Unusual finds dot Nevada’s roadsides: UFOs hanging from the back of a tow truck, gigantic memorials built from trash, and a downed airplane in front of Angel’s Ladies brothel. Upon first seeing the abandoned plane, I thought it might have been a publicity stunt; little did I realize how big of a stunt it was.
North of Beatty, a Beechcraft C-45 sits on the side of the highway at a 45-degree angle. The fuselage is intact but the electronics and engines were removed. Graffiti covered the hull, including “FL Girls 2022,” written in red spray paint. Stickers cover the area below the pilot’s side window and where the engines were once mounted.
Angel’s Ladies Brothel
Before 1960, Angel’s Ladies was known as the Circle C Ranch and later Vickie’s and Fran’s Star Ranch. In 1997, the seventy-acre “ranch” and 5,000-square-foot brothel were purchased by Mack and Angel Moore and renamed “Angel’s Ladies.”
A publicity stunt that crash-landed
In the 1970s, owners of Fran’s Star Ranch developed an interesting, if not questionable, marketing strategy to increase business. Sticking with the Star theme, they drew a large star on the earth, placing a mattress in the center. The brothel provided a plane and parachute to adventurous clients. If a client jumped out of the plane and landed on the mattress, he would win a night with the lady of his choice.
What could ever go wrong with that plan?
On May 28, 1977, the brothel’s plane with three passengers departed from Davis, California, bound for the Star Ranch. Not surprisingly, the stunt did not go as expected. The twin–engine aircraft struck wires or a pole and crash-landed on the property. The pilot and passengers must have had angels looking over them as they all survived.
It turns out an inexperienced pilot, strong Nevada winds, and scantily-clad ladies of the evening don’t mix very well, only in Nevada.
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References
- Amazing America: Angel’s Ladies
- Creations of Entropy: Angel’s Ladies Crash Landing
- NTSB Report: OAK77FVW16
- Roadside America: Beatty, Nevada Airplane wreck at brothel sign
- Wikipedia: Angel’s Ladies
Anonymous says
It was called Fran’s Star Ranch before it changed to Angel’s Ladies
Tami says
According to multiple documents, it was also called also Vickie’s Star Ranch. I updated with article with both names.
Morgan says
It was Fran’s Star Ranch at the time. Francis was my great grandmother. She planned the event. Please feel free to contact me for references.
Tami says
Thank you for the information. I bet your great grandmother was a personality and a half!
I will send you an email and would love to update the article with any information you have.
Chuck Husum says
What caused the brothel to close ?
Tami says
I didn’t hear specifically why this brothel closed. I found this article mentioning issues with Angel’s Ladies and another brothel. It is the same year Angel’s closed, so I assume related.
https://pvtimes.com/news/shakeup-under-way-for-beatty-brothels/