MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Horror fans have their final opportunities to visit the top-rated “Blood Prison” haunted attraction at the notoriously haunted Ohio State Reformatory, with the final night of the season set for Nov. 2.
The attraction, which is a frequent top ranker on haunted house listing sites, runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Nov. 2, and includes a special showing Thursday, Oct. 23.
Located in the castle-like prison made famous by the movie “The Shawshank Redemption,” the experience sends visitors through the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world. Maniacal inmates, deformed guards, a Haunted Hospital, and the suffocating darkness of “The Hole” are features of the harrowing walk, accompanied by the wail of the Warden’s Widow.
A Haunted Holiday
Following the end of the Halloween season, the creators of “Blood Prison” will launch a new, seasonal scare event: “Christmas Incarceration.”
Due to the haunted house’s popularity, the holiday-themed experience will trade festive cheer for “seasonal screams,” transforming the historic prison into a spine-tingling spectacle where the ghost of Christmas lurks around every corner.
Visitors to Mansfield are often drawn to its ghostly reputation as the Haunted Capital of the Midwest. The former prison is riddled with tales of paranormal activity, including the spirit of a former guard said to still make his rounds after being killed in “The Hole.” Area sites have been featured on programs like the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Hunter” and Discovery Channel’s “Ghost Stalkers.”
Tickets for both events are required to be purchased in advance online at BloodPrison.com. A $35 General Pass is available for “Blood Prison,” with faster entry passes available up to $80. A $7 Touch Pass adds intensity to the “Blood Prison” experience by allowing scare actors to make contact with attendees.
“Christmas Incarceration” tickets are $25, with a limited-time discount available for guests who purchase passes for “Blood Prison.”
For those curious about the production, “Beyond the Scare” reformatory tours are offered in daylight from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at MRPS.org, allowing visitors to see the haunted house sets with the lights on.
Mansfield’s fall season also features CrowFest at the Mansfield Art Center through October. The event is a grand Masquerade and art exhibition inspired by the annual return of thousands of migrating crows, culminating in a festive Halloween event. Complete visitor information is available at DestinationMansfield.com.