Alright, folks, well, we absolutely wish we were kidding but in Tonopah, Nevada there exists a motel that is fully devoted to clowns. The largest private collection of clown figurines and memorabilia, in fact. And if you don’t find the clown theme all that terrifying (okay, bravest person in the history of the world) then maybe the cemetery right next door will be the part that really gets you. So whaddya say, let’s take a look at this Clown Motel, shall we?
(image via: travel nevada)
First things first, if you’re looking for the Clown Motel, and even if you aren’t, you can’t help but notice the flashing bulb marquee as you approach. The Clown Motel started back in 1985 when Leona and Leroy David built the motel to honor their late father Clarence David who loved clowns and owned well over 150 clowns. When the siblings came up with the idea of the motel, they immediately knew what the theme should be.
Now, we’re sure a love of clowns started innocently enough but after years and years of horror movies and a brief stint of actual killer clowns, we now feel as though the whole idea of having thousands of clown memorabilia staring at you while you sleep is, well, terrifying. In fact, The Clown Motel was voted America’s Scariest Hotel. People from all over the world have been inclined to share clown pieces with the motel, which has put the number of clowns at well over 2,000.
(image via: reno’s gazette journal)
As we mentioned earlier, The Clown Motel does sit directly next to historic Old Tonopah Cemetary which is the resting place for a number of the town’s earliest mine workers that died tragically in the Belmont Mine Fire of 1911. If it’s an other-worldly stay you’re after, request to stay in rooms 108, 111, 210, or 214. And if you’re really into the paranormal, check out Tonopah Ghost Walk held every summer.
Tonopah sits right in-between Reno and Las Vegas; Tonopah itself is a desert town brimming with history, so whether clown motels are your thing or not, history buffs will appreciate the town and even if you don’t stay at the motel, it’s kinda cool to say you’ve been there. If you do feel like booking a stay, you will enjoy free Wifi, free coffee, and a TV, fridge, heat, and/or AC, as well as a microwave in your room, and each room has an outdoor patio complete with a small BBQ grill guests can use. And just one last tip, you’ll want to book a room pretty far in advance because as you can imagine, these rooms fill up fast. (Weirdos.)