Dennis Hof's Infamous Love Ranch Brothel Outside Las Vegas Torn Down
Dennis Hof's iconic Love Ranch brothel, located 80 miles outside Las Vegas in Nevada's Nye County, was recently demolished. The establishment, which operated legally under Nevada state law, was a significant part of the state's regulated sex industry.
The brothel consisted of 15 one-bedroom suites housed in connected doublewide trailers painted pink, complete with a bar, two kitchens, and a VIP room. As with all legal Nevada brothels, workers were licensed independent contractors who split their earnings equally with the establishment, which paid a 9% state tax.
Excavator at demolition site
Dennis Hof purchased the property in 2010, already famous from HBO's "Cathouse" series. The establishment gained national attention in 2015 when former NBA star Lamar Odom overdosed in its VIP room, suffering multiple strokes and heart attacks while recovering.
Three casino staff members posing
In 2018, Hof died of natural causes in the same bedroom where Odom had overdosed. Remarkably, Hof won a seat in the Nevada Assembly posthumously, campaigning as the "Trump from Pahrump."
Desert house with decorative statuary
The brothel closed permanently after Hof's death due to licensing issues. In late 2022, Dallas resident Jan Jensen, founder of the Jensen Project anti-sexual violence nonprofit, purchased the property for an undisclosed amount and ordered its demolition.
Spacious bedroom with large bed
The Love Ranch's demolition marks the end of an era in Nevada's legal brothel industry, which generates approximately $75 million in annual revenue across the state's licensed establishments.
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