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High Fuel Prices Affecting Brothels

AP
Posted: 2008-06-29 21:51:51
Filed Under: Nation News
RENO, Nevada (June 29) - Rising fuel prices are putting a pinch on the world's oldest profession.

Nevada brothels that cater to long-haul truckers are offering gas cards and other promotions after seeing business decline as much as 25 percent from a year ago, industry officials said.

Chicken Ranch brothel in Pahrump, Nev.
Maxim Kniazkov, AFP / Getty Images

Truckers account for up to 75 percent of business at Nevada's rural brothels, according to one expert. Here, the Chicken Ranch brothel is seen in Pahrump, Nev.

Geoffrey Arnold, president of the Nevada Brothel Owners' Association, said truckers account for up to 75 percent of business at the state's rural brothels along Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 95.

He said business is down about 19 percent at his two northern Nevada brothels along I-80: Donna's Ranch in Wells and Donna's Battle Mountain Ranch.

"We're being affected by the economy like everybody else," Arnold said. "Times are tougher ... and truckers have less money to spend. They're not high-rollers anymore."

Diesel fuel costs roughly $4.70 a gallon, up 67.5 percent from a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Of Nevada's 28 legal brothels, 16 are located in rural areas that are being hurt by truckers' higher diesel costs, Arnold said. Brothels closer to Reno and Las Vegas, which rely more on tourists and conventioneers, say business is up this year.

In response to a 5 percent drop in business, the Shady Lady Ranch along U.S. 95 about 150 miles north of Las Vegas plans to offer $50 gas cards to clients who spend $300 and $100 gas cards to those who spend $500.

The brothel also offers special monthly discounts, including an offer of 45 minutes of services for $175 instead of the usual rate of $200.

"Anything that has to do with discretionary income is down," owner Bobbi Davis said. "Instead of spending $500 out here, they might only spend $300. I see it every time they raise gas prices."

Under a promotion under way at the Moonlite BunnyRanch near Carson City, the first 100 customers who arrive with government stimulus checks receive twice the services for the same regular price.

"We're calling it double your stimulus," said BunnyRanch owner Dennis Hof. "The brothel industry is having to get more creative just like all consumer products in America. Everybody has got to deal, and we're doing the same thing."

Sue's Fantasy Club in Elko doesn't need to extend any promotions because it doesn't rely on truckers, said the brothel's manager, who would identify herself only as Victoria.

Business is up from last year because of a booming local economy driven by mining and rising gold prices, she said.

"We would be hurting, too, if we had to depend on truckers," she said.

Hardest hit are independent truckers, who must pay for their own fuel, said George Flint, a lobbyist for the brothel owners' association.

"So there goes your disposable income to have a little fun," Flint told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Since January, the number of long-haul trucks based in Nevada has dropped by 4,100, or 12 percent, said Paul Eons of the Nevada Motor Transport Association.

Arnold predicted the industry would weather the slowdown.

"The customers won't be spending as much, but the brothels will still be there," he said. "After food, the most important activity, at least for men, is sex. Sex is not going away."

The downturn also has affected brothels by leading to an increase in the number of women seeking jobs as legal prostitutes, Arnold added.

As business for escort services and strip clubs goes flat, "more women are interested in joining the (brothel) industry," he said.

Nevada is the nation's only state that allows brothels. Prostitution is legal in 10 of Nevada's 17 counties, but it's illegal in the Reno and Las Vegas metropolitan areas.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-06-29 19:12:21
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274 comments

sunsethighway 02:08:04 PM Jul 02 2008

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Must be Bush's fault.....lol

maxwedge413gtx 12:55:56 AM Jul 01 2008

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paired dem tuna boats up huh boogie fran be driving alot better cars and living alot better life than you gave deanna your company is weak boogie same edwardville game this just ain't the trailor park or your daddys homes in edwardsville any morefat man

maxwedge413gtx 12:46:14 AM Jul 01 2008

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rose bums and simson services go holland express dem bees dusty miles clan 2

maxwedge413gtx 12:43:18 AM Jul 01 2008

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boo boogie cry me a river tanning beds mano

maxwedge413gtx 12:04:17 AM Jul 01 2008

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lolol gary dea bees fair till bill miller gets the rose boys off for hitting minors well fairly odd justice was always the peoples well the trailor parkers that moved in 39 need pearl harbored just like on 911 that start trouble with everone from the junkyard to the sell shack drugies hang there daily the junkies corner go boogie and simpson service american exteriors, roofing, home builders cheaters and scamers 39 cottage built on other peoples bills just funny how sub contractors can cheat everyone but the scam is up meth heads get your shacking fast tempers some help and boogie if she want's money for food and drugs work harder sell more hey celia tell j tmac's wife went to jail chasing your kids this time cvbpwej2celia it cost deanna $400 bucks cos she already hit the kids up the street and that was the 2 warents she was picked up on after chasing our kids like she is the queen of the clan

maxwedge413gtx 11:22:16 PM Jun 30 2008

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vote for democrats so the clan can do the work of the mid west and kill dem selfsthey think they are the only bully well keep it up i'll trade too 40's for 1 ranch on the creek BANK in the shade KEEP d.a.r.e . ing us and you think jodie has your price

maxwedge413gtx 10:51:04 PM Jun 30 2008

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39 cottage who's your junk yard dog today tmac math lieth joe or mike rose you think your the only game from edwardsville american exteriors and roofing gee mr white wizard da clan been painting you up good miles of da clans colors.

maxwedge413gtx 10:32:44 PM Jun 30 2008

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kevin luke mat got the hole but you did better leaving them gang bangers behidedarlean herps and boogies corner leroy and fran got them roses and macmahans good but dare still dealing the same old stuff on the same old corner stone frankothe dons price pennies and scrap thems the family values of big bazooka george george frances price and george leroy price was the real bugger man boogie and he gotcha good one selling you 39 drug store corner and the meth lab in junk nice cover black balls you think we had fun last year fat man you never paided yet tim mac child better and old ladies your kids even laugh at you timthey don't mind deanna or you have fun we will sell to the first black family that wants to go to bethalto schools we will sell both houses at once many be if james and henry jr. wants to set up shop in the clan corner have fun mr wizard

maxwedge413gtx 09:57:01 PM Jun 30 2008

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JOHN JOYICE KEVEN PAUL MIKE PAT MARRY BOB ALL IN THE FAMILY MIKE FRAN GOTS A NICE IMPALA DEANNA ASK ME ABOUT BOOGIE AND FRANS 4 PLAY WELL THEY JUST ASK ME TO LEAVE SO THEY COULD BE ALONE #39 before fran was screwing you she was taking donations of seamen for cash darla was rubbing it deanna's face and they all new but deanna have fun fran luke

maxwedge413gtx 09:45:51 PM Jun 30 2008

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MICK YOTTER FRAN WAS HERE LIEING WITH THE REST OF THE JUNK YARD DOGS ALL COVERING THE COMPANY CORNER 39 COTTAGE DRUGS AND PARTS

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