information about how she chose the sites in and around Mansfield, Ohio, for the film.

Then, on Saturday, August 10, and again on Sunday, August 11, there will be a Background Actors Panel. Key background actors who were a central part of the moviemaking process will provide behind-the-scenes insights into the magic of making the film.

Actors who will be making appearances and signing autographs include Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolston, Alfonso Freeman, Mack Miles, and Paul Kennedy.

Other Things To Do In Mansfield

While there will be plenty of movie-related fun to savor throughout the 30th anniversary weekend, you don’t want to miss some of the other inviting sites in Mansfield, Ohio. If you’re traveling with young children, don’t miss the Buckeye Imagination Museum and the Mansfield Fire Museum & Education Center. The Frank P. Lahm Aviation Museum and the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum can be appreciated by all ages.

Try to spend at least half a day at the lovely Kingwood Center Gardens. Oak Hill Cottage, the Renaissance Theatre, and Richland Carrousel Park are must-see spots for history lovers.