'Business Is So Bad Right Now, I Think Brothels Would Do Anything to Survive'

This recession is even hard on the brothels in Nevada. Ever creative, they're now thinking of catering to the ladies.

At least one legal brothel in Nevada is trying to add men to its menu of services.

Business is down at the Shady Lady Ranch, where owner Bobbi Davis hopes to start hiring male prostitutes to add to the lineup at the small, roadside brothel to try to lure new female customers.

"We've had requests for men in the past, and there's nothing else like this out there," she said.

Indeed, the 25 legal brothels scattered throughout 10 rural Nevada counties are staffed by women and cater to men.

Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss once tried to change that with her promise to open "Heidi's Stud Farm" near Pahrump, Nev. Fleiss gave up the effort earlier this year after being arrested on felony drug charges.

Nevada Brothel Association lobbyist George Flint says others also have tried over the years, with little success. He argues that the business model for a brothel that caters to women just doesn't pencil out.

"Seducing a woman and seducing a man in a brothel environment are different things completely. One can take a few minutes, the other can take hours. It wouldn't make money," he said.

Still, Flint said a handful of brothels have approached him with the idea lately, each looking for a new way to drum up business.

Like Nevada's gambling, hotel and convention industries, the prostitution business has hit hard times. Flint estimates that bordellos have seen a roughly 50 percent drop in revenue since the economy turned sour.

"Business is so bad right now, I think brothels would do anything to survive. Disposable income is just in short supply at the moment," he said.

Last summer, Davis tried offering $50 gas cards to customers willing to make the drive to the Shady Lady along U.S. 95 about 150 miles north of Las Vegas. This year, she's going with new product.

If any of you guys out there are looking to make some cash, keep in mind age is not an obstacle.

Meanwhile, Davis is drawing up her help wanted ad. She said she'll be looking for one or two men "in good shape, in their mid-30s to 50s." Asked about the age range, she notes that's another way women differ from men.

"Look at George Clooney, he's 50 and he's still considered a very sexy man. Women don't consider a man washed up by the time he's 50," she said.

I wonder what Fred Garvin is up to?



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