The History and Haunting Allure of Nevada’s World-Famous Clown Motel
Discover why Nevada's Clown Motel, adorned with thousands of clowns and haunted legends, is a roadside icon and magnet for the curious.
The Eerie Roadside Icon: Introduction to the Clown Motel
Deep in the Nevada desert, halfway between Las Vegas and Reno, a blinking neon sign crowns one of the strangest and most legendary roadside attractions in the American West: The World-Famous Clown Motel. Overlooked by two 19-foot clown cutouts and bursting with over 3,000 clown figures, this Tonopah landmark entices adventurous souls, roadside curiosity seekers, and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Is it America’s creepiest motel? Many believe so—and with good reason.
Genesis in a Former Silver Boomtown
Tonopah, Nevada, sprang to life in 1900 on the promise of silver, when a prospector named Jim Butler discovered rich ore veins in the parched earth. Within years, the town spiked with mining companies, fortune chasers, and inevitably—tragedy. The infamous Belmont Mine fire of 1911 and a deadly pneumonia outbreak between 1902 and 1905 ensured that the adjoining Old Tonopah Cemetery was quickly filled with miners and townsfolk cut down in their prime .
- Tonopah Plague (1902-1905), a severe pneumonia epidemic, decimated the population.
- Belmont Mine Disaster (1911), one of several fatal mining accidents, claimed many lives.
- The Old Tonopah Cemetery sits directly adjacent to the property—its graves a constant backdrop to guests’ overnight stays .
Among those laid to rest was Clarence David, a miner whose singular legacy—a collection of beloved clown figurines—would posthumously ignite Tonopah’s long, weird afterlife in American folklore.
From Personal Collection to Motel Phenomenon
In 1985, siblings Leona and Leroy David honored their late father by building a motel next to the cemetery where he was buried and decorating it with his collection of about 150 clown figures .
- Original collection: ~150 clowns, ranging from century-old ceramics to playful plastic figurines.
- Motivation: To memorialize Clarence David and share his love of clown memorabilia with the world.
- Location: The site’s proximity to the Old Tonopah Cemetery immediately lent the Clown Motel an aura of mystery and unease.
The Davids, whether intentionally or not, concocted an irresistible cocktail of kitsch and creepiness: guests seeking a night’s rest found themselves surrounded by glass-eyed clown dolls while the silent presence of the cemetery next door stoked nerves and imaginations alike.
The Clown Collection: From Oddity to Record-Breaker
What started as a humble showroom for a handful of vintage clowns swelled—over decades and multiple owners—into one of the world’s largest private collections of clown memorabilia .
- Current collection: Estimated 3,000+ clown dolls, masks, art pieces, and curios from all over the world.
- Every genre represented: Painted and porcelain, vintage and plush, oversized and miniatures, bizarre and joyful.
- Many clowns are gifts from guests, clown aficionados, and even former skeptics won over by the motel’s sheer spectacle.
The clown collection dominates the motel’s front office, with shelves and display cases packed to overflowing. Life-size figures (some close to six feet tall) lurk in corners, while bold murals and smaller clown portraits cheerfully—and sometimes terrifyingly—adorn doorways and rooms. Each of the 31 guest rooms features custom clown artwork—two or three pieces per room—intensifying the immersive oddity for overnight guests .
Hauntings, Legends, and Paranormal Mystique
A major draw for visitors is the motel’s reputation as a paranormal hotspot. The combination of a clown-saturated lobby and a cemetery full of early 20th-century miners has spawned a multitude of ghost stories and chilling rumors:
- Ghostly encounters: Unexplained footsteps in hallways, knocks on doors from unoccupied rooms, and cold spots are frequently reported .
- Apparitions: Numerous accounts describe a spectral man leaving the cemetery and silently wandering the motel grounds, vanishing when approached.
- Some allege they’ve seen clown figures come to life, crossing over from the graveyard, balloons and all .
- Disembodied whispers (“we mined” or “we died that day”) emanate from darkened rooms late at night.
- Specific haunted rooms: Numbers 108, 111, 210, and 214 are reputedly the most active for those seeking—or avoiding—ghostly disruptions .
A particularly sinister tale involves a guest driven to madness and suicide by a persistent, unseen presence. Other enduring legends describe guests who checked in and never left, living out the remainder of their days inside the motel before passing away in residence .
Modern Revamp and Pop Culture Status
The Clown Motel’s odd history and unnerving ambiance quickly attracted attention from pop culture and paranormal media:
- Featured in indie horror films, webcomics, and prominently on the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures.”
- Widely recognized as “America’s Scariest Motel,” the property’s notoriety has only increased over time .
- Mentioned alongside (and sometimes outshining) the nearby Mizpah Hotel, considered by many to be America’s most haunted hotel.
In 2017, a new era dawned when Vijay Mehar and Hame Anand acquired the property. Anand, a lifelong clown collector himself, dramatically expanded the collection and undertook renovations to refresh the motel’s image while honoring its offbeat core:
- Several rooms were reimagined with themes from horror films—including The Exorcist, Friday the 13th, and Halloween—adding cinematic chills to existing dread.
- Clown art and memorabilia were augmented, and new clown murals and oversized cutouts installed throughout the property.
- All rooms now include modern amenities (TV, microwave, fridge, air conditioning/heating), ensuring visitors a level of comfort to offset any supernatural anxieties .
Experiencing the Clown Motel: What Guests Should Know
Despite its frightening reputation, the Clown Motel is still, at heart, a welcome stopover for roadtrippers traversing the Nevada desert. Travelers seeking Weird Nevada—or simply a place to rest, marvel (or cringe) at the army of clowns, or snap a photo by the iconic sign—will find plenty of novelty to take in:
- The clown museum in the office is free to the public—no need to check in to wander among the dolls.
- Gift shop on-site: Pick up clown-themed souvenirs, including hats, t-shirts, and even free clown noses.
- Complimentary lobby coffee and free Wi-Fi are available for guests.
- Outdoor barbeque grills and pet-friendly policy (with extra fee).
- With only 31 rooms, advance booking is highly recommended, especially on weekends.
Fun Fact: The Clown Motel’s neon signage and vintage roadside architecture make it one of the most photographed spots in central Nevada, drawing social media influencers and urban explorers from around the world.
Neighboring Oddities: The Old Tonopah Cemetery
The Old Tonopah Cemetery enhances the motel’s mystique and serves as a silent witness to the region’s turbulent past. Established in 1901 and resting place for victims of mining disasters and disease, the cemetery’s eerie atmosphere is often cited as a catalyst for the Clown Motel’s ghostly reputation :
- Graves marked by weathered stones, wooden crosses, and simple plaques.
- Historic figures interred include mining pioneers, accident victims, and plague casualties.
- Many visitors combine a tour of the cemetery with a stay at the motel, making for a uniquely macabre pilgrimage.
The Clown Motel Today: A Living Relic
After decades of reinvention, the Clown Motel remains both a living museum of roadside Americana and a breathing (if sometimes haunted) tribute to family memory, regional history, and cultural absurdity. It sits at the crossroads of nostalgia, fear, joy, and morbid curiosity—no other place on earth is quite like it.
Quick Facts Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1985 |
| Location | Tonopah, Nevada |
| Total Clowns | 3,000+ pieces |
| Rooms | 31 (many with unique clown art) |
| Haunted Rooms | 108, 111, 210, 214 |
| Nearby Sites | Old Tonopah Cemetery |
| Amenities | Wi-Fi, coffee, gift shop, BBQ, pet-friendly |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the Clown Motel really haunted?
A: Many guests and paranormal investigators report strange phenomena, including ghostly sightings, disembodied voices, and unexplained noises—especially in rooms near the cemetery. However, reported experiences vary widely and skeptics suspect that the motel’s atmosphere may play tricks on the imagination.
Q: How many clowns are in the motel’s collection?
A: The collection now numbers over 3,000 pieces, with new clowns frequently donated by visitors and collectors from around the world.
Q: Do you have to be a guest to see the clown collection?
A: No—visitors are welcome to tour the main office and peruse the clown displays even without booking a room.
Q: What are the most haunted rooms at the Clown Motel?
A: Rooms 108, 111, 210, and 214 are most frequently cited for mysterious occurrences.
Q: Can you visit the Old Tonopah Cemetery?
A: Yes, the cemetery is open to the public, and many visitors pair their stay at the Clown Motel with a stroll through these historic grounds.
Practical Tips for Nervous Travelers
- Book ahead, especially during peak travel months.
- If you’re afraid of clowns or the supernatural, you may want to request a room with fewer clown décor elements.
- Bring a camera—this is one of the most Instagrammed stops in Nevada!
- Ask the front desk staff for stories: many have fascinating tales about their own experiences and the motel’s history.
Conclusion: Why the Clown Motel Endures
The Clown Motel endures as both a celebration of weird Americana and an evolving legend of haunted hospitality. With its mix of heartfelt origin, quirky displays, and shiver-inducing stories, it captures the American fascination with roadside oddities and the supernatural.
For travelers bold enough to book a room—or merely stop in for a gawk—Tonopah’s clown-filled, ghost-haunted motel is sure to deliver an experience they’ll never forget.
