BLM to demolish infamous Mustang Ranch brothel near Reno

Las Vegas Sun ^ | 3-10-03

[mikenola]

MUSTANG, Nev. (AP) - The federal government announced plans Monday to demolish the Mustang Ranch, Nevada's first legal brothel and its best known.

The ranch's pink stucco main building and a smaller unit will be destroyed rather than renovated, said Mark Struble, spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management.

"The buildings were built for a specific purpose in mind and they realistically can't be used for anything else," Struble told The Associated Press. The structures along the Truckee River violate building safety codes.

"They certainly didn't pump their profits back into the buildings," Struble said.

"It would take too much money to rehabilitate the buildings because they're of shoddy construction, he said. Details of the demolition haven't been worked out.

The brothel 15 miles east of Reno has been closed for three years since the property was seized by the Internal Revenue Service, but in its day it was the state's largest and most famous bordello.

The 104-room Mustang Ranch was taken over by Joe Conforte in 1967 when prostitution was illegal.

In 1971, it became the state's first legal brothel and led to the movement that legalized prostitution in 12 of Nevada's 17 counties. Twenty-eight licensed brothels now operate.

"At one time, Mustang Ranch would have rated among the top 10 Nevada cultural and recreational icons along with Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and Lake Tahoe," State Archivist Guy Louis Rocha said.

"Joe Conforte became the brothel czar of Nevada and made it the most high-profile brothel in the western world. He built the largest brothel in Nevada and had the largest number of women," Rocha said.

Conforte fled to avoid tax charges more than 10 years ago and lives in Brazil.

The IRS seized the ranch in 1999 after guilty verdicts against the bordello's parent companies and manager in a federal fraud and racketeering trial. The women who worked there were evicted and the brothel was padlocked.

The BLM obtained title to the property Feb. 21.

BLM officials had said the buildings would not be used for prostitution, and sought suggestions for using the property.

Among the ideas were to convert the buildings into a home for battered women or an interpretive center for wild horses, Struble said.

The BLM has scheduled a March 25 meeting in Lockwood to seek public comment.

"We want to get the public beyond the brothel era and to envision what is the highest and best use of the ranch," Struble said.

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[harry palmer]

My condolences.

[fhayek]

Bill Clinton never paid for it in his life. If he was horny, he would merely have the state troopers bring a girl to his room, where he would force her to have sex with him.

[Servant of the Nine]

Get it on the Register of National Historic landmarks and they can't tear it down.

So9

[Consort]

Call PETA and let them know that a beaver habitat is about to be destroyed.

[Constitution Day]

Call PETA and let them know that a beaver habitat is about to be destroyed.

LMAO!!

[B4Ranch]

BLM doesn't protect landmarks? What in the hell do they do besides confiscate property?

[glock rocks]

Call PETA and let them know that a beaver habitat is about to be destroyed.

oh God... i just spilt my beer. LOL

[battlegearboat]

The cab drivers are hurt the most.

[Robert357]

Conforte fled to avoid tax charges more than 10 years ago and lives in Brazil.

I am surprised that he was not paroled by Bill Clinton in the final moments of his presidency.

[archy]

Call PETA and let them know that a beaver habitat is about to be destroyed.

Not to mention the homeland of the wild ponies from which its name was derived, and very possibly, a colony or two of tiny crabs reputed to have inhabited the locale, according to ecological reports from local truckdrivers issued via CB radio....

-archy-/-

[Squantos]

Thats gotta be the quote of the day !

Stay Safe ......:o)

[Squantos]

LMBO !...post # 5.......Stay Safe !

[wardaddy]

LOL...Bump!!

[sit-rep]

Ha!... bttt

[Mustang]

Please...fellow FReepers...save my ranch!

Didn't know it would be that 'wide open' to the public.

Mustang sends....aw'gezz. I tried. I'm down here in Floriduh... :-))

[Cuttnhorse]

I went to college at the U of Nevada, Reno and a classmate of mine lived in the house next to Joe Conforte's place in Sparks. My friend's dad owned a flower shop and Conforte was one of his better customers. Joe used to call and order flowers and he talked just like the Don in the movie The Godfather.

Conforte was always trying to donate money to the university and various charities but the "proper" city fathers convinced everyone that the money was dirty. I always suspected the reason was they didn't want to see their dollars coming back home. This from a legal and legitimate business.

The Mustang Ranch was a Nevada institution and I was sorry to see it go when the Feds took it over. Now all the college kids have to drive all the way down to Carson City to the Kit Kat Ranch, or go out to Winnemucca to Penny's My Place or the Cozy Corner.

[Mr. Mojo]

Now all the college kids have to drive all the way down to Carson City to the Kit Kat Ranch

Yep...I wouldn't be at all surprised if the # of applicants to U of Nevada/Reno increased significantly.