The new face of the Moonlite BunnyRanch in Mound House reflects the architecture of 1880s Virginia City. Above left, Dennis Hof stands in front of his bordello in 1999. Below, Hof speaks to members of the community at the renovation unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the brothel.
Dozens of central Lyon students earn WNCC degrees Silver City summer youth program features water theme Sandwich shop tips vanish along with thief State track champs earned honor with grit and grace Area businesses caught selling liquor to minors The nation's rainiest city is not Seattle, not even Portland In Mound House, Dennis Hof's Moonlite BunnyRanch has evolved over the years from a two-bedroom one-bath pit stop for sexual activities -- for a price -- to a renowned house of prostitution that has captured the interest of media including The New Yorker, Howard Stern, HBO, and others curious about the industry.
Not unlike Paris, France, the small Northern Nevada community of Mound House has an international reputation for its red light district.
People from around the globe are aware of the brothels and the legal prostitution that is operated like any other business is operated. And many people are curious about the work that is often referred to as the oldest profession.
And in true Nevada fashion, only here can you have a mix of movers and shakers from the community mingling with patrons and prostitutes of a brothel and come up with the social event of the moment.
Last week that's exactly what happened when Hof and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the brothel to celebrate the $50,000 facelift that Hof gave the aging house of prostitution.
The old gal has a new fa�ade with a more welcoming presence for customers and curious passers-by.
The 1880s look gained the approval of county officials to whom Hof took his request for a building permit almost a year ago. Hof decided it was time to dress up the brothel and give it the character of the Victorian era that forged so much of the Comstock area's historical ambiance.
Community reaction
"It was nice to see how clean and neat the place was kept. I think the girls are looking forward to the new facilities, and I wish Dennis the best in his business," said Ann Steinberg, a long-time Chamber of Commerce member.
Steinberg said the girls were nice and friendly and took us on a tour that allowed us to see more than we could normally see if we stopped by to visit the brothel.
Dayton resident Dorothy Wingard also had a good time.
"What a blast. To us it was a unique experience. We got to go inside and take a tour of the brothel. It was really a lot of fun and you saw your friends and neighbors there."
The BunnyRanch is actually made up of a number of structures including a modular housing unit from the 1960 Olympics staged at Squaw Valley, all interconnected to create a business that thrives as much today as it did back in 1955 when the ranch opened its doors.
The ranch operated without regulation until Nevada legislators passed a law in 1971 regulating houses of prostitution.
Hof purchased the ranch 15 years ago and has done a lot to make the property an international attraction. Now, the BunnyRanch boasts 35 rooms, 500 independent contractor prostitutes and about 40 hourly employees.
The property where the BunnyRanch sits was once a Pony Express stop during the area's early years. An historical marker is on the property denoting the spot as a stop along the original Pony Express Trail that runs through Mound House.
Interior decor
The rooms range in d�cor and reflect much of the prostitute's personality, Steinberg said, noting that there is even a Japanese bathhouse for patrons. The property features crystal chandeliers, lots of red velvet, faux jungle cat rugs, and yes, the ladies line up for customers just like in the movies.
Hoff said that when he bought the ranch, he opened the door to the media to show the world that this is the right thing to do.
"I'm the Boy Scout of the sex industry -- I'm a businessman who's here to do what's right and invest my money back into Mound House," he said.
Hoff noted that they are in their fifth year of shooting the HBO documentary series, "Cathouse."
Nevada state law allows for any county with a population of less than 400,000 to license brothels if the county chooses. Some counties have made brothels illegal, as have several municipalities.
Eleven counties in Nevada permit licensed brothels in certain specified areas including Lyon County's Mound House area.
As a regulated, licensed business, Hoff said his brothels are the largest taxpayers in Lyon County -- the brothels' taxes are in excess of $300,000 annually.
He said he was pleased that so many people went away from the celebration realizing that brothels are the way that the industry should be run.
(It's) "not like Las Vegas with more than 3,000 pimps working the street corners," he said.
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