NPR and Shawshank

While waiting to meet a friend for dinner, I caught a segment on NPR about the filming location of the movie The Shawshank Redemption, which was the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio.

It turns out it has become quite a tourist destination for Shawshank fans, and such things as conventions, trade shows, ghost hunts, concerts, proms, and even marriages happen there (14 scheduled this year).  People from all over the world make a pilgrimage to check out the facility, and even some of the film props are still visable.

Remember the tunnel Andy dug?

And it turns out this scene was filmed in the warden’s quarters.

And get this, many people journey out to look at the tree.

The tree itself is actually located about 15 miles south of the Ohio State Reformatory and is on land owned by a local lawyer who isn’t really fond of tourists, but that doesn’t stop many people from filming their pilgrimage to the tree and posting it on YouTube.  But here’s some sad news, about three days ago a big storm came by and split the icon.

If you are interested in reading or listening to the NPR piece, here you go, pictures included.

Remember, hope is a good thing.

 

This entry was posted in Interesting, Pop Culture. Bookmark the permalink.

One Response to NPR and Shawshank

  1. Thomas R. McKee says:
    08 December 8, 2014 at 10:41 am

    First seen this movie at the Washington State Penn. I served 30 years flat. (1979 to 2009, then Parole to 2013). Always wondered if the place of the tree was true; it was a good movie, but as a convict (not an inmate) I could see several things wrong with the script., regardless, had a good laugh.

    -Thomas McKee, (formerly #269210 – WA DOC)

Comments are closed.