There is nothing scarier than clowns. Pennywise, Zeebo, Twisty, Killer Klowns from Outer Space…seriously, clowns are terrifying and what’s even scarier? A clown-themed motel which Nevada is pleased to call its own.
Tonopah is a small town that’s known for its silver mining history. Lovers of old west history flock to its Central Nevada Museum which chronicles the rise of the state in its many excellent exhibits.
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One of Tonopah’s most ominous attractions is the Clown Motel, an actual operating motel.
Wayne Stadler/Flickr
If you find clowns disturbing (and frankly, why shouldn’t you?) then you’ll be fascinated by this creepy establishment.
Jon/Flickr
The motel was even featured on the Travel Channel show “Ghost Adventures” and recently in a small indie horror flick called “Clown Motel.” (2016)
Bethany/Flickr
Step inside the lobby and gasp! You’ll be accosted by the sight of thousands of clowns! (Well, maybe not thousands, but definitely quite a bit of clowns in one small space for any sane person to handle!)
Hannah H./Yelp The original owner of the motel, Leroy David, owned a collection of clowns that he combined with his motel business. The motel was later sold to a man named Bob Perchetti, the latest owner.
Visitors who come to the hotel bring all kinds of clowns with them to “donate” to the motel’s sinister decor. It’s truly the deepest, darkest nightmare of the coulrophobic.
Bethany/Flickr
You are even greeted by the horror of clowns as you come to the door of your motel room! Luckily the staff of the hotel have a reputation for being incredibly friendly and helpful.
J M/Flickr
Even the motel rooms have clown artwork in them! Gah! For an extra scary visit, ask for a second floor room to get a view of the startling surprise next door…
Will Keightley/Flickr The rooms themselves are clean and well maintained and the motel actually gets high marks regularly from online sites like Yelp. It’s so popular it books well in advance. You have to call to make reservations as there’s no online booking system.
If the motel itself isn’t disquieting enough, it’s directly adjacent to an old cemetery. Zoinks!
Will Keightley/Flickr The cemetery is creepy yet oddly picturesque, especially against the backdrop of the mountains.
The Tonopah Cemetary was established in 1901 and the tombstones are most definitely old fashioned. Many of them are formed from wood, and the descriptions are either carved into the wood or into tin plates.
Bethany/Flickr
The cemetery houses around 300 prior town residents from its earliest days, many of whom died of a strange plague that hit the town in 1902. It is also the final resting place of 14 miners who died in the Tonopah-Belmont fire in 1911. The cemetery became too small to hold more graves in 1911 and a new site opened up nearby.
Bethany/Flickr The Clown Motel is located at 521 North Main Street in Tonopah (with the Tonopah Cemetery directly adjacent.) If you’re driving up from the north or south, you can reach Tonopah via the US-95 which passes right through it. Distancewise, it’s about half way between Reno and Las Vegas.
Would YOU stay the night at the Clown Motel? Share in the comments!
cmgray80/Flickr
Wayne Stadler/Flickr
Jon/Flickr
Bethany/Flickr
Hannah H./Yelp
The original owner of the motel, Leroy David, owned a collection of clowns that he combined with his motel business. The motel was later sold to a man named Bob Perchetti, the latest owner.
J M/Flickr
Will Keightley/Flickr
The rooms themselves are clean and well maintained and the motel actually gets high marks regularly from online sites like Yelp. It’s so popular it books well in advance. You have to call to make reservations as there’s no online booking system.
The cemetery is creepy yet oddly picturesque, especially against the backdrop of the mountains.
The Clown Motel is located at 521 North Main Street in Tonopah (with the Tonopah Cemetery directly adjacent.) If you’re driving up from the north or south, you can reach Tonopah via the US-95 which passes right through it. Distancewise, it’s about half way between Reno and Las Vegas.
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Address: The World Famous Clown Motel, 521 N Main St, Tonopah, NV 89049, USA
