The Mustang Ranch: Sex for Sale

All Photos: Kurtis ProductionsPosted: 19 Feb 2009 The Mustang Ranch where sex is always for sale. Under Nevada state law, certain counties are allowed to license and regulate brothels. It's a booming $50 million business.

Sharnel Silvey worked at the Mustang Ranch for nearly a decade and eventually became madam of the brothel. She says all houses of prostitution share a similar atmosphere: "It smells like cigarettes and perfume, and then there's this sultry atmosphere along with an exciting atmosphere, a mysterious atmosphere. Intriguing, where it grabs at your soul... it's a whole other world."

Clients are greeted by the floor manager and are introduced to the ladies when they first walk inside the Mustang Ranch. The ladies line-up and give their names…not their real names, but "working names." It's here where the clients select the girl(s) they will spend time with.

This 26 year old blonde who works at the Mustang Ranch, goes by the name "Emily." She says in a typical night, she makes $1,000. It's a job where negotiating sex is the norm and "Emily" says she's good at it: "To make that much money feels really good, I mean I don't even know what I would do if I had a job were I only made ten dollars an hour."

Today, Susan Austin is the current co-owner and madam of the Mustang Ranch. Austin: "The girls who are really aggressive, are really having fun, are really energized, and get out there and say... Hey come with me, let's go have fun... those are the ones that are going to do the most deals."

Susan Austin, together with real estate developer Lance Gilman, purchased the Mustang Ranch in 2003 after it was seized and shut down by the federal government. After extensive renovation, it was re-opened in 2007. Four thousand people attended the grand opening. The ranch has 40 rooms and 6 VIP suites.

Patrons at the Mustang Ranch are met by their escorts here in the negotiating room. Nevada state regulations require the escorts to do a physical examination on the patrons prior to accepting payment. Once the exam is complete and a price is agreed upon, patrons are sent to the cashiers before services are rendered.

Mustang Ranch madam Susan Austin gives a tour of one of the brothel's many rooms. Austin: "You notice the conflict you have, you have a girl's (room), all her stuffed animals, you have handcuffs, and you have a whip and you have a dog collar. It's a real clash of statements."

One room at the Mustang Ranch includes a dance pole because a number of the brothel's escorts are dancers. Madam Susan Austin: "What man doesn't want a woman to do a strip tease for him?"

A popular room is the Asian Suite. The oversized room is designed to accommodate a number of girls for the client. Susan Austin: "So whatever a man wants to do, there are rooms to accommodate everything that's in his fantasy and his escape, and this is one of the favorite ones."

Owner Susan Austin says the ranch isn't just about sex: "Thirty-five percent of the parties don't even involve sex. It's just lonely men who wanna talk. They just wanna be reassured they're okay."

There's also a museum at the Mustang Ranch dedicated to Joe Conforte, America's father of legalized prostitution and former owner of the ranch. Conforte, together with his wife Sally, made millions peddling sex at the Nevada ranch during the 1970's.When the Mustang Ranch was re-opened in 2007, Conforte appeared live via satellite from Brazil to give his blessings.

The famous brothel where sex is always for sale.  americangreed.cnbc.comFind out more...Replay SlideshowSlideshow: "Joe Conforte: American's Father of Legalized Prostitution"Review "Mustang Ranch: Money, Women and Murder" case fileVisit the American Greed websiteSlideshow: "The Business of High-End Prostitution"Slideshow: "The Best-Selling Adult DVDs of All Time"