Get some itinerary inspiration for group-tour activities in Mansfield and Richland County, Ohio.
“Whether your group enjoys following the famous Shawshank Trail, dining among blueberry fields, playing outdoors or exploring the area’s collection of eclectic attractions, groups will be pleasantly surprised with all that Mansfield-Richland County has to offer!” –Jodie Snavely, project director, Destination Mansfield-Richland County
ADMIRE
Kingwood Center Gardens, the historic estate of Charles Kelley King, is now open year-round. A new visitor center features terraces, a gift shop, an exhibit gallery and display greenhouses. The grounds are full of brilliant floral displays, while the French Provincial mansion contains many rooms decorated with King’s original furnishings. A variety of guided and self-guided tours is available for groups, as well as dining options.
EXPLORE
BibleWalk now has seven tours. The newest is the Museum of Woodcarving, which has the largest collection of woodcarvings in the world created by one man. It took Joseph Barta 30 years to carve his vision of Bible stories into 100 life-size figures. Barta spent over 4 years completing his life-size carving of The Last Supper, spending two years on the face of Jesus. This collection also features over 400 miniature carvings of wildlife, pets and livestock.
Credit: Destination Mansfield-Richland County
Walk the same halls as infamous prisoners while touring the Historic Ohio State Reformatory, used as a prison from 1886 until 1990. At the Shawshank Museum, be immersed in props, costumes and other treasures from “The Shawshank Redemption,” the 1994 movie that used the reformatory as a filming site.
See more than 30 species of native songbirds and raptors at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Stroll along the brick walkways to view live bird displays and visit the songbird aviary to feed birds. Arrange a guided tour, a raptor program or both.
DO
Take a spin on the first new handcarved wooden carrousel to be built and operated in the United States since the early 1930s at Richland Carrousel Park. The carousel offers flexible morning hours for groups as well as box lunches.
For the adventurous, book a canoe, kayak or ra! trip on the Mohican River with Mohican Adventures Canoe & Fun Center.
ASK
Destination Mansfield-Richland County
800-642-8282
destinationmansfield.com
Main image: BibleWalk Museum of Woodcarving; Credit: Destination Mansfield-Richland County
