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Retro Sign In the summer of 2024, Don and I spotted this dandy sign in Winnemucca, Nevada.  Our road trip conveniently took us through the curious town, with the curious name... with lots of curious signs. The Griddle in 2024 We saw 2 great signs that morning in Winnemucca.
The sign with glowing pink letters lured us in for pancakes. After eating we spotted the bright motel sign. More Signs We followed the big arrow and drove 2 blocks, towards this sweet motel oasis.  We continued right past the motel office (with yet another colorful sign) and stopped at the end of the road.  I hopped out of the car and admired the bold letters with unlit neon. The mountains added some extra drama. Quiet Office I quickly texted our son. I knew Scott would appreciate a photo of a motel with his name. Then I headed for the office, to learn more about this vintage place.  The sign on the office roof was a bit worn, but the placed seemed bright and welcoming. I tried the door. Locked. I ran around to the back door, which was also locked.
When I looked through the glass, the tidy lobby told me not to fear. This retro motel was clearly still in business. Play & Sleep Don sat in the car patiently, while I happily gave myself a tour. My eyes were drawn to a row of motel rooms, with pointy roofs. Their doors and windows looked towards something fun.  Nothing pleases me more than an old fashioned playground, with chains holding up metal swings, with horse faces!  I'm not sure what charmed me more. The vintage playground, or the retro motel design. Good-bye Winnemucca As we headed back on the highway, I eagerly shared all the details, with Don.  As we traveled, I looked up reviews and they were all positive! Rooms were cheap and visitors seemed to love the homey place! Another Trip About 6 months passed and we began planning another trip out west. Only way to book was with the phone. I spoke with the manager, Merry and she was delightful. No need to give a credit card to hold a room. So retro!  I told Merry that we loved historic motels and hotels. I mentioned that I'd recently bought a vintage postcard featuring the old motor court! The card showed a boxy porte cochere near the office, with a different sign above..  The postcard got me excited. I was eager to stay in the steam heated "home away from home"... for the "Rest" of my life! May 2025 Don and I arrived on a sunny afternoon, on the last day of May. We pulled up to the office, across from the extended stay units. We spotted a few trucks that could have belonged to contract laborers, mine workers, or drillers...  Why would I say that? Because the website offered special pricing for those hardworking folks! Time Warp Lobby We stepped inside the spacious lobby and I was transported back in time. Paneling on one side, stacked sandstone on the other.  I loved the welcoming vibe, with comfy seating near the fireplace. A deer head, kept an eye on the place. We were greeted at the desk by Elisa and Merry.  Both were friendly. They seemed excited that we had lots of questions. Snacks & Rules Elisa offered us complimentary snacks from a quirky little dish on the counter. There were also dog biscuits, if we'd had a pet.
I took note of the framed sign, near a jar of peppermints. I do appreciate a good sign message. This one had no neon, but I liked the words that went right to the point. $250 fine. Scott the Cat! I noticed a kitty curled up on a desk chair!  I inquired. Of course the cat's name was Scott. Love a sweet motel cat! Merry the General Manager Merry was just as chatty in person, as when I booked on the phone. I asked questions, even though I'd learned a lot on the motel's website. The site featured stories about the "Elite Staff" at SSC. That was a nice, personal touch. I could read the names of the housekeeping and maintenance staff. Many had worked at SSC for decades. I also learned that Merry lived on site and that she was very excited about their recently renovated, enclosed pool.
I asked about the pool and Merry was sincerely apologetic. The pool was not open, due to some complicated repair issues. However, she was eager to share some pool pictures from her phone. Since 1928 I was actually more interested in having Merry fill us in on some of the motel's history. She pointed to some framed images on the wall. I learned that the Scott family began welcoming guests in 1928. I believe the same family still owns the property!  Another vintage image on the wall looked like my postcard. My eyes were drawn to the words on the corner structure and above, on the sign. Only later did I notice how the roof sign matched the neon sign at the end of the road. Interesting. Joseph and Ida Scott Merry pointed out some aerial photos of the property, when it included a farm. Mr. & Mrs. Scott were Swiss immigrants, who once ran a dairy farm on-site. The property later became "Scott Shady Camp" offering guest rooms, a full service station, and a grocery store.
In one of the old wall photos, I could see the zig-zag roofs over the guest rooms. In the other, I could see an old dairy barn, behind the flat-roof units. Barn Search After we got our room key, I looked across at the row of extended stay units.
I stepped around behind and spotted 2 old barns. Still there, after all these years! "Rooms on the Park" That's what l called the spiffy section of rooms, that overlooked the playground.  There were over a dozen of these rooms. What a treat to park right in front of the door. Room 72 for $85 Total Merry seemed pretty happy to put us in Room 72. She said it was a double queen, with a little more space than some of the others.  We entered our room, just beneath our own triangular roof. The sandstone veneer and picture window, added some nostalgic appeal. Vintage Heaven The room was dated, in the most perfect way. Wood paneling and burgundy bed spreads. A lot of pillows for 2 people!  I loved the golden glow from the hanging lamps in both corners. The mid-century chair was comfy and so were the beds. All was spotless.
There was lots of space. There was a desk and mirror and a built in bench for a suitcase. Don is a big fan of a good luggage rack.  He's also a big fan of a 65-inch TV. The flatscreen and HGTV show did not take us back to the '50s. The microwave and modern fridge didn't either. But we made use of all. The bathroom was updated just enough. Like the rest of the space, it was spotless. Amelia (of nearly 3 decades) and her housekeeping crew did well.  I know some of the rooms have older sinks and pastel tub tile. That would have been sort of fun, but we appreciated having the space. Fancy Lock There were so many signs to enjoy at Scott Shady Court. The signs on the door made me chuckle.
I needed glasses to read the smallest sign, with directions for using the special lock. I turned the dial (for a moment) so the words read, "Maid Request". Park View We opened the drapes for our park view and finished unloading.  Then I took the ice bucket and went exploring, Property I'm not sure why this property just pleased me so. I liked the red mailbox.
I liked the red letters and arrows. "SODA POP ICE" Lit! I held off getting ice and wandered back to the old sign at the end of the road.  The neon was lit! Except for the last 2 letters of SCOTT. I spoke with one of the housekeepers who was getting into her car. She chuckled over my enthusiasm. We chatted about how difficult it was to get an old neon sign fixed. California Rooms! Towards the back of the property, I spotted a different row of units, with pointy roofs.  Oh man! I suddenly realized these were the original rooms. The cozier rooms, with casement windows and pastel bathroom tile.  Best of all, each room was named for a California town that begins with Santa! Dang these were cute! But Merry steered us well. They looked tiny when I viewed photos in reviews. Garages I made lots of discoveries before I got my ice.  I found a whole row of garages! I spotted a car in one and a grill in another. I guess some of the extended stay guests were renting these. Between Office & Pool I wandered to the back of the office and admired the Christmas colors. Red trim and bright green leaves.  I walked away from the office, across the playground and came to the pool house.  I found some patio seating and a grill and just enough shade. It was a Friday. Would this patio get some use in the evening? Playground I wondered about the old playground and when it was last used.  There were 3 deep "divots" beneath the swings. How many feet have pushed off the grass, to get the swings started? The horse swings (and horse on spring) looked brighter than I remembered. Were they freshly painted?  My photo of the tetherball, fails to show that it was brand new. The shadow was hiding the bright colors. I wanted to thank Merry for keeping up with details like this.
I didn't ride the horses, but I eventually tried out a swing. I made sure to push off the grass just like all the feet that have helped create dips beneath the swings! Off to Dinner We didn't get a chance to hang out at SSC in the evening, because we had dinner reservations. We were excited about sharing a Basque meal at one of Martin Hotel's community dining tables.  We met some interesting people during our evening. We ended up meeting a neon artist... who knew all about the neon sign at Scott Shady Court. We were happy and exhausted when we drove back from dinner. Lots of gabbing for 2 hours! Motel at Night It was dark when we returned.  Sadly the office sign was not glowing. But the red and green letters were bright at the end of the road. We wondered if we should throw in some money to get Jeff, (the neon artist) out here to fix the dim letters.  We parked near the room and walked to the sign. The balmy night seemed to bring some of the extended stay guests out. Lots of chatting in the wide street.  It felt like a different era, where neighbors were sitting on porches chatting to each other.  As we approached our car, we talked to a young couple from Tacoma. They had been camping for a while and were opting for a motel night, with bed and shower. So many nice folks. Morning Don and I slept well and rose early.  We walked down the wide road to The Griddle for breakfast. The Griddle Again At breakfast, we met more interesting people, involved in the Murals & Music weekend.
We ended up chatting with 3 artists, sitting at the counter. When we mentioned we were staying at Scott Shady Court, one of the locals lit up and mentioned Merry. "Oh, she's the best, isn't she?" Here & There Our short walk back to the motel offered a few more glimpses of fun things. We packed up and dropped our key in the slot. Merry wasn't on duty yet. We drove around town and saw a few more murals that were in progress. The town looked sweet and happy on a Saturday morning on, the first day of June. What's Notable? Our stay was plain, simple, sweet and welcoming. For a total of 85 bucks, we enjoyed a spacious retro room, with a view of an old playground.  For me, all the fun signs made the stay extra memorable! Cheers to the old neon sign, that must have once been on the office roof!
Honestly, I think my memory or SSC will always be a blend of the motel and the town. What nice people and what a fun step back in time!
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Grand Hotel in an Old Mining Town This hotel has been welcoming folks since its opening, in 1908.  Don and I got to be guests, 115 years later! Tonopah in 2018 We actually spent a night in Tonopah 5 years earlier.  It was a cold February day when we drove into town, on US 95. I was intrigued by the hotel with the roof sign. Clown Motel But we had reservations at Tonopah's "World Famous Clown Motel", a half mile down the road.
Our motel stay was an amusing and memorable experience! We actually ate dinner at the Mizpah and put the hotel on our list for the future. https://www.thebethlists.com/90-notable-nights/179-the-clown-motel-in-nevada June 2023 Last June, Tonopah was on our road trip route once again. We booked a night at the Mizpah.  We spotted the Mizpah roof sign again. The worn out building across the street had been spiffed up and had just opened as Belvada Hotel. Wow! 3 hotel options in a town of about 2,000! Tallest in Nevada We grabbed a parking space, right in front of the 5-story Mizpah. We got out carefully as cars and trucks whizzed by on US 95.  When the hotel opened during the great Nevada silver boom, I'm not sure how busy the road was. I do know the hotel at that time was the tallest building in Nevada. Mizpah Saloon Before the grand hotel was built, the 1-story Mizpaw Saloon and Grill occupied the spot, next to a 3-story bank building.  I believe the saloon and bank building was the first permanent structure in the mining town, back in 1901. Gathering Place The taller bank building, became the shorter building, once the impressive Mizpah was completed. Now the 3-story building on the left, is the hotel's annex.  When the high class hotel opened in 1908, it quickly became the social hub of Tonopah. When we arrived on a Wednesday afternoon in 2023, the Mizpah appeared to still be the center of activity. Quite a few folks were heading inside. Raised Walk We were lucky to find parking directly in front, by the funny rounded stairs.
The vintage photos shows no raised sidewalk. As I fumbled bags up the steps, I wondered why and when the entrance was lifted. "M" As we headed for the doors beneath the "M", I noticed more Ms.
There were M's in the leaded glass windows.  There was a giant M above the entrance to the lowered lobby, where we checked in. The M is obviously for Mizpah. The hotel was named for one of Tonopah's mines. Check In We checked in, on the lower level of the annex. It was actually bustling with guests at 5:30. (unlike my 6 am photo)  We chatted with some others in line and learned that the hotel is always busier on weeknights. The desk clerk agreed. "It's quiet around here on weekends." He explained that Tonopah isn't much of a tourist destination, but it's a convenient stop when traveling. It's about midway between Vegas and Reno. The Lounge After checking in, we peeked into the lobby lounge, with all its Victorian furniture. There was a pretty good crowd gathering at the bar.  The guests clearly seemed to prefer the stools, over velvet couches. Music I imagine the original Mizpah Saloon probably had some kind of upright piano, with a guy playing ragtime. In 2023, there was a more formal piano in a corner of the lobby.
I had to chuckle at the autographed photo of Liberace, displayed on the grand piano. Electronic Gaming The lobby felt a little nicer than I recalled from our dinner at the bar, 5 years ago.  I pulled up an old photo from my phone and saw a very different look in 2018. Heading Up I was more tempted to play the piano than the slots, but Liberace intimidated me. We headed with our bags to find our room. We could have taken the stairs and burned some calories, but we had bags and the elevation was over 6,000.
We headed for the old elevator and rode up with the displayed license of "Walter", the original operator in 1908! Lady in Red The chatty clerk at the desk said he'd given us a room on the 5th floor, with lots of ghost activity. I took a seat in a red velvet rocker, just outside our room and watched 3 young girls tiptoeing by our door. They were whispering and giggling about The Lady in Red.
We'd seen her portrait in the lobby, In the 1920's she had been a "female companion to lonely minors" until she was murdered in Room 504. Her hauntings have helped Mizpah Hotel achieve the title of #1 Haunted Hotel, in USA Today. Room 502 Our room was just 2 doors down from the haunted, Lady in Red Suite, where the high class prostitute was murdered years ago.  There was no feel of gloom in our bright room, but evidently there have been a number of deaths in the hotel. I hoped the dapper man in the photo above our bed wasn't one of them. Bernard Baruch I'm afraid I didn't recognize the man, sitting on a park bench.
Mr. Baruch evidently was a financier, who spent a lot of time advising people like Presidents Wilson and Roosevelt, during WW I and II. He also spent a lot of time at the Mizpah, which tells you that Tonopah was a much more happening place over a century ago. Luckily he didn't die here. Room With a View I love corner rooms. We had 2 windows looking down on Main Street (US 95).
I loved studying the old buildings and distant mountains. The view at sunset was extra fun. Bathroom View The third window was in the bathroom. The view to the north was less impressive, with flat rooftops. The view of Don and me at night, must have been very impressive! The blinds were broken!
I can't say too much positive about the bathroom. The worn vanity and spinning faucet knobs needed help. I know the Mizpah's hot and cold running water in 1908, was considered very luxurious. I would not use that word for the bathroom today. Down for the Evening For the rest of our stay, we made good use of the stairs. Seems we were always dashing up or down for something. No fitness room needed.  We greeted our statue friend each time! Walls I'm not sure what the walls were like 115 years ago. But the Nancy and Fred Cline did a great job renovating when they bought this hotel over a decade ago.
The Clines (of Cline Family Cellars in Sonoma) rescued this closed down hotel in 2011. They also recently opened the Belvada Hotel across the street. The owners live in California, but they fell in love with the area when Nancy discovered some family connections to the old mines. Hanging in the Lounge There were no open seats at the bar, when Don and I wandered down around 6. We had our pick of velvet couches.  We grabbed drinks at the bar and settled into some LOW seating and did a little people watching. We determined that most of the guests were traveling with work. "Mostly geologists" we were told later. Interesting. Gaming None of the people gabbing around the bar seemed at all interested in gambling. I only spotted 5 machines on this visit.
Back in 1945, there was a bigger focus on gambling. There were 80 slot machines, as well as roulette, craps and blackjack. I was tempted to give the old roulette wheel a spin. But I obeyed the sign and left it alone. Jack Dempsey Gaming didn't come to Tonopah until the 1940's. Decades before that, heavyweight boxing champ, Jack Dempsey came to Tonopah. The hotel's dining room is named after him.  Dempsey worked as a miner and even a bouncer at the Mitzvah, before he became a famous boxer. We thought about eating in the dining room, surrounded by his photos. But it seemed too isolated and quiet. Pittman Cafe We also could have grabbed a bite at the hotel's other restaurant, the Pittman Cafe. But we didn't want to be the only diners.  The cafe was named for Senator Key Pittman, who practiced law in Tonopah. That's not so interesting, but the rumors of his death are curious. Did he really die in 1940, before the election... that he won? Did his party leaders really keep his body on ice in a Mizpah Hotel bathtub, until votes passed and his party could name his replacement? I believe these really are just rumors. Dinner at the Bar Don and I ended up doing what we often do. We ate dinner at the bar, where we sometimes meet interesting characters or learn some local scoop.  Jennifer our bartender/server was a delight. She darted from one end of the bar to the other, her long shirt tails and blond hair whooshing after her. Everyone was Honey or Sweetie, to Jennifer. Big thumbs up to Jennifer's energy and enthusiasm. She managed to fill us in on some hotel history, even though she hardly ever stopped moving. Food Don's appetizer of sautéed mushrooms with pearl onions, was a real treat! He had loaded baked potato that was almost as good as my spinach salad. I ordered a glass of wine from the Cline's Sonoma vineyards. In fact that's the only wine they serve,
Five years ago, I remember ordering a very yummy chicken fried steak at the bar. I loved the vintage hotel plate and missed having an M on my plate this time. Dan & Don Don ended up chatting with Dan, who sat next to him at the bar. Dan was a Tonopah resident, since 1989. He clearly loved the history of the town and took us over to examine some holes in the vault doors. He encouraged us to peek into the little museum space inside.
Dan seemed amused that we'd stayed at the Clown Motel before. He shared some info about the motel owner, who we remember fondly. He talked about the recently opened Belvada Hotel across the street. "The building was in such bad shape, the Clines bought it for a dollar." He laughed as he described driving into town each day half expecting to see the building collapsed onto US 95. And now beautifully restored! Mizpah at Night It was about 9:30 when we headed upstairs. I suddenly realized I had forgotten to step outside to get a night picture. I raced down and snapped a pic and noticed Don in the upper left windows. Too funny!  Then I noticed 2 guys having a smoke break on the raised sidewalk. Just then a truck sped by on US 95 and I realized why they built up the sidewalk. They must have been trying to keep hotel guests, a little further from the traffic. Maybe?
I crossed the street carefully and headed back, walking beneath the glowing sign. Jacuzzi Family, as in spas? Yep! Fred Cline's grandfather was one of the 7 Jacuzzi brothers, connected to the healing tub spas, that became popular in the seventies! Early Morning Light came into the room so early, I finally just threw on some clothes and went downstairs to see what the hotel looked like at 5:45.
I wasn't surprised to see the bar/lobby empty. I was surprised to hear upbeat and pleasant music filling the empty space. Hotel Celebs I took some time to study more of the celebrity photos that line a few of the walls. I greeted Doris Day in a bubble bath and Butterly McQueen, in her "Gone With the Wind" costume.
These celebs were never guests. The Clines just have a collection of celebrity photos, along with cancelled checks. Odd! However Howard Hughes was a hotel guest many times. Chilly Morning It was incredibly bright out, when I stepped outside before 6 am. The flags were whipping and the temps read 44 degrees.  At such an early hour I still had to pause for trucks as I crossed the street to see the Tonopah mural.  I snapped a pic and headed down the street, to see the post office...  ... with a somewhat eerie sculpture of a miner being rescued. I took a good look at the Belvada Hotel and figured we'd be back eventually, for another Tonopah stay.
Then I hiked up the funny rounded steps to the raised sidewalk. I continued stair climbing and was fully awake by the time I reached the 5th floor. Coffee and View I had a shower then made Keurig coffee and enjoyed the view.  By 7:15 the vacant lot was alive with trucks. Were they tearing up the old concrete? How will this space be used? A grassy park? What's Notable? We stayed in a grand old hotel, with a special connection to an old Nevada mining town. The lovely brick and stone building seemed like an isolated oasis in the middle of nowhere, just as it must have felt 115 years ago.  I wouldn't say that our stay was luxurious, but it was comfortable and clean and reasonably priced. The atmosphere was welcoming, the food and service was quite decent. The history and entertaining ghost stories added some fun. There was a positive feel to the Mizpah. It seems like the hotel and the town are just getting better with time. (rare for small towns) Tonopah may never have a population of 10,000 again, but it definitely seems to be moving in the right direction.
"America's Creepiest Motel!" A couple years ago, this motel came up on a list of haunted and unusual hotels. I laughed, shared it with Don and announced, "We need to put that on our list!"
When planning our recent road trip from Texas to California, we decided to slip in a stop at the Tonopah motel. And yes, I did read reviews and articles. All seemed to claim Clown Motel as "America's Creepiest Motel". Don and I were not afraid. February Day Flurries were swirling when we pulled into the big lot off Highway 95, about halfway between Reno and Vegas.  The blue and white motel with clown sign, looked just as worn and curious as the photos I'd seen on the internet. I was surprised to see the dramatic mountain in the background and all the vehicles in the lot. At least the motel had some business. Welcome! We headed towards the office and opened the door to a blast of warmth and clown-color. Big yellow Ronald was the first to greet us, then my eyes went directly to the walls behind, filled with clowns.
A woman at the desk paused on the phone to say hello. She seemed annoyed with the person on the phone, but was perfectly pleasant with us. Mr. Perchetti Then the owner Bob Perchetti, entered and gave us a warm welcome. He'd been expecting us.  I'd called a month before and requested a room with lots of clown decor. He'd been very chatty on the phone and said he would book us for the Clown Suite. Business Corner The walls behind Bob's desk were covered in sticky notes and paper work, but framed clowns shared some of the space.  Acrobatic clowns and a parachuting clown, hung from the ceiling. Working Clowns I peeked around as Don checked us in.  It was clear that most of the clowns were for pure decoration, but a few had real jobs, like holding books. Bob Relaxes Bob finished dealing with a few staff members. One was holding a snow shovel and another held a stack of linens. Then the office was quiet. Bob had lots of time to talk. He was happy to answer questions about the motel. Bob wasn't the original owner who collected the clowns. But, when he bought the business 23+ years ago, adopting the clowns was part of the deal. Bob will be turning 80 years old soon and he's ready to sell the business. But he also needs to find someone willing to take over the clowns, as he did.
Bob laughed about all the attention the motel has gotten from being on a few TV shows, about haunted hotels. He casually brought up the fact that someone had recently died in the motel. I tried to unhear that bit of news, since we were staying over. But now I wish I'd asked. I can't find anything on the internet about it. Photo Time Bob is used to cameras in his motel. I'm pretty sure more people stop to take photos, than stop to spend the night.
I asked if he'd be in a photo with me. He thought we should pose near the human sized clown, seated in the corner. I guess I could have joined the smaller clowns and sat in Big Clown's lap. But I was trying to keep things non-creepy, at the Creepy Clown Motel. Bob and Me So we posed near the cluster of clowns. I took off my jacket so my very fine t-shirt, (from Angie's Circus Diner in Hugo, OK) could be seen! Then we chatted some more.  Actually Bob's stories of small town, Tonopah were more interesting than the Clown Motel history. He loved growing up in the once mining town, just a couple doors down from his Serbian grandmother. I loved hearing Bob talk about his grandmother first coming to Tonopah, as a mail order bride. And I had to laugh to hear that Bob was named after his Uncle Bob, who happened to go by the nickname, Bozo. Bob and His Mom There was a photo of Bob and his mom on a bulletin board. He said at 97, she still lives in the house where he grew up.  Every morning Bob eats breakfast in town, but he has coffee at his mom's, first. He talked about the importance of family, his own now and his good family memories from the past. Those memories included lots of gatherings with Serbian food! My Clown At one point I remembered that I had a little clown in the car, that I'd brought along for the fun. (Props sometimes play a part in our odd overnights) I told Bob that the funny unicycle clown had been in my family since I was 6.
I explained that it used to have balancing poles for cycling back and forth on a suspended wire. Bob thought he'd seen a clown like it before. Bob's Favorite Bob said there were 500 to 600 clowns on display.  Of course I had to ask if he had a favorite. Emmett/Willie This sad little guy is Bob's favorite. He showed up at the motel one day, with a note. The note is kept under his foot.
I think of all the clown figurines at the motel, this is the only one I would have snatched up, had Bob been selling clowns. I always loved the real Emmitt Kelly, who created his little Tramp, Willie character... the first clown to break away from the "whiteface" clown image. I loved this sad little guy. One Last Look  Don and I took one last look at the china, metal, crocheted, wooden, plastic collection... and took our key to the Clown Suite. Up the Stairs  We had to cart our stuff up some icy stairs, but Bob said, we would have a good view of the Tonopah Cemetery from up there. At the End  The last 2 rooms for some reason didn't have a colorful clown figure. All the others did.  Our room was at the end, but this sign was right between the last 2 doors. Who was Joe? Were both rooms suites? Voila! We opened the door to our clown suite and saw a few clowns, right away. Our room at seventy dollars, was at least $20 more, than the other rooms. That seemed a bit pricey for an old motel... but we did ask for a room with clowns and by golly we got them.  We also had 2 beds, tons of space and a door adjoining another room. Maybe if you book both, you can have a super big clown party with some friends. Or I guess we could have knocked on the door, since we could hear voices and smell some kind of food cooking. We could have invited our neighbors over for a clown appreciation party. Pondering the Guests Actually, after doing some internet searching, I learned that "Joe" is a motel manager and he may have been the neighbor we heard, next door. Hmm? In the article I read, it said Joe lived at the motel, in the Clown Suite. Maybe he lives in both rooms and moves out of one, when there's a request. I'm not sure.. and I'm pretty glad I didn't know that at the time.  Don and I wondered about other guests. The truck filled parking lot, made it clear that most of the overnighters were workmen and such. Besides the work related travelers, I think the Clown Motel actually gets more guests who are interested in paranormal activity, than clowns. Luckily that doesn't faze me, since most of the historic hotels we visit, claim to have ghosts. A Very Big TV Our 2-bed room was spacious and the TV was huge. However, there were some room issues that most reviewers might gripe about. Yes, it needed new paint and carpet and there was a crack in the window, but it was clean.  I get it. If I were Bob, I wouldn't be wanting to put money into renovation before selling. Don and I were just pretty excited to have our oddball Clown Motel experience... before it's too late. Our Clowns When will we ever again stay in a motel that has a cluster of colorful clowns displayed on the dresser?
When will we be able to pop some microwave corn, while a cookie jar clown, grins from above? Washing up, With Clowns! There were clowns dangling near the mirror over the sink. And look at the special make-up mirror! That's kinda fancy.
Most old motels don't provide magnified make-up mirrors! But then again, I would need that, if I had brought along some clown make-up. Toilet Paper Delight! This display on the toilet tank, put the biggest grin on my face.  First of all I expected no toiletries, but there they were... laying on a colorful circus fabric, right next to a crocheted toilet paper keeper with a plastic clown head! Art There was artwork, too. I liked the triple-image-art with Emmett's, Willy character in the circus ring.
But what was the other one? With closer observation, it made me think of a fever dream, featuring an aged Emmett, floating with eerie cloud faces. We chose the bed furthest from that print. Night at the Motel We had a great dinner at the charming historic Mizpah Hotel, in town. That's on our list for next time.  When we returned, there was a nice layer of snow on the parking lot. That is not a moon in the photo. That is a mystery. I have no clue how that orb ended up in my photo? Morning at the Clown We woke at 6 am, to sounds of snowplows.  It was bitter cold, but I threw warm clothes on, over my p.j.s and wandered out with the camera. The Clown with Snow  There wasn't a ton of snow, but it did make everything look clean and tidy. Quiet Office  I walked past the office, which I knew would be serving coffee soon. Tonopah Cemetery I walked just a few steps past the office, to the old miners cemetery. It looked very peaceful on a snow covered morning.  The cemetery opened in 1901, when miners were hit with some sort of plague. Evidently, the father of the motel's original owner, is buried here. Leaving Footsteps My footsteps weren't the first. I saw some kitty paw prints when I stepped in through the gates. I was told later there is a local program that captures and fixes local feral cats. Many cats are fed nearby and call the cemetery home.
I studied Mr. Smith's grave for a moment. He was "murdered in his cabin, behind the Midway mine." Hmm? Maybe it was his spirit orb, that I captured in my photo, the night before. What's Notable We did it! We spent the night at the Clown Motel and I'm glad we did.
If we hadn't spent a good deal of time chatting with Bob, the whole experience would have felt much more bizarre. I wasn't looking for a creepy overnight, just a curious and memorable one. It certainly was!
Lake Tahoe, Nevada For years Don and I have had our eyes on this place, right on US 50.
The rustic lodge with the neon sign, finally lured us in for a stay. Rambling Roadside Lodge You can't miss the place if you're driving to Tahoe from Reno. The highway nearly touches the porch.  There's something a little Route 66 about the front of the lodge, with cars whizzing by. But it's all pines, cabins, beach and lake in the back. Back There's also a parking lot on the side and back, but that's a good thing.  It was a treat after staying at a South Lake Tahoe's Marriott, with 29-dollar per day, valet parking. We parked right by the restaurant's deck and used the stairs in back to reach our second floor room. Upstairs The knotty pine and vintage photos tried to welcome us, but there was a bit of an odd vibe to the upstairs. There were only 4 guest rooms in the lodge. It looked like one hall held old guest rooms that now house staff.
As we walked down the sloping hall towards our room, we passed a number of rooms being used as offices during the day. The Zephyr Suite at the far end was not booked, nor was the Bridal Changing Room, next to our room. We were pretty happy about that. Room #1 Our room wasn't luxurious, but it was spacious.
There was room to spread out, which you don't expect in an old hotel. Windows Both windows were open a crack, letting in some fresh air... which was needed. The furniture and TV were dated, but there was a built in with microwave, fridge and coffee maker.  The US Forest Service now owns the Zephyr Lodge and Resort, so the accommodations were more modest in style and price than most Tahoe resorts. The View Our room faced the highway and Zephyr Cove Resort's RV Park. It was pretty noisy in the afternoon, but by nighttime, we had to pull the box fan out of the closet. It was too quiet to sleep!
I don't think there were any guest rooms that faced the back. They must be paying high rent for that office space with lake and mountain views. Stairs Going Down There was no elevator, but we did have indoor stairs. The lodge office was located in the gift shop to the right. I'm not sure about the grand doors on the left.  I'm guessing those fairytale doors lead to a banquet hall. There had to be some place for that bride to go after she changed into her gown... in the room next to ours! Open Space This space between the gift shop and restaurant at least had a few couches, but there was no cozy lounging space, like you expect in park lodges.  That made me more curious about the history from a roadside inn to a lake resort. History There were lots of old photos, but I could find very little history on the lodge.  So many park lodges have young staff and they can never fill in the blanks. This photo from 1939, shows a sign saying "Zephyr Cove Beach" above the door. Zephyr Cove House Here's a photo from the menu. There's a brief mention of Andrew Gardner, who first opened the Zephyr Cove House in 1862.  I think maybe this house (or inn?) became a store with gas pumps and the resort lodge was expanded later. But that's sort of a guess. I can't believe in this Googling Age, I could find so little history. Our Room on the Right So all I know is, the resort opened in the '30's and our room, with 2 dormer windows was on the right, above the restaurant.  Pretty sweet looking building, even without knowing the history. Lake Resort Behind the lodge we found cabins and a mile of beach. For a Friday in October the lake was lovely and quiet.  The M.S. Dixie II Sternwheeler had just come in from a tour. The paddle boats were all lined up, but the beach restaurant and store were closed. A Few Tourists The air was perfect down by the water.  I tried to imagine this beach in the summer when US 50 is jammed with tourists. Bar & Restaurant The recently updated dining room and bar seemed to be getting some local business in the afternoon.  Zephyr Cove has over 500 residents, so this might be just the place to go at the end of a work week. Dining at 7 But the locals seemed to be all gone by 7. Luckily we didn't wait any longer, since there were a couple tables finishing meals. They might have been tempted to close had we not walked in.  We got a table right by the fireplace and ordered a Rueben and Cobb salad. The food and service was quite decent, but even with a fire we didn't feel compelled to linger. What's Notable? I'll remember this lodge as a cute place, sandwiched in between a busy road and a lovely beach, with pine trees scattered here and there.
It had the potential of being a charming retro lodge, but the focus was definitely on the beautiful water. The neon sign is sort of an indication that some updates are still needed.
Virginia City, Nevada It was close to Halloween when Don and I stayed at his fine hotel a couple years ago.
We really didn't need all the fake cobwebs and plastic skulls that decorated the town. The hotel was creepy enough on its own! Molinelli's Hotel I would love to know more about the hotel when it was called Molinelli's.  I'm guessing that was around 1870, when Virgina City wasn't filled with tourists and costumed ghost tours guides. There were 25,000 living in the booming mining town then. Today There are less than 900 residents now and tourism is what keeps the town alive. But most travelers just come for the day, to go on ghost tours or drink in the saloons. Some come for the shopping, which seems mostly to involve teeshirts and fudge.
But Don and I came for the whole experience. Which meant staying a night in a hotel that focused more on the saloon than the guest rooms, two flights above. Check In, at the Saloon I'm not sure if the cobwebs were just for Halloween or if that's a year round thing. We walked underneath them to check in with the bartender, who went by the name of Mississippi.  She wore a cowboy hat with horns and black sweatshirt with a giant shimmering, silver skeleton. Her denim painter's pants were covered with flower designs. The Door... The Stairs We had to step back outside onto the wooden sidewalk to find the entrance to the actual hotel.
We opened the tall blue door and headed up a steep staircase, covered in worn, flowered carpet. And Up Some More Stairs After we climbed 29 steps, we reached a narrow atrium, lit by a skylight on the third floor.
Then we headed up the last set of stairs. Odd Design You have to love the zany design of this old building. The hole in the floor, cleverly allowed light to shine from the skylight to the floor below. But it looked funny.
The shape of the carpeted floor, pointed like an arrow to our room #18. We could have literally bumped into our neighbors, coming and going. But, I don't think anyone else was staying in the entire hotel. 75 Dollar Room Our tiny room looked as though it had been furnished with thrift shop decor. The limp blue pillow shams, stylish headboard and framed deer, just made us chuckle.
$75. might seem a little high for a place that required such a hike and showed no signs of updating. But we were pretty glad to be 2 levels above the saloon, which got pretty lively as the night progressed.Sugar Loaf Mountain  Plus look at our view, through the lace curtains!  And there were at least 5 mountain ranges beyond!  And we could keep an eye out on the boardwalk below. The couple strolling by the Bonanza Saloon looked like they were enjoying themselves in their western attire! Our Saloon Don, on the right, was obviously wearing the wrong hat and jacket when we sat down for a drink and a little conversation with Mississippi.  The beautiful back bar was hard to see through the webs and decorative clutter. A rotating hotdog heater and a nacho cheese crock kept us reminded of the times. Entertainment Catfish Carl provided some music with his guitar and keyboard.
He also kept me entertained with some stories about the giant "Silver Lady" and the wedding chapel. The Chapel It was pretty fun stepping into this brick and stone walled chapel and picturing Captain and Tenille getting married here in 1975. I don't remember all their lyrics to "Love will keep us together..." but maybe the word humor was in there somewhere. At least I'm hoping they married here, with a good sense of humor.  I knew the chapel was still getting business because Mississippi answered a call at the bar just moments earlier. She said the man on the phone wanted to get married here. He also wanted Mississippi to have his proposal written on a chalk board when he arrived at the bar with his fiance-to-be. The Silver Lady And this is what I will remember most from the Silver Queen Hotel. This fine piece of art stood 15 feet high and 8 feet wide. 3,261 silver dollars went into this creation!
The pretty lady's belt was made of 20 gold pieces and her choker was made up of delicate dimes! The inside info that I learned from Catfish, was about the woman featured in the portrait. The man who had this portrait created, did so to honor his lovely wife. However, the "Silver Lady" found out her husband was cheating and killed herself. I didn't know that sad bit of news when I did my own sassy pose. Early Morning Departure Don and I crept down the stairs very early the next morning and left before dawn.
It wasn't fear of ghosts, although there are many stories. And it wasn't the lumpy bed. We were just eager to get on our way. What's Notable?
I don't imagine Don and I will ever choose to stay again. It's not a place that we would recommend. But I'm sure glad we got to experience this one. We left feeling satisfied and amused. It took a bit a nerve to bite the bullet and stay the night, but we did it! |
Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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