Go to jail without committing a crime. Experience being arrested, jail intake procedures and incarceration in a realistic historical jail roleplay. Learn about what jail was like in the 19th and 20th centuries from the inmate's perspective. Guests are selected based on their applications.
Inmate guests are selected based on the applications that they send. We review each application carefully. A link to the application is located at the bottom of this page. To participate, guests should be in fairly good health both physically and mentally. Keeping the roleplay safe for all who attend is important. We screen the applicants in an attempt to make sure that that we don't have anyone who might be inappropriate, dangerous, or not mentally grounded in reality. We welcome and encourage people of all genders, races, orientations, and religions to come jail roleplay. We love diversity. Applicants should read everything on this web page, including the rules of conduct, before sending an application.
If you are invited to come, you should do the following to prepare for your visit.
1. Get your transportation set up. Once you know an arrival time and date, let us know so that we can prepare for you. If something comes up and you need to cancel or change the time, please let us know as soon as you can.
2. let us know of any special needs relating to food, religious requirements, health needs, time outs needed for work, or any other considerations we might need to deal with. We are very flexible about pausing the roleplaying when needed in order to meet your needs in the real world. But we need to know those needs before you come so we can plan for it.
3. A few days before you come, check in by text or email just to confirm that everything is still scheduled as planned. We want to eliminate any surprises in case either you or we calendared it incorrectly.
4. The day you come, send a text message to us when you are in Iowa and about an hour or two out. If there are any delays in your flight or other travel problems, let us know so we can plan.
For flying in, there are a few options.
1. The nearest International Airport is Des Moines, Iowa. (DSM) It is a 100 mile drive to Hampton. DSM is serviced by United, American, Delta, Southwest, and Allegiant. There is an airport shuttle service that we recommend. The shuttle service is $120 each way, and accepts cash only. It has to be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. You can also rent a car and drive to the jail. If you are driving, turn north off of Hwy. 3 into the alley behind the jail and Napa Auto Parts.
2. Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport is 165 miles from Hampton. (No shuttle service from there.) Flights into Minneapolis are usually less expensive than into Des Moines, but the travel to get from Minneapolis would likely make your travel end up costing you more.
3. Mason City Airport. This is a municipal airport that is only 35 miles from Hampton. If you fly into Chicago, you can take a flight on United Airlines to Mason City. This is a small commuter jet. The air fare is reasonable because it is government subsidized. But there are only two flights per day, so scheduling can be a challenge. If you fly into Mason City, one of our staff members can pick you up at the airport and take you to the jail and back to the airport later as a free service. You will likely travel to the jail in handcuffs if you choose to have us pick you up in Mason City.
Pack light. Separate your medications and things that you will need in the jail into a separate bag so that the intake will go more smoothly. The only thing you will be allowed to have during the jail roleplay is your medications and medical devices such as CPAP devices. You are also allowed to have a book if you want. No other personal items will be allowed unless you let us know of your needs in advance. Your jail inmate uniform, underclothing, bedding, and personal items (toothbrush, soap, towel) are all provided by the facility. Your belongings are kept in a secure location.
Most guests need to use thier mobile devices from time to time. We understand that there is a real world out there that you may still need to be connected with. Guests are permitted to get cell phone time when needed. In order to not interfere with historic role playing, inmate guests are taken out to the intake cell to use thier devices.
As part of the jail roleplaying adventure, simple basic meals are provided to inmates by an outside vendor. If you have a special diet (Diabetic, vegetarian, allergies, etc.) let us know in advance of your visit. The food is basic and similar to what might be served in a jail or prison. Guests say that the food served at the jail is pretty good. No one ever goes hungry. Meals are served on metal trays as when the jail operated.
Because of the age of this historical building, access could be limitted for some guests. The doors (made before 1880) that open into the cells and cell block are only two feet wide. There are low doors, steps, and uneven floors. This may prevent some individuals from full participation in all areas of the facility. We still want to provide as much of an adventure as possible. Let us know your needs.
Spring 2025
Mar 21 - 23
Apr 11 - 13
May 1 - 5 (Females only weekend)
Summer Season 2025
May 8 - 11
May 15 - 18
May 29 - June 1
June 5 - 8
June 12 - 15
June 26 - 29
July 3 - 6
July 17 - 20
July 31 - Aug 3
Aug 7 - 17
Aug 29 - Sept 1
Sept 5 - 14
In this jail roleplay you are pretending to be an inmate who is in detention in jail. You are encouraged to play and make up the background of the character that you are pretending to be. You may choose to resist the person playing the officer. You may choose to be rebellious. Or you may choose to be compliant. You decide and run the story to a great extent. Don't be afraid to "get into your role". You are the star of the jail roleplay. You make it up as you go along. The way that the story goes in the roleplay, and the way that the guards treat you, depends on your behavior. If you play a bad inmate who is resisting or being disrespectful to the officer, you will be treated more severely. You may be put in police restraints, strapped to an emergency restraint chair, or even get strapped into a in a straitjacket in the jail. We encourage you to play. We still like to play cops and robbers like we did as children. The jail roleplay will often develop into a "prisoners versus the guards" scenario. It is okay for you to curse at your guard. It is okay to play the bad guy. We will treat you as one. We understand that it is all just play. Please do not resist us to the point of excess. We do not want to have anyone hurt. We also want to make sure that the play is always wholesome and not "adult entertainment" in nature.
Do not pretend that you are sick or hurt. If you say that you are sick, we will believe you. If you are having any physical or mental problems, please make sure that you tell us. If you need to pause or stop the role playing, simply tell a staff member to pause or stop the roleplaying. Then we can deal with any problem or issue. Staff members will stop the roleplay and possibly remove a player from the jail if they are playing unsafe, or if the staff member feels that continuing would not be safe mentally or physically for that person.
Throughout the day we tend to jump in and out of the jail roleplaying. You stay locked up as an inmate, but we often end up having some interesting conversations. It is a safe non-judgmental place.
1. Role playing must be safe and sane.
2. No illegal activities are allowed.
3. No inappropriate sexual conduct.
4. No activity that would involve fluid transfer of germs such as spitting.
5. No overly aggressive physical contact.
6. No illegal substances.
7. No pornographic materials.
8. If you need to use tobacco, you can request to be taken outside to the yard.
9. No illegal drugs or Alcohol.
Intake Room
Court Room
Two person cell
Solitary Confinement Cell
The cell block includes three cells
The recreation yard (on the right)
Sometimes inmates in orange uniforms can be seen mowing the grass.
The property is beautifully maintained.