Clowns

The theme of this unique motel will give many people anxiety, and its location next to a graveyard popular with ghost hunters doesn’t help. But if you love the kitsch and scary, it could be a night to remember

Everyone has something they’re afraid of. It could be spiders, or flying, or, of course anatidaephobia (the fear that a duck is watching).

Whatever it might be, some people find that confronting a phobia head-on helps them manage the anxiety around it.

If you dislike being around clowns, then you aren’t alone. A study by psychologists found that among a group of 987 adults, 53.5%, had some degree of fear of clowns. In extreme cases, this can lead to coulrophobia, with even the mere mention of clowns causing anxiety and panic attacks.

It’s safe to say that most of the world’s population, coulrophobic or not, would rather give The Clown Motel a miss. However, for a small number of clown fans, horror movie lovers, and people who enjoy exploring haunted and just plain weird places, it’s the dream location.

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There’s certainly no missing the place when you drive down the desert road of Tonopah, Nevada. You’ll either spot the huge Clown Motel sign, complete with a grinning cartoon, or the motel building covered in multicoloured polka dots. The exterior is covered in cartoons of clowns, from cheery, kid-friendly to downright creepy, resembling the character from IT that triggered many a clown phobia.

But the theme isn’t just on the outside of the building. Step inside and you’ll see floor-to-ceiling shelves covered in colourful clown dolls with rictus grins and various kitsch clown paintings. If you haven’t run away screaming by this point, you can explore the lobby’s clown museum, which includes items sent to the owner from around the world. There’s also a gift shop, should you wish to recreate the décor in your own home. As one reviewer said: “This place is clean, but it’s still kooky and strange”.

The rooms have various themes, some fairly standard with a few clown additions, while others go all out to create a colourful, sometimes horrifying nighttime experience. There are rooms themed around movies such as Friday the 13th and Halloween, while others, such as the Fear Unlimited room, go all out with creepy clown murals and bedsheets with fake blood stains.

The motel is reportedly haunted, with many reviewers sharing their odd experiences. One said: “At night around 3am there were really loud scratching sounds and something that sounded like a little child crying.” Another claimed: “We did hear some weird noises at 4am, such as ticking, scratching sounds and muffled talking.”

However, perhaps an even spookier site lies right next to the hotel. The Old Tonopah Cemetery dates back to 1901 and was the final resting place for many interesting characters from the Old West. Local legends claim that the victims of a mine fire haunt the grounds, and some people say they’ve spotted the ghost of a young girl.

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Tonopah is about a three-hour drive from Las Vegas and the ideal stop on a desert road trip. Visit the Tonopah Historic Mining Park where you can see some of the old silver mines and learn about the town’s fascinating history. It’s also home to the Central Nevada Museum, a must-see for those who are interested in day-to-day life in the Old West.

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