Archives for March 2020

(Carson City, Nevada) – After initially signaling a decision to remain open during Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak’s request that non-essential businesses shut down for 30 days, a number of Nevada’s legal brothels have reassessed and are closing their doors.

“Late Wednesday afternoon the governor’s office specifically added brothels to its list of designated non-essential businesses,” said Suzette Cole, owner of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch and three other legal brothels in Lyon County.  “In light of that announcement, we’ve decided to voluntarily comply until further notice.”

Cole said she concurs with what The Mustang Ranch in Storey County said in their own statement…

“While we very much support Storey County’s position that all businesses in the county may remain open during this challenging time, we also understand the intentions of the governor’s recent call for a 30-day statewide closure of many businesses.

“The health and safety of the women that work at the Mustang Ranch and our guests remains our foremost priority and we will work with local and state government to evaluate the need to close the Mustang Ranch for the full 30 days and make announcements regarding continue operations in the near future.”

Louis Goldberg, owner Inez’s D&D and Mona’s Ranch, and Gabriel Ornelas, owner of the Desert Rose Gentlemen’s Club, have also decided close operations in Elko until further notice.

“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Goldberg said.

“We’re all in this together,” added Ornelas.  “In the end, we’ll all come out of this stronger, healthier and ready for the future.”

In addition, Sheri’s Ranch and the Chicken Ranch in Nye County have also closed operations.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2020

(Mound House, Nevada) – Suzette Cole – owner of the Bunny Ranch, Love Ranch, Kit Kat and Sagebrush brothels in Lyon County – has announced, per the governor’s request, that she has closed all in-house bars at her properties; however, she will continue brothel operations with a skeleton crew.

“We will be operating on a low-key basis,” Cole said.

She further noted that enhanced health and safety precautions – including cancellation of scheduled group events and “social distancing” measures that have already been implemented – will continue.

Cole also advised that she’s been in contact with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and will continue operating under certain stipulations requested by his office.

“Considering the devastating impact immediate closure would have on the lives and livelihoods of our workers,” she concluded, “we believe the reasonable course of action is to safely remain open on a limited basis.”

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(Chuck Muth) – The World Famous Historic Chicken Ranch brothel in Pahrump, Nevada has announced steps it’s taking to keep its workers and clients safe and healthy during the COVID-19 crisis.

“We’ve always maintained a clean and safe environment here at the Chicken Ranch and I believe our risk of coronavirus exposure is pretty low,” said General Manager Trudy Kevoian.  “But in light of current circumstances we’ve expanded and enhanced our cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting procedures.”

Kevoian said ranch staff are following National Institute of Health standard protocols for normal day-to-day operations, as well as the Coronavirus Guidelines for America recommendations issued by the White House.

“We are reminding everyone to wash their hands regularly and use hand sanitizer as needed,” Kevoian continued.  “We’re also doing repeated cleanings of the front gate, handrails, all doors, the ATM machine, table tops, bar tops, chairs and restrooms with sanitizing wipes and spray disinfectants.”

The ranch is also banning smoking and vaping in public areas and encouraging “social distancing” by reducing the number of bar stools in the lounge area.

In addition, enhanced screening procedures to assess the health of all staff, customers and vendors have been put in place.

Anyone showing any signs of congestion, shortness of breath or other flu-like symptoms will have their temperature taken, and anyone above 99.5 will be asked to leave the premises until their health is back to normal.

“We are following all new developments and will adapt our practices as needed to provide the safe, high-standard level of service we are known for,” Kevoian concluded.  “Take care, stay well and come visit when you can.”

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government grassroots advocacy organization, and government affairs counsel to the Nevada Brothel Association.  His views are his own.

(Chuck Muth) – Nevada’s legal brothels – like every other business in the state, especially service businesses – are experiencing challenges posed by the continued spread of the Wuhan Virus.

But unlike most other businesses, brothels already have extensive experience in minimizing health risks to their workers, their clients and the public.

“The women working in our ranches are already subjected to weekly health tests,” noted Suzette Cole, owner of four brothels in Lyon County and president of the Nevada Brothel Association PAC.  “And our people have been fully trained to screen clients for potential health risks and take appropriate measures to protect everyone.”

“However,” she continued, “the coronavirus threat is far more serious than what we usually deal with, so we’ve taken a number of additional safety precautions at our properties that are in line with recommendations by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and other health care professionals.”

Among the additional steps detailed by Ms. Cole…

• Regular staff memos and management reminders on good hygiene practices to all brothel workers, employees and patrons
• Adding hand sanitizers to all entrances, exits and public areas
• Enhanced deep-cleaning and sanitizing of high-contact surface areas – including restrooms, ATM machines, bar tops and door handles – every two hours
• Suspension of all group staff meetings until further notice
• Suspension of all group events, parties, social gatherings and celebrations until further notice
• Reducing by half the number of bar stools to increase the space between customers
• Implementing additional “social distancing” recommendations by the state’s Medical Advisory Team
• Invoking an indoor smoking and vaping ban in all public areas, including the parlors and bars
• Prohibiting clients and workers who have been overseas in the previous 14 days
• Courteously and professionally asking patrons exhibiting signs of illness (coughing, fever or breathing difficulties) to come back at another time
• Requiring independent contractors who are ill to return home or check into a hotel and self-quarantine until well
• Sending employees home if sick and requiring a doctor’s note before being allowed to return to work

Ms. Cole added that she is monitoring press reports and communicating regularly with medical professionals, first responders, law-enforcement and elected officials to keep up-to-date with developments.

“Health and safety is, and always has been, our primary concern,” she concluded. “We’ll continue be vigilant, caring and sensitive in order to safeguard our workers and clients and do our part to bring this national crisis to a close as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, a limited-government grassroots advocacy organization, and government affairs counsel to the Nevada Brothel Association.  His views are his own.