This is a historical list of the legal brothels in Nevada. They are arranged by name within location (the nearest town or named place) within each county that licenses such establishments. Defunct establishments are retained for completeness. Note, however, that this list so far only covers the modern era of brothel prostitution in Nevada, from about 1950 onward, after the closure of the red light districts of Reno and Las Vegas.
According to the Nevada Brothel List site, there were 21 legal brothels in Nevada as of February 2018, [1] down from its peak of 35 in the early 1980s. [2] As of September 2023, there are only 19 legal brothels open in Nevada in just 6 of the state's 17 counties. [3]
While prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada, it is illegal outside these licensed brothels. Prostitution is illegal under state law in Clark County, which contains Las Vegas and its metropolitan area. Other counties may choose to allow it, if they desire to. Currently Carson City (an independent city), Douglas County, Eureka County, [4] Lincoln County, Pershing County [5] and Washoe County (which contains Reno) ban brothels. The other ten counties permit brothels, but four of them do not currently have any active brothels. [6]
Under the team of Courtesans Sky Blue, Jamie Jupiter, and Mistress Violet, the Dovetail was a finalist for Rural Brothel of the Year 2022. The ladies of Dovetail had the honor of hosting the LPIN Awards Welcome BBQ in June, 2023. MEDIA: Jamie Jupiter was interviewed and featured in a video by youtuber WonderHussy. The video includes a tour of the house and grounds, the on-site natural hot spring, and an interview with owner Mike Tangreen. [11] The Dovetail has sometimes marketed itself as an Asian Ranch. [7]
By local ordinance, brothels are restricted to the Mound House area.
Ely City Council restricted brothels to one area on the outskirts in 1959. At one stage the brothels covered three blocks and employed over 400 women. The two remaining brothels are located in "Bronc Alley" red-light district in High Street. [47]
Brothels are now illegal in Eureka County. [4]
Winnemucca's brothels were concentrated in a single cul-de-sac called The Line. There was parking for about 80 trucks, and the truck drivers were offered free showers & coffee. [64]
Prostitution made illegal in 1978, [69] but several legal brothels operated before then.
Restricted brothels to Mound House area, east of Carson City, in 1970, forcing brothels in other parts of the county to close.
Pershing County used zoning laws to close its last brothel in 1970 and banned prostitution entirely in 1972.
All Lovelock brothels are now closed.
Brothels were restricted to an area known as "The Stockade", prior to their final closure in 1949. Brothels included:
The Mustang Ranch is a brothel in Storey County, Nevada, about 20 miles (32 km) east of Reno. It is currently located at 1011 Wild Horse Canyon Drive, Sparks, Nevada, 89434.
Nevada is the only U.S. state where prostitution is legally permitted in some form. Prostitution is legal in 10 of Nevada's 17 counties, although only six allow it in every municipality. Six counties have at least one active brothel, which mainly operate in isolated, rural areas. The state's most populated counties, Clark and Washoe, are among those that do not permit prostitution. It is also illegal in Nevada's capital, Carson City, an independent city.
The Chicken Ranch is a legal, licensed brothel located about 60 miles (97 km) west of Las Vegas near the town of Pahrump, in Nye County, at 10511 Homestead Road. The 17-bed brothel sits on 40 acres (16 ha) of land. A separate building, connected to the main house by a breezeway, contains three extensively-decorated themed "bungalows" catering to those customers wishing a more luxurious experience.
Heidi Lynne Fleiss is an American former procurer. She ran an upscale prostitution ring based in Los Angeles and is often referred to as the "Hollywood Madam". Fleiss has also worked as a columnist and was a television personality regularly featured in the 1990s in American media.
Amargosa Valley is an unincorporated town located on U.S. Route 95 in Nye County, in the U.S. state of Nevada.
The Moonlite BunnyRanch is a legal, licensed brothel in Mound House, Nevada, United States, 6 miles (10 km) east of Carson City. First opened in 1955, it came to national attention under Dennis Hof, who owned the brothel from 1992 until his death in 2018.
Ranch is a common name used to describe a brothel, especially in western areas of the United States.
Dennis Hof's Love Ranch, known as the Cherry Patch Ranch prior to 2010, is one of two brothels in Crystal, Nevada. It is also referred to as the Love Ranch South or Love Ranch Las Vegas due to its proximity to Las Vegas.
Dennis Leroy Hof was an American businessman and politician. He owned seven legal brothels in Nevada, most notably the Moonlite BunnyRanch. Hof was also a Republican candidate in 2018 for the Nevada Assembly, to which he was posthumously elected less than one month after his death.
The Love Ranch is a legal, licensed brothel located about 7 miles (11 km) east of Carson City, Nevada in the unincorporated town of Mound House, in Lyon County, at 95 Kit Kat Drive, also known as The Love Ranch North.
The Wild Horse Adult Resort and Spa is an adult entertainment complex about 14 miles (23 km) east of Reno, Nevada, that has been home to two separate legal, licensed brothels: the Wild Horse Ranch and the Mustang Ranch. It opened in 2002 with the Wild Horse Ranch, the Mustang Ranch was added in 2005, and the Wild Horse Ranch closed in 2011. The brothel was the subject of the 2003 BBC TV documentary film Louis and the Brothel.
Cottontail Ranch was a legal, licensed brothel in Nevada that opened in October 1967. Located near the intersection of U.S. Route 95 and State Route 266 known as Lida Junction, in Esmeralda County, Nevada. It was also known as the Cottontail Ranch Club.
Sheri's Ranch is a legal brothel in Pahrump, Nevada. Unlike other brothels in the state, it styles itself as a resort, with upscale rooms and furnishings, sports bar, tennis courts, a spa and outdoor swimming pool.
Pahrump is an unincorporated town located at the southernmost tip of Nye County, Nevada, United States, about 50 miles (80 km) west of Las Vegas. Pahrump lies adjacent to the Nevada–California border and the area had a population of 44,738 as of the 2020 census.
Shady Lady Bed and Breakfast is a bed and breakfast in Farmer Station, Nye County, Nevada, United States, on U.S. Highway 95 about 31 miles (50 km) north of Beatty. It operated as a legal brothel until 2014.
The Old Bridge Ranch was a legal brothel near Sparks in Washoe County, Nevada, United States that was open from 1967 to the summer of 2008.
No. 1 Geisha was a legal brothel (ranch) and massage parlor in Elko, Nevada. The women who worked there were of Asian heritage. It was previously known as the Mona Lisa Ranch and CharDon's Club.
Joseph Conforte was an American legal brothel owner from Sparks, Nevada, professional boxing promoter, restaurateur, and philanthropist. Conforte owned and ran Mustang Ranch. Wanted by the FBI, he escaped the U.S. and lived in Brazil during his older years.
Jessica Elzora Burgess, better known as Sally Conforte, was the first legal brothel owner and the second female boxing manager in U.S. history. She is known as the matriarch of legal prostitution. She is infamous for her role in the murder of boxer Oscar Bonavena from Argentina and for swindling the IRS. She was married to Mustang Ranch owner Joe Conforte.