Follow Me to Folsom
I’ve never planned a trip around a prison, but I’ve definitely taken a few hours out of my day to go see one with an interesting history or architecture. I happened to drive past the Ohio Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio last summer on my drive to Boston. The film location/movie museum for Shawshank Redemption and Airforce One is something you should absolutely pop into. It’s creepy and sad, but oddly beautiful too. I crane my neck to try to get a glimpse of the Tennessee State Penitentiary (of Green Mile fame) every time I pass it. It’s a weird hobby, but I know I’m not alone.
Folsom felt like one of those things too. I’d been singing the damn song since I landed at the Sacramento airport and felt like it was worth the short drive over to check things out after work one day. You can’t really visit without committing a crime or going to see an inmate. My friend Jeremy McComb seems to know everyone on the planet and was taken in for a private tour. It’s a fantastic story which inspired an incredible song called 13 Steps. The story gave me chills, so does the song. I was so close I had to at least do a drive by. It’s worth the detour if you find yourself in the area.
I was not prepared for how adorable the town truly is. It feels like Whistlestop from Fried Green Tomatoes. The beautiful train station, sweet shops and boutiques, and beautiful bridges make it the perfect way to spend a day.Folsom was full of galleries, antique shops, bars and restaurants. You can get history and hijinks here and you should definitely make the time to check it out. I’m starting to feel stalked by these crazy Prescott Red Bull sculptures. One mocked me from a field that I couldn’t escape in Round Top, I stumbled into the gallery in Sante Fe, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I peeped one in Folsom.
Hands down, my favorite pop in was the Folsom Hotel. Established 100 years before me in 1885, this beautiful building has an awesome bar and badass playlists. I felt right at home with local beer, live music, and the damask wallpaper and tin tile ceiling of my dreams.
