Ohio State Reformatory
The Shawshank Redemption was filmed here. 200 prisoners died inside these walls. The warden's wife died mysteriously. Her perfume still lingers in the private quarters.
The Ohio State Reformatory is a castle of suffering.
The Architecture
The Romanesque design features the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world, also the world’s tallest at 6 tiers high. The imposing structure was deliberately built to intimidate inmates and inspire reform through architectural grandeur.
The Deaths
Violence within the walls claimed over 200 inmates through murders, suicides, illness, and other causes. Guards also died during violent incidents, adding to the building’s dark history of suffering and death.
The Warden’s Wife
Helen Glattke died in 1950 in what was ruled a gun accident, though questions remain about the true circumstances. Her husband, the warden, later died in his office, and both are reported to haunt their former private quarters within the reformatory.
Shawshank Fame
The 1994 film “The Shawshank Redemption” made the reformatory internationally famous. Tours began shortly after, preservation efforts intensified, and visitors increasingly reported paranormal experiences that had long been whispered about by locals.
The Activity
Paranormal evidence collected at the site includes full apparitions, shadow figures moving through corridors, EVP recordings capturing disembodied voices, cold spots throughout the building, and numerous reports of visitors being physically touched by unseen entities.
Investigation
Ghost hunters have flocked to the location, with high-profile shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters documenting constant paranormal activity. Multiple hotspots throughout the facility have yielded abundant evidence, making it one of America’s premier paranormal investigation locations.