It's been featured all over the world, The Clown Motel on Main Street in Tonopah is looking for a new owner.
“We have clowns here from all over the world,” said Bob Perchetti, owner for 22 years.
Clowns are everywhere here, from the ceiling to the floor and at the core of Perchetti.
“The clown collection is growing and growing and growing.”
He's a clown connoisseur of good clowns and naughty ones. Up near the check in counter sits a scary clown in prison garb.
“I never show this to the kids.”
Perchetti has had his fun here. Turning 80 years old soon and wanting to spend more time with his actual family and less with his family of cute and creepy clowns, he's selling all 32 rooms and around 600 of his friends with an important caveat for the buyer.
“In the contract the next owner must keep it clown themed,” I asked. “Yes, for sure,” said Perchetti.
It's been on the market for about a month now, possibly because of the confining conditions of the clown contract or maybe because it’s possibly haunted.
“When I was cleaning the bathroom, the curtain just slid open,” explained housekeeper Lisbi Bravo. “It was scary because no one was in the room.”
That didn't stop me from testing the paranormal. The haunted room 108 is where I stayed. The view is no circus. In fact, it adds to the colorful, yet bizarre nature of The Clown Motel. An old mining cemetery is a stone’s throw away.
The tombstones say how these people died. There's some who died in the Belmont Mine Fire in 1911 and others who died of pneumonia.
The Clown Motel needs some tender loving care and that is what Perchetti wants to see the next owner do.
“If I didn't sell it I would start improving on that, improving the rooms a bit,” said Perchetti.
With spirited neighbors and clown admiring guests always coming and going through the motel, this forever smiling family is a Nevada heirloom.
“It's something I want to see continue forever.” said Perchetti.
“I hope whoever buys it loves it, needs some love, but doesn't kill its charm for sake of profit,” said traveler, Michele Hardeman.
Originally listed for $900,000, Perchetti says his attorney is working out the deal and the price is not set in stone yet, but they do get several calls a day from potential buyers.
