Las Vegas Company Buys Town, Planning A Circus Makeover

Well this might be the most exciting thing to happen to Nevada since the Seven Magic Mountains magically appeared. The tiny town of Nipton, California just got purchased by a well-known company in Las Vegas. And they have big plans for the little city. Or should I say big TOP plans.

Spiegelworld, who is behind some very popular shows and restaurants here in Las Vegas, purchased Nipton. And they are going to turn the place into the world's first circus town. The newly-revived Nipton, will serve two functions. First, it will be an actual working town with real people. But, unlike other towns, these people will be performance artists. Nipton will be the place where artists can escape to to work on their craft. They'll create there, experiment there, practice there. And in many cases, live there. Spiegelworld commented on how excited they were about the project, mostly to allow a spiritual sanctuary for their artists to create.

It sounds like Schitt's Creek meets The Greatest Showman. Circus folk and other artists alike, will gather together in this revived town and live in a community of their own. It seems like a paradise if you're the artist. But that's not all this desert-oasis is going to do.

Which brings me to function number two. Nipton will now be a tourist stop on the trip down the I-15 between California and Nevada. Located about ten minutes off the interstate on highway 164 (en route to Searchlight from the I-15), Nipton will offer one-of-a-kind experiences to travelers. But it won't be the bawdy, no-reservations kind of deal this company is known for. In a recent press release, Spiegelworld Impresario Extraordinaire Ross Mollison said this about the project. "When we visited as guests a few years back, we fell in love with the peacefulness, the vast desert vistas, and the fireside chats with freight train drivers, miners and workers."

Nipton was once a cattle-loading station for nearby ranches, and sits on a freight railway line. Currently it's population is 15-20 people. But it's about to get new life breathed into it, in a big way. This is going to be a place to showcase the beauty and brilliance of those in the circus community. So what can we expect for the new Nipton? Here are things to consider... –Wendy Rush

When they left Brooklyn back in 2011 and settled in Las Vegas, Spiegelworld brought the raunchy adult-themed acrobatic show with them. They've been named "#1 greatest show in Las Vegas History" by the Las Vegas Weekly. So whatever they're planning for Nipton, it's sure not to disappoint.

On the other hand, this might be a freight train wreck. The company that has mastered the art of balancing people might not be so savvy when it comes to balancing a town. But they do have the mayor of Nipton on board, so maybe they'll surprise us.

Another show that combines daring acrobatics with hilarious adult-themed banter is OPM (pronounced Opium) at the Cosmopolitan. With all this adult content...I really wonder what will happen in Nipton after dark. Just saying.

According to their press release, Spiegelworld's plans for Nipton include "luxury accommodation and restaurant experience for a limited number of visitors".

Every meal ordered here comes with entertainment. Oh the shenanigans that could ensue with a whole town of restaurants.

Another thing planned for Nipton, according to Spiegelworld's press release, is "to build on the town’s existing large-scale sculpture commissions with an artist-in-residence program."

Whatever it will be, the new Nipton might not be the most P.C. of places.

Along with the artist retreat and exclusive accommodations, Spiegelworld is planning to hold many small festivals throughout the year. At only an hour's drive from Vegas, Nipton might just be the new place to be.