MANSFIELD, Ohio – Three great trails make a perfect getaway for visitors to Mansfield Oho, located one hour north of Columbus and just an hour south of Cleveland.
The Mansfield Wine & Ale Trail, The Shawshank Trail and Haunted Mansfield trail take visitors around Richland County, immersing them in some of the destination’s most iconic and memorable experiences. Complete visitor information on the trails, as well as on other attractions and area dining and lodging is found at DestinationMansfield.com.
The Wine and Ale Trail stops along the path are filled with vintage finds and antique treasures, including five wineries and two breweries — each with its own storied past. The wineries include Vault Wine Bar, 1285 Winery at the Blueberry Patch, Happy Grape Wine Bar and Bistro, Cyprus Hill Winery, and Wishmaker House, an inn, winery and wine bar. Breweries featured on the trail include Phoenix Brewing Company, located in a restored former funeral home and mortuary from the 1910s, and Laxton Hollow Brewing Works, which specializes in cask-aged beers, a rarity among American craft breweries.
The Shawshank Trail takes visitors not only throughout Mansfield but all over the country, visiting stops where the notable movie, The Shawshank Redemption, was shot. The majority of the movie was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory, while other filming locations can be seen all around the region, including Mansfield’s Renaissance Theatre, Carrousel Antiques and in the city’s Central Park and nearly a dozen other sites that make up the trail.
The Haunted Mansfield Trail takes visitors on a ghostly tour of Ohio’s most haunted area, including the Ohio State Reformatory, the Renaissance Theater, Mansfield Fire Museum and Educational Center and Malabar Farm State Park. Along the trail, tours, night haunts, paranormal investigations and even overnight Ghost Hunts offer visitors frighteningly unforgettable experiences.
In addition to these three trails, travelers can find even more adventure that’s just right for their family on Mansfield’s Biking and Hiking Trail. The Richland B&O Trail is a paved 18.4 mile-route connecting Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, and Butler. At the northern end of the trail, visitors will find the 5.7-mile Mansfield City Bike Loop. They can also hike from Malabar Farm State Park to the Mohican State Memorial Forest along the primitive hills of the Clear Fork Valley Scenic Trail, as well enjoying the scenic beauty of a trek through Gorman Nature Center or at Shelby Reservoir & Trails.
For horse owners, nearly 90 miles of gorgeous woodland bridle trails offer scenic rides from Malabar Farm State Park to Pleasant Hill Lake Park and Mohican State Forest. Trails are open year-round and suitable for riders with all levels of experience. Malabar Farm State Park and Pleasant Hill Lake Park also feature horse camps and facilities with nonelectric campsites large enough for trucks and trailers.
A destination unlike any other, Mansfield and Richland County, Ohio offers unusual travel adventures and experiences, such as spending the night in a haunted former state prison where Hollywood blockbuster movies are shot, world-class motorsports, skiing, hiking, biking, golf, and loads of other outdoor adventures attract families and visitors of all ages. Complete visitor information and free visitor guides are available at DestinationMansfield.com or by calling (800) 642-8282.
