Chicago to Millersburg Road Trip Guide

The Ohio State Reformatory may not be the most romantic place on this trip, but there were several motion pictures shot here that most adults have seen, including Airforce One. The big movie role, however, was as the backdrop to 1994's The Shawshank Redemption.

The prison was originally built in 1886 as a reformatory for young men. It continued operations as a prison until 1990. After it was closed it was purchased from the state by a preservation society for $1. They continue to maintain the structures and their iconic castle-like appearance to this day. There are several tours available during the warmer months which cover the prison in general as well as specialized Shawshank Redemption tours that focus on the movie's use of the facility. There is also a Shawshank Redemption museum section which has several artifacts from the original movie production.

The prison also has a storied paranormal past and there are several ways to experience that. They have regular general paranormal ghost hunter tours available to the public. If you fancy yourself a paranormal specialist you can also schedule a private tour.

Charles Mill Lake Park Campground is a good place to stay. It is nearby the city and provides a clean, quiet space with partial hookups. Many of the sites are lakefront or lake view.

When passing near Findlay, OH be sure to take some time out to swing by the Gillig Winery. When you think of the major wine-producing areas of the world, Ohio may not come up tops on your list. However, Ohio has an excellent climate for growing grapes which has lead to a thriving wine industry. This is particularly true in the northern and northeastern part of the state where Lake Erie helps keep the grapes happy. Gillig Winery is the only winery in this part of the state. It is family owned and all the wines they sell are produced and bottled at their Findlay facility. They source grapes from around the world to produce an extensive list of wines including red, white, specialty, and fruit wines.

A visit here makes for a great date night. In addition to the great wines, there is also a bistro with outstanding food to enjoy while sampling the wines. They also host a number of events including live music, food/wine pairing, and wine/art events. This makes for a great date night out.

Arrowhead Lake Campground is a highly rated campground just south of Findlay of of RT-30 which would make for a great place to stay here. It is a quiet, well-run campground offering full or partial hookup sites, great amenities and convenient access to the highway and surrounding attractions.

The Embassy Theater was originally built as the Emboyd Theater in 1928. Today it is a performing arts theater and home to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra. This beautiful theater maintains its 1928 ambiance while seating up to 2147 guests.

The theater has two unique features that tie it back to its past. First is the Grande Page Pipe Organ. These were common fixtures in the silent movie days and the one here is only one of three of its size produced. Of those three, it is only one of two that remains in its original location.

The second item is the Brenograph. This large device, also dating to the 1920's, is installed in the projection room and it is used to project imagery onto the walls and ceiling during a show. The Embassy theater actually has two of these units, the one installed in the projection room as well as one in display in the Heritage Room for the public to see how it works.

In addition to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra, the theater hosts numerous performing arts events throughout the year including touring Broadway Shows, stand up comics, music acts, films, and the beautiful holiday Festival of Trees.

Mad Anthony Brewing Company is one of the premiere hot spots in the Fort Wayne, IN area. This microbrewery/gastropub features great food, house-made craft beers, and frequent entertainment. While they are known for their amazing Chicago style deep dish pizzas, they have many other great selections on their menu including many gluten-free and vegetarian choices.

Of course, going to a brewpub is all beer. They brew over 2000 barrels of beer here annually in several different styles. Whether you prefer IPAs, ales, lagers, stouts, or even wheat beers they have a brew for you with those covered on their standard offerings. There are also several seasonal beers available throughout the year.

The Johnny Appleseed Campground is a good place to stay in town. It provides a nicely treed retreat from the surrounding city and it is convenient for many of the attractions in the area.