Chicken Ranch, Licensed brothel in Pahrump, Nevada, United States
The Chicken Ranch is a licensed brothel outside the town limits of Pahrump in the Nevada desert. The property includes a main building with multiple rooms and separate bungalows on the grounds.
Walter Plankinton founded this house in 1976 and later moved it to its current location to comply with local rules. After a fire in 1978, it was completely rebuilt and reopened quickly.
This house takes its name from a ranch in Texas where customers reportedly paid with chickens. The operation works within Nevada law, with workers acting as independent business owners.
The location sits on Homestead Road, several miles from Pahrump heading toward the desert. A bar on the property, the Leghorn Bar, is also open to visitors who just want a drink.
The name comes from an old establishment in Texas that originally accepted goods as payment. After the fire in 1978, the house was rebuilt on the same site and reopened within days.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.