This Day in Texas History - The Chicken Ranch closed down

[jerp]

August 1st, 1973. After almost 70 years in business the famed Chicken Ranch brothel outside LaGrange closes for good. The previous November, DPS officers on surveillance reported that 484 people came and went from the ranch house in a 48 hour period. (oops, poor choice of words) Soon after, Houston TV reporter Marvin Zindler started a media crusade to close it down. I'm sure everyone reading this knows the story, in fact I'd bet that more than several could tell of personal experiences there. I remember when the movie came out I asked my Dad what he knew about the Chicken Ranch. He looked at me with a straight face and said he'd never even heard of the place. (which I seriously doubted since he was at A&M in the 1940's)

[Mousehunter]

I never asked my father about it, but my neighbor asked his. We live about 30 minutes from Lagrange. His father knew about it, but from what I gather it was not quite like the one in the movies (it was somewhat less "classy"). More like the one on Justified.

[WildThings]

In 1972 I was 16 and a group with myself and friends headed there one Friday night to "Check" it out. We made it as far as the parking lot before chickening out and returning back home. They were lots of bravado and discussions on the ride back!! LOL

[systemnt]

**** Marvin Zindler!

[Bullseye07]

Isn't today August 4th?

[El General]

When my father was in college at Texas in the late 60's, my grandfather would cross his palm when he was about to leave Beaumont from holidays, etc. He told me that story when he crossed my palm every time I left to go back to school.

The part that was later told to me by his best friend that rode back with him was that double sawbuck never made it past the Chicken Ranch.

[ACCURACYINC]

**** Marvin Zindler!

His "sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime in the ice machine" reports were pretty entertaining at least!

[TimH]

Probably a lot of sad dudes around on this day back then.

[Johnny Dangerr]

A friends brother told me it was pretty basic. No where near the movie.................

[Brute Killer]

[Brute Killer]

[kck]

I live about a quarter mile from where it was, unfortunately nothing left. My old man always said that the ZZ Top song about a ten to get in was full of crap...when he used to go it was only 5...

[tbgascorer]

At least they had window units

[coop]

Never saw the movie.

JC

[jmoore2006]

Had it not be for zz top I would've never even know about the chicken ranch