I went to the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield for the Haunted Prison Experience. We paid $15 to get in and entered the line at the base of the stairs. There were about forty people waiting while they let in groups of four to six people at a time. When we got to the top of the stairs we walked up more stairs to head inside the prison.
Knowing that we were in a prison made for a frightening atmosphere. The haunted house experience was fairly normal. I did notice that there weren’t as many ‘monsters’ as there are in other haunted houses, but then I realized that they don’t need that many because the place is scary enough.
We ended up snapping a few pictures until we learned that cameras are forbidden. There were a lot of areas that were roped off. I was a little disappointed that we couldn’t enter one of the prison cells. They weren’t roped off, but they were so dark inside we couldn’t see. There was a little stair climbing, and by the end we had pretty much traveled through the whole prison.
Overall, I would say the haunted house was above average compared to others in Ohio. They scare people the smart way by distracting them with something on one side of the room, then bringing out a monster on the other side at the same time to catch people off guard. I would say the $15 is a little pricey, but then again we were in there for over an hour.
Since they usually only let in groups of four to six people, we weren’t crowded inside and waiting in line like we have been at so many others. Nothing is worse than watching everyone ahead of you get spooked while you’re stuck, hot and sweaty because the line became backed up.
The prison is almost in the middle of nowhere, so there are a few food stands outside of it in case people want a refreshment. There is also another stand selling t-shirts.
The prison is located at 100 Reformatory Rd. Mansfield, OH 44905.
The haunted prison experience runs from September 28 to October 31. It is open on Thursdays 7-11pm, Fridays and Saturdays 7-12am, and Sundays 7-10 pm. They also offer day tours and ghost hunts. The daily tour hours are Tuesday – Friday at 2pm and Sunday from 1-4pm. Currently the daily tours are closed for the season. If you are interested in the ghost hunt, book it soon because it sells out fast for the year.
You can find more information at their website: http://www.hauntedx.com
