Is It Haunted – The Clown Motel

The Atmosphere

Tonopah sits at the junction of the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, a former silver boomtown that feels frozen in time. The Clown Motel embraces this isolation, greeting visitors with a lobby that houses thousands of donated clown dolls, some of which are rumored to move on their own. As highlighted in Eric and Nena’s coverage, the true source of the unease isn’t just the painted faces—it’s the thin wall separating the motel from the Old Tonopah Cemetery. 

The Haunted Hotspots

While the entire property has a heavy atmosphere, paranormal activity is concentrated in specific areas. Investigators frequently report equipment malfunctions, disembodied voices, and physical touches in these zones. The Clown Motel – US Ghost Adventures

• Room 108: The “It” Room
  Considered the most active room in the motel. It is themed after Stephen King’s It and features a life-sized mural of Pennywise. Guests report their luggage being moved, lights flickering, and waking up to see shadow figures standing at the foot of the bed.
• Room 111: The Exorcist Room
  This room is linked to the spirit of a terminally ill man who reportedly lived out his final days there. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs) are common here, often capturing the sounds of coughing or raspy breathing.
• The Old Tonopah Cemetery
  Established in 1901, this burial ground holds the victims of the “Tonopah Plague” (a pneumonia outbreak in 1905) and the Belmont Mine Fire. Many guests claim to see apparitions of miners wandering from the graves toward the motel parking lot at night. 

The History Behind the Haunting

Tragedy in Tonopah

The paranormal claims are rooted in the town’s brutal history. The cemetery next door closed in 1911, meaning the spirits have been “neighbors” for over a century. The 1911 Belmont Mine Fire killed 17 miners, and local lore suggests their spirits remain trapped in the area, often confused by the modern motel that now stands near their resting place. 

The Clown Curse?

While the clowns were originally a tribute to the owner’s father, they have become a magnet for “haunted objects.” Guests frequently mail in clown dolls they believe are possessed to get them out of their own homes, adding to the chaotic energy of the lobby. 

Would you like to explore the Mizpah Hotel nearby, which is home to the famous “Lady in Red” ghost, or do you need help finding the best time of year to visit Tonopah for a ghost tour?