Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Dennis Hof: By suspending his license at Love Ranch brothel, county flexing its muscles

Dennis Hof’s Love Ranch

Pashtana Usufzy

Dennis Hof’s brothel Love Ranch on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Crystal, Nev.

Brothels in Nye County

A sign gives direction to Dennis Hof's Love Ranch brothel in Crystal, Dec. 20, 2017. Launch slideshow »

Nye County suspended one of Dennis Hof’s brothel licenses today because of unapproved modifications to manufactured homes on the site where business is conducted, officials said.

After a hearing last week with the county commissioners acting as the licensing and liquor board, commissioners determined Hof had failed to provide adequate paperwork for modifications since 2010 to the Love Ranch brothel site in Crystal, which is about 25 miles north of Pahrump on State Route 160 and about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The county describes the brothel area as problematic and called the detailed modifications “stick built additions.”

Members of the Nye County Sheriff’s Office planned to retrieve the license Saturday. The adjacent bar and restaurant, which the county has deemed as safe, will be allowed to continue operating.

The county planning department has evidence of alterations to the brothel area, none of which permitted or approved with a Manufactured Home Division install sticker or certificate of compliance with the fire code, according to the county.

County commissioner John Koenig made a special visit to the brothel to address the situation, but the review showed significant fire and safety violations, according to the county.

Hof said that he had not made any modifications to the structures in question. He blamed the ordeal on the county flexing its muscle, since he has two open lawsuits against members of its board and is running for political office.

“It is an attempt to embarrass me and make me look bad by unscrupulous commissioner employees,” Hof said. “They’re using their county powers to hurt me politically.”

Hof is seeking the Republican nomination for State Assembly District 36. He ran unsuccessfully as a Libertarian in 2016 against incumbent James Oscarson. The district includes Nye and Lincoln counties and portions of Clark County.

Hof and two associates have a defamation suit pending in Nevada’s 5th Judicial District Court against County Commissioner Andrew “Butch” Borasky for comments Borasky made during a Nov. 21 commission meeting. Additionally, Hof filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court earlier this month against Nye County officials alleging the county was infringing on his First Amendment rights regarding restrictions on a sign promoting Love Ranch.

Hof’s contentions aside, the county said multiple manufactured homes at Love Ranch were being used for brothel operations without required certificates of compliance and/or labels of installation as required under state law.

Click to enlarge photo

Dennis Hof’s Love Ranch on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in Crystal, Nev. This photo shows the room where former NBA star Lamar Odom was found Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Hof’s living quarters on the property also appear to have been modified without the proper permits. He is still allowed to occupy the living quarters, for now, but the county is requiring him to apply for the necessary permits and have any needed inspections completed within 90 days.

For the brothel license to be reinstated, Hof must seek approval from the county commission.

Hof’s other brothel in Nye County, the Alien Cathouse in Amargosa Valley, remains open.