Do You See Yourself Spending a Night at the Clown Motel?

Vacancy at the Clown Motel

In the middle of the Nevada desert, the small town of Tonopah offers a very interesting lodging option: The Clown Motel.

The Clown Motel opened in 1985 and has been a destination for weary travelers and curious road trippers alike. It has been under the management of Robert Perchetti since 1995, and for about $40 a night, you can immerse yourself in a clown crazy carnival atmosphere.

CC Flickr/jabbex

The original owner had a very large collection of clowns, and that seems to be the impetus behind the motel’s theming; he was looking for somewhere to house his collection.

The second you walk into the motel, you are bombarded with hundreds of clown figurines of every size, color, and facial disposition.

Perchetti insists the clowns are not creepy

We only have friendly clowns and The Clown Motel, there are no mean clowns here.

Despite his appeal, some travelers would disagree, but that decision can only be made by those brave enough to make the trek.

CC Flickr/Bethany

If clowns aren’t your thing, you can still enjoy a relaxing layover at the Clown Motel. The owners take deep pride in the upkeep of the lodging, only employing friendly staff and taking extra steps to make sure the rooms and facility are clean and well maintained.

If you are still not convinced to alter your summer plans and drive to Tonopah, perhaps this perk will: the motel is pet-friendly.

So, if you are worried about killer clowns in the night, you can bring Fido to protect you.

CC Flickr/J M

CC Flickr/Will Keightley

What is definitely creepy…

The debate on if the Clown Motel is creepy is subjective and can only be determined by a personal visit. However, the adjoining graveyard next to the motel might give some travelers reason to pause. The Tonopah Cemetery is a century-old abandoned place of rest the town’s old gold miners.

In one road trip, you can visit a Clown Motel that only has friendly clowns, bring your puppy, and visit a forgotten cemetery of dead gold miners.

Count me in.

CC Flickr/Bethany

CC Flickr/Bethany

For Sale!

Believe it or not, the world’s creepiest motel is up for sale! The asking price? $900,000. Perchetti and his wife are retiring, the perfect time to put this clown establishment up for sale, however, the new landlords MUST keep the clown theme alive. So what is Perchetti going to do with all his free time? He plans on fishing, camping, and bonding with his grandchildren.

“Oh, I’m going to miss the clowns,” said Perchetti. “I’m going to come back. I’m going to come back and visit my clowns.”