On the edge of a lonely desert highway in Tonopah, Nevada, stands one of America’s strangest lodgings: The Clown Motel. Lined wall-to-wall with vintage clown dolls, circus paintings, and life-sized nightmare fuel, this spot has earned a reputation as either a fun roadside oddity or pure nightmare fuel, depending on how you feel about clowns.
If you’re looking for something truly weird, you’ve found it.
Where It Is
Location: 521 N. Main Street, Tonopah, Nevada 89049
Coordinates: 38.0770° N, 117.2311° W
Phone: (775) 624-9098
Open: Year-round, 24/7 check-in
Tonopah sits in central Nevada, roughly halfway between Las Vegas and Reno, on US-95. The Clown Motel is right off the main road—easy to find, impossible to forget.
What to Expect
- Over 2,000 clown figurines scattered throughout the lobby and rooms
- Themed rooms like “Joker’s Den,” “It,” and “Clownocalypse”
- Bright circus colors contrasted against a bleak, desert backdrop
- Optional haunted room upgrades for thrill-seekers
- Free parking, pet-friendly, surprisingly clean for how wild it is
And yes—it really is right next to a historic cemetery.
Tonopah Cemetery (Next Door)
As if the clown thing wasn’t enough, the motel is literally next to a 100+ year-old graveyard, where victims of mining accidents and the 1905 pneumonia outbreak are buried. Guests have reported strange noises and ghost sightings in both the motel and the cemetery.
How It Started
The motel was built in the 1980s by Leona and Leroy David in memory of their clown-loving father. Over the years, the collection grew, and the motel gained a cult following from roadtrippers, paranormal investigators, and horror fans.
The current owner leaned into the horror vibe, upgrading rooms and making it an intentional weird destination rather than a happy accident.
Why It Stands Out
This is the perfect intersection of kitsch and terror. Even if clowns don’t scare you, something about their sheer number—frozen in smiles, staring at nothing—feels deeply off. Add in the cemetery, the isolation, and the desert wind, and you’ve got a place that sticks in your head.
It’s not a horror movie set. It’s a real place. And you can book a room tonight.
Tips Before You Go
- Call ahead if you want a haunted or themed room—they book fast
- Bring snacks; Tonopah has limited food options after dark
- Be respectful at the cemetery—it’s real, and people’s families still visit
- If you scare easily, stick to the basic rooms—some of the others go hard
- Perfect for night photographers—eerie neon, desert skies, and old graves
Final Thoughts
The Clown Motel is ridiculous, creepy, and 100% unforgettable. Whether you’re sleeping there or just stopping for a look, it’s one of the most bizarre and offbeat attractions on any Western U.S. road trip. Come for the clowns, stay for the unsettling silence of the Nevada desert.
