A 100-year-old jail covered in grim markings could be yours for $850,000

By
Orana Durney-Benson
October 22, 2025

A historic jailhouse where prisoners were once incarcerated is on the market as a unique family home. 

The imposing building sits on the banks of the Arkansas River in the small US town of Ozark. 

The old Franklin County Jail was built in 1914 after a slew of municipal buildings were destroyed in a fire, according to historic documents

The blackened sandstone facade with its eerie parapets has changed little over the past century.

The old Franklin County Jail in Ozark, Arkansas, US. Photo: Zillow

The sense of history continues inside, where the owners have retained as much of the original prison as possible. 

The ground floor rooms – once the jailer’s quarters – have lofty ceilings and generous square proportions. 

Layers of yellow, white and red paint on the walls hint at the changes the rooms have seen over the years. 

Through a heavy steel door is a narrow staircase that leads up to the former cell block.

A stairway leads to the former cells. Photo: Zillow

It was here where prisoners were once interned. Some were housed in a long cell on the south side of the building, while others were kept in the holding cell and women’s cell. 

The concrete walls are scored with graffiti left by the prisoners during their time in the jailhouse. 

There are carved initials, tally marks and short messages. In one room, the name ‘John’ has been scratched into the paint in huge letters.

Names are visible on the wall. Photo: Zillow

The building is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. 

The heritage nomination from 1982 describes the jailhouse as an “outstanding” example of vernacular architecture that “graphically [recalls] the harshness of its traditional use”. 

The old Franklin County Jail is for sale as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home. 

The listing by Jeff Clinton from Keller Williams describes the property as “the most unique Jail/home you may ever have the [opportunity] to own”. 

It is on the market for $US550,000 ($847,000). 

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