The Shawshank Redemption tells a story of loss and hope, with most of it filmed in the titular prison complex. Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in what was among their career-best performances, the Frank Darabont film endures as one of the greatest movies of all time, as evidenced by its ranking at number one on IMDb’s top 250 movies. Based on Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, a novella by Stephen King, the prison drama revolves around an innocent man framed for the murder of his wife. During his time in prison, he explores new friendships and discovers hope out of his misery.
Considering the fact that most of the movie’s events play out in the confines of a prison, it’s natural for audiences to wonder about the exact nature of the fictional Shawshank State Penitentiary. But with prolonged sequences of individual characters like Andy, Red and Brooks exploring the world outside the jailhouse, the production behind Shawshank Redemption also charted actual locations in America and Mexico. Most of the principal photography was wrapped up within the course of three months, between June and August 1993. The nearly 18-hour workdays set an intense atmosphere on set, but the efforts paid off with a classic that still stands the test of time.
The Shawshank Redemption Was Filmed In Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield, a city in the northeastern part of Ohio, served as the primary filming location for The Shawshank Redemption with the city’s Ohio State Reformatory providing the backdrop of most of the prison footage. Both the prison building and its surrounding field were utilized in scenes by cinematographer Roger Deakins. One of The Shawshank Redemption’s most emotional scenes includes Brooks’ suicide, a tragic incident that follows his newfound freedom from Shawshank. The fictional Brewer Hotel in which Brooks resided after his newfound freedom is also in Mansfield. The historic Bissman Building once housed a thriving grocery store and dates back to the 1880s.
Interestingly, the dilapidated building eventually developed a “haunted” reputation, with many visitors reporting paranormal phenomena. As per Ohio Haunted Houses, some have reported hearing footsteps up the staircase while others have also noted the vision of a bearded man wearing a top hat and long coat. The scene in the prison woodshop where the inmates hear The Marriage of Figaro were filmed at an Upper Sandusky location that is today known as the Shawshank Woodshop. Other filming locations in Ohio included the Malabar Farm State Park’s Pugh Cabin where Andy finds his wife cheating on him and the Wyandot County Courthouse where the opening court scene was shot.
The Final Scene Of The Shawshank Redemption Was Shot In The U.S. Virgin Islands
The locations where The Shawshank Redemption takes place are limited, but they do offer stark contrasts to the main setting. When Andy and Red aren’t indulging in introspective conversations within the claustrophobic walls of the prison, they reconcile at a serene beach toward the third act. This final scene was shot at a beach in the Caribbean, more specifically on the island of Saint Croix which is included among the U.S. Virgin Islands. No turtles can be spotted during Andy and Red’s emotional reunion, but the filming location was actually the island’s protected habitat for leatherback turtles, a region that’s officially named Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge.
What Building Was Used For Shawshank State Penitentiary
The biggest question around the filming locations of The Shawshank Redemption would gear towards the building that doubled for Shawshank State Penitentiary. This structure was Mansfield’s very own Ohio State Reformatory. This historic prison was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained functional until 1990 when a federal court ordered its shutdown due to inhumane living conditions. The facility’s 15-acre reformatory provided the setting for Shawshanks’ specialized prison facilities, outdoor farm, and the warden’s office. One of the prison’s cells was also used for filming the scene where Elmo admits to having committed the murders that Andy is charged with.
While the Reformatory provided ample space for a considerable share of prison scenes, sets were also constructed in the neighboring Westinghouse Electric Factory. According to The Museum of Americana, the factory was abandoned as Westinghouse shut shop in Mansfield in 1990. Most of the everyday cellblock happenings unfurled at a sound stage that was built by Darabont’s crew in this structure. As the Reformatory’s cells all faced out and not other inmate cells, Darabont elected to use the factory for housing a purpose-built set that would include cells facing each other. In this manner, Darabont could film scenes with prisoners talking to each other to beat their loneliness.
Can You Tour The Shawshank Redemption’s Filming Locations?
The Ohio State Reformatory continued to be a filming location after the film’s release, with movies like Air Force One shooting there. However, that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a popular tourist attraction. The now-defunct prison is open for visitors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. In fact, tourists can visit the penitentiary and other Ohio locations via the guided Shawshank Bus Tour. As reported by The Intelligencer, the 4.5-hour-long tour allows diehard fans of the movie to replicate Red and Brooks’ bus routes after they were released from prison.
What Happened To The Shawshank Oak Tree?
A memorable visual element from Darabont’s movie was the famous oak tree under which Andy’s secret message to Red was revealed. The white oak tree located near Ohio’s Malabar Farm State Park emerged as one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for dedicated Shawshank Redemption aficionados. Sadly, the tree was split by lightning in 2011 with half of it falling off. The oak tree was finally knocked down by the winds in 2016. NPR claimed that its height was over 100 meters and that the tree was between 180 and 200 years old.
The Shawshank Redemption Takes Place In Maine & Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Ohio and the U.S. Virgin Islands provided the locations of The Shawshank Redemption even though the film’s events actually take place somewhere else. Just like many other novels authored by Stephen King, the novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption was also set in the writer’s native state of Maine. The movie’s events start off in Portland, Maine with the protagonist eventually moving toward the Gothic prison in the same state. The hayfield that Red visits on Andy’s advice is also in Maine’s Buxton (even though the scenes were filmed at Butler, Ohio). As for the beach in the final scenes, Saint Croix doubles for the Mexican city of Zihuatanejo.
Sources: NPR, The Intelligencer, The Museum of Americana, Ohio Haunted Houses
