The treasure might not be quite as large as the wad of cash Andy Dufresne left for Red in “The Shawshank Redemption,” but there are some fun prizes awaiting one lucky winner in the first Shawshank Trail Treasure Map contest, sponsored by the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
According to Jodie Snavely, Group Tour/Media Director for the CVB, the CVB came up with the idea for the treasure map “to kick off the summer with a fun adventure for all to enjoy and to pump up the excitement for the 20th Anniversary celebration of the release of ‘The Shawshank Redemption.’”
The treasure hunt started May 12 and continues through Aug. 1, leading up to the 20th anniversary celebration of the release of the legendary film. Several special events are scheduled in the Mansfield area for Aug. 29-31 to mark the occasion.
Snavely said she hopes the hunt will familiarize more people with The Shawshank Trail, a drive-it-yourself tour of the area sites Hollywood used in making “The Shawshank Redemption.” Stops on the trail include The Ohio State Reformatory and The Bissman Building. A brochure featuring all the stops on the Shawshank Trail is available online at the CVB website.
The treasure map features pictures of 13 Shawshank Trail locations in Richland, Ashland and Wyandot counties that were used in 1993 as locations during the making of “The Shawshank Redemption,” as well as pictures of 11 businesses that have created their own Shawshank souvenirs to offer. But the task isn’t as simple as it sounds. Each photo is a fun, unique shot of one section of each location, making it more difficult to identify without visiting the site.
Treasure hunt maps are available at the Mansfield/Richland County CVB office at 124 N. Main St. in downtown Mansfield, the Ashland CVB office, the Bissman Building, the Ohio State Reformatory, Quality Inn and Suites North, Café on Main, Two Cousins Pizza downtown, Malabar Farm Hostel and Olivesburg General Store. The map is also available for download on the CVB web site.
Snavely said that she has received treasure hunt entries from as far away as South Carolina and Texas and she hopes many more people will enjoy the contest and learn more about “Shawshank.” “Since sites are in Mansfield, Ashland and Upper Sandusky, it will take some time to find everything. It’s a great road trip,”Snavely said.
Completed forms should be returned in person or by mail by 5 p.m. on Aug. 1 to the Mansfield CVB office, 124 N. Main St., Mansfield, 44902.
One winner will be randomly chosen from all the correct entrants and will be notified by Aug. 8. The winner will receive a Shawshank 20th Anniversary Grand Prize Package including: two movie tickets to the Renaissance Theatre for Aug. 29, two Ohio State Reformatory Cocktail Party tickets Aug. 30, two Ohio State Reformatory souvenirs, two Shawshank 20th Anniversary T-shirts, a Quality Inn & Suites Mansfield Overnight Shawshank Package and several other Shawshank souvenirs.
Based on a novella by Stephen King, “The Shawshank Redemption” received a limited release in the United States on Sept. 23, 1994, before opening to wide release on Oct. 14, 1994. Although the film only grossed approximately $28.3 million during its theatrical release, “The Shawshank Redemption” was loved by critics and nominated for seven Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. This critical acclaim helped make it one of the top rented films in 1995.
