MANSFIELD — A place once defined by iron bars and long corridors will take on a very different energy March 28, as Vintage Vegas turns the Ohio State Reformatory into a night of blackjack tables, whiskey tastings and Old Hollywood flair.

Games like blackjack, poker and roulette will take center stage during Casino Night: Vintage Vegas, the Ohio State Reformatory’s second annual fundraising gala, set for March 28 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the historic site, located at 100 Reformatory Road.

“Think Elvis, rat-pack, old Hollywood glamour — and if you’re very brave showgirls,” said Ashleigh Ramey, OSR program director. “Our building has that old-fashioned atmosphere, so we wanted to do that throwback feel for our first casino night.”

Vintage Vegas at OSR

Guests will enter on a red carpet with a themed photo backdrop and enjoy an evening that includes casino-style gaming, a silent auction, whiskey tasting and a first-ever whiskey pull.

The Ohio State Reformatory hosts their second annual fundraising gala — themed Vintage Vegas. (Provided by Ashleigh Ramey)

The silent auction will be available both online and in-person. Among the items already featured is a chance to survive the reformatory’s newest “Evil Dead 2” themed escape room.

Ramey said OSR partnered with The Spirit Room at Phoenix Brewing Company to curate the whiskey tasting experience.

The whiskey pull — a new addition this year — allows guests to purchase a ticket and draw a mystery bottle of whiskey, with bottles valued anywhere from $25 to more than $150.

All silent auction items and whiskey bottles must be donated by March 1.

Ramey said organizers are aiming for around 250 tickets to be sold — with the event open to to the public.

Game Table Sponsorships are still available for $1,500. There will be 10 Blackjack tables, two Texas Hold ‘Em tables, one Craps table and one Roulette wheel.

Each Game Table Sponsor includes:

  • Four VIP tickets
  • Four drink tokens
  • Access to private VIP area
  • VIP host
  • Signage at the entrance to the game room
  • Social media recognition
  • Personalized table felt add-on — $500 for Blackjack/Poker, $1,000 four Roulette/Craps

Creating a space for culture and community

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the construction of a permanent stage on the Ohio State Reformatory’s front lawn, a project Ramey said will expand the site’s role in the community.

“Obviously we’ve had Inkcarceration here for years — this will benefit that,” Ramey said. “But more importantly, it’s going to help us make the reformatory more of a community draw.”

The stage will incorporate elements of the site’s history, including trusses from a former steer farm that once operated as part of the Reformatory’s honor farm. Those trusses will serve as structural supports, reinforced with steel for additional safety.

“The same stone from the Reformatory will be used as well, so it’s going to fit seamlessly into our aesthetic,” Ramey said.

While plans are still in early development, Ramey said the space could host free or low-admission concerts and events, including potential partnerships with orchestras from Mansfield, Cleveland or Columbus for programs like Picnic with the Pops.

Becoming a cultural hub is the key goal, she said.

“We feel like we can offer more to the community than they see us as,” Ramey said. “A lot of times, people aren’t even aware of what we do out here.”

Those interested in supporting the Stage Project can contact Ramey at ashleigh@mrps.org or by calling 419-522-2644.

Fundraising for the future

In 2024, The Ohio State Reformatory Preservation Society celebrated both its 30th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of The Shawshank Redemption.

“We came up against so many things in December, we decided we could not schedule this one in December again, so we decided to move it to March,” Ramey said.

She added while the Reformatory as a whole has not always traditionally focused heavily on fundraising, its future plans require continued growth and investment — as the facility gets involved with bigger projects.

“The main function of our last gala was to try and share our story,” she said. “When we get to tell our own story, it’s just special.”

For more information visit ohiostatereformatory.org/gala

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