It all started on Saturday, March 12, 2011 - the 71st day of 2011.
This day in history:
1912 - The Girl Scouts of America were founded by Juliette Gordon Low.
1959 - The United States Congress voted to admit Hawaii as the 50th state in the USA.
2003 - Elizabeth Smart was found alive, 9 months after being kidnapped in Utah.
2011 - 32 people in northern Nevada begin a Booze Cruise that will forever change their lives….
That’s right. 3 days ago, March 12th, will go down as one of the coolest Booze Cruise’s in history.
It all started at Sandwinds Sports Bar in Fallon. The bar was getting crowded with anxious participants of the Booze Cruise. The bus had arrived, final preparations we being made, and people were heading out the door to embark on this amazing journey.
Once everyone was on the bus, the wheels began to turn, and at this point, there was no turning back.
The ice-chest’s began to creak with every motion of the lids opening. The sound of carbonated air rushed out as beer after beer was opened.
People were being introduced to others; friends were being made. This was only the beginning.
As we got closer to our first stop along the cruise, the anticipation mounted. We have arrived at the first stop along the cruise route - The Bait Farm in Silver Springs, NV. A somewhat deserted town, located literally - in the middle of nowhere - and now being overtaken by the Booze Cruise.
Everyone was anxious to get off the bus, and see what The Bait Farm was all about. It looked small and run-down from the outside, but as we would soon find out - never judge a book by it’s cover; or in this case, a bar by it’s exterior.
Pickled eggs sat in a jar on the counter behind the bar; what appeared to be ‘day’s old pizza’ sat on a cookie sheet at the end of the bar; the smell of stale popcorn filled the air adjacent to the ladies’ restroom.
Only a handful of local’s sat at the bar, and appeared to be shocked by the amount of attention The Bait Farm was getting. Their eyes began to wonder through the crowd, seeming to ‘size up’ everyone.
Jello-shots were advertised as $2.00 a shot. According to some of the attendees, “they were way too strong…”
Then, as fast as it all began, we were being told that it was time to hit the road again. Everyone loaded onto the bus, and we were off to the next place.
A short time later, we arrived in the small town of Dayton, NV - a town of roughly 5,900 people, sprawling just over 186 square miles in the northwestern part of Lyon County.
We stopped at a little bar, on the east side of Hwy 50 called the Dayton Valley Inn. At this point along the route, many of us had to use the restrooms. Outside both the men’s and ladies’ rooms, the lines grew. Minute after minute passed, but the lines kept getting longer.
Finally, after everyone was finished with their “business”, the party began at the Dayton Valley Inn. The ladies that made custom shirts that had “BOOZE CRUISE” written in iron on letters on the backs began to cut the front of their shirts open…. exposing some skin.
Pictures began to snap wildly, as if the paparazzi were following us around. There were a few locals in this bar as well, and they seemed to be very welcoming of our cruise.
As we left the Dayton Valley Inn, the bus was ready to drive away, when a shady looking ‘Joe Dirt’e’ man came out asking if anyone left their reading glasses inside the bar. After checking with everyone on the bus, we determined that they must have been there prior to our arrival.
And just like that - we were off again. Next stop - The world famous Moonlite Bunny Ranch.
The Moonlite Bunny Ranch is a legal, licensed brothel in Mound House, Nevada, 6 miles east of Carson City. The brothel, now known as the Moonlite BunnyRanch, first opened in 1955 as the Moonlight Ranch. There is a historical marker on the premises, found just inside of the property's original main gate, as the ranch is located near a stop on the original Pony Express. It operated discreetly until 1970, when Nevada began regulation of houses of prostitution. Dennis Hof, a frequent customer, purchased the business in 1993 for $1 million and invested another $500,000 in upgrading the facilities and decor.
Today, there is new construction on the 50 acres located just west of Hwy 50 in Mound House.
As the bus arrived at our 3rd destination on the Booze Cruise, cheer’s and applause echoed throughout the bus. For some, this was their first time visiting the Bunny Ranch. For others, it seemed as if they had “been there” before.
Prior to the Booze Cruise, I contacted Dennis Hof, and Madam Suzette at the Bunny Ranch, and inquired as to whether or not we could place a geocache on their property. When we got the OK from the Madam, we began to stock the geocache with all things “bunny”. Appropriately named “Bunny Hide-Out”, this cache was placed on the property, just east of the main parking area.(CLICK HERE to visit Bunny Hide-Out!)
Inside, patrons of the cruise were busy going on personal tours of the Bunny Ranch with “working girls” of their choice. There is a bar located inside the Bunny Ranch, which is where a few of us stayed and enjoyed the “scenery”.
After the tours concluded, we all gathered around the lounge area as each “bunny” entertained us by showing off their impressive moves on a pole located in the center of the room. A few of the guests even tipped the ladies based on their performances. Madam Suzette joined us in the lounge, signing Bunny Ranch branded match-books, and business cards. Surprisingly, the Moonlite Bunny Ranch was VERY CLEAN, and very welcoming of our cruise.
After it was all said and done, we got some photos with Madam Suzette, and it was time to hit the road again. But wait! Where is Dale - our fearless bus driver? While we waited outside of the bus, people began to speculate about where he was. Some suggested that tonight was Dale’s “lucky night”. Others figured that he was on a private tour. When he finally returned to the bus, he said he was in the kitchen. Whatever happened that night, was still a mystery. Either way - CONGRATS DALE!!!!
TO BE CONTINUED…..
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