By Mark Waite

TONOPAH — Pahrump doesn’t have an alien theme park yet, but Lathrop Wells will have Dennis Hof’s Area 51/Death Valley Alien Cathouse, after the Nye County Liquor and Licensing Board approved his temporary brothel and liquor license Tuesday.

Board chairman Butch Borasky was ready to hear a motion to approve the temporary license as soon as the agenda item was called.

Hof has already been operating Dennis Hof’s Love Ranch South, the old Cherry Patch brothel in Crystal he acquired from Joe Richards 14 months ago.

The alien-themed brothel is the former Cherry Patch II, which Hof also acquired from Richards, who will no longer be in that business.

Hof, who gained fame for his televised specials about his Moonlite Bunny Ranch near Carson City, said he came to southern Nevada for the warmer winters.

He resented the fact Bikini’s owner Guy Brenkman put the word “cathouse” on a big sign in front of his Beatty brothel. Brenkmann was later ordered to take it down as it was in violation of the county brothel ordinance.

Hof told the board, “I spent 20 years developing a brand named cathouse, a television show that’s in 27 languages in 39 countries. I don’t like the word brothel and I don’t like the word prostitution, so I chose cathouse.

“I’m sorry somebody took that name and put giant 10-foot letters on a building. It’s embarrassing to me. I don’t have to do that and I don’t have to say nude girls. If people don’t understand who I am and my business is there, I don’t deserve to have them as customers.”

Nye County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Frank Jarvis said Hof’s accounting records still have to be checked for the new business.

His fingerprints and personal history still have to be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which takes four months, which is why Sheriff Tony DeMeo suggested a temporary license, Jarvis said.

Nye County District Attorney Brian Kunzi said licensing and liquor board members are permitted to issue a license and put any conditions they want on it. Kunzi said Hof’s license could be made permanent once the application checks are completed, without Hof having to return in front of the board.

“I like this idea, somebody that’s known to us, rather than make them wait another four months to open up, they can continue business,” commissioner Dan Schinhofen said.

Kunzi said Hof has been a brothel owner in Nevada for many years and also has a history with Lyon County.

“I put a lot of effort into Nye County. I put a couple million dollars of my money, plus some seller financing, and acquired every lot I can in Crystal that’s for sale, to create a nice, little community out there, the same thing in Amargosa Valley. I bought every parcel that was available,” Hof said.

Hof said he has gutted the old Cherry Patch II and will be building an alien theme park.

Gate 510 to the Nevada National Security Site is just north of Lathrop Wells off Highway 95, but it leads to Area 25 and is restricted access. The famous Area 51 is on the other side of the NNSS.

Commissioner Joni Eastley couldn’t miss the chance to make a quip.

“E.T. phoned home and a prostitute answered. My God, think of the movie possibilities,” Eastley said.

Hof said he was getting input from Art Bell, the famous radio talk show host of “Coast to Coast”, which dealt with extraterrestrials. Bell, who opened KNYE-FM radio, claims to have had an experience with an alien.

Hof said he built a home in Crystal and micromanages his businesses. He has a madam operate the Moonlite Bunny Ranch while he spends his winters in balmier southern Nye County.

Borasky said Pahrump Town Board member Harley Kulkin, who has been promoting a theme park in Pahrump, may not like another alien themed park.

Hof replied, “He can be a partner … bring your money.”