Magazine 020917

A HISTORIC AND LEGENDARY INSTITUTION
World Famous Historic Chicken Ranch Brothel in Nye County, Nevada, is one of the largest, most successful legal brothel
in Nevada. It sits on 40 acres of prime land at the corner of Silver Street and Homestead Road outside Pahrump, in Nye
County, where prostitution and brothels are legal and strictly controlled. The Ranch is less than an hour’s drive from Las
Vegas…the tourist capital of the world! In fact, it is as close as a brothel can legally get to Las Vegas.
The Chicken Ranch has seen a lot of history. It is the oldest continuing brothel in the United States. Its roots go all the
way back to 1844 in Texas. It only became known as the Chicken Ranch in the 1930s.
Before moving to Nevada in the 1970s, the Ranch served over 6 generations in Texas during a transitional period that
stretched from cowboys to astronauts. Those who sought the favors of its working girls included farmers, ranchers,
soldiers, politicians, businessmen and just “plain folk”. From its origins in La Grange, Texas, the Ranch has survived
colorful times. For instance, during the Great Depression, a bartering system was implemented to pay for Ranch services
using chickens. The name The Chicken Ranch remains today.
Other interesting occasions included a publicized visit from Texas born President Lyndon B. Johnson and the infamous
shut-down of the Ranch in 1973, now immortalized in the play and movie “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”,
starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.
The Chicken Ranch has come a long way and continues to make history today!
FIRST 60 YEARS - ESTABLISHING A LEGACY (1844-1904)
Prior to becoming a state, the Republic of Texas was dominated by strong leaders
such as Sam Houston and a changing population as Easterners moved west and
immigrants from Central Europe migrated to the new land to escape famine and
persecution.
It was against this background of frontierism and social change that a brothel - which
was not to become known as The Chicken Ranch until the 1930s - opened its doors
and beds to accommodate and serve the local farmers, ranchers and cowboys.
During the Civil War, soldiers from generals to privates got a brief respite from
fighting by visiting the brothel and enjoying a little rest and relaxation. Following the
War, cowboys on long cattle drives found the brothel a pleasant diversion from the dust on the trail. The brothel
became an integral part of the life and times of Texas’ early frontier heritage.
A TALE OF TWO WOMEN (1905-1973) The modern history and the evolution of the
still unnamed brothel into a famous Texas institution began in 1905 with the arrival of
Ms. Faye Stewart (alias Jessie Williams and renowned as Miss Jessie) as its new owner
and Madam - a description which fit her in the classic sense. Over the next 40 years, this
dynamic woman - described as strong, generous and smart with a country rough-hewn
charm but shrewd with a backwoods tenacity - brought the brothel into the modern era
and made it a profitable business. She sowed the seeds for future success by making
peace with the community - and most importantly – with law enforcement officers. By
becoming a friend, ally and supporter of the Loessin brothers - who would reign as Faye County Sheriffs for the next four
decades, she ensured that the illegal brothel would operate without legal interference.
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