San Francisco Chronicle - The Voice of the West, 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94119 - SATURDAY December 22, 1990 Edition: FINAL Section: NEWS Page: A3 Word Count: 848
Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer

Although the owners of the newly renamed "Mustang Properties Inc." insist on anonymity, the wide variety of erotic services remains the same, including an orgy room with two hot tubs, X-rated videos and relaxing messages.

"I'm so happy," said Champagne Smallwood, a petite, 18-year-old frosted blonde in a skin-tight, hot-pink minidress with black fishnet shoulders. "This is where I TO'd (turned out) last August, and it's just like coming home."

Champagne said she had been a professional for only five days when the ranch was closed by the government in September for unpaid taxes. "I was shocked. It was like, I haven't made enough money," she said in her native Texas twang. "Y'all better stop this."

Champagne said she was making $1,000 a day as a rookie last summer, but business has been slow to heat up again since Tuesday's reopening because of the icy, subzero weather and because most of the regular customers are not yet aware that the doors of the 104-bed pleasure palace have been reopened.

The ranch was closed for three months because of former owner Joe Conforte's tax troubles -- he owes the IRS either $7 million or $13 million, depending on whether Conforte or the IRS is talking. He no longer owns the ranch, but is now employed as general manager.

"I feel great," said Conforte, who noted that many people in town greet him with the thumbs up sign when they see him. "I never expected the reaction I got in town."

To show his gratitude, Conforte said he and his wife are "giving away a thousand turkeys this season."

He has also offered a 24-hour coupon for services at the brothel for any single serviceman stationed in the gulf.

"I'm very patriotic," he said.

Bad Times at Old Bridge

Conforte and his staff are optimistic about the business. But times were pretty uneasy for most ranch employees during the three months it was shut down. Many of the laid-off hookers went to work next door at the Old Bridge Ranch, where some of the girls complained they felt uncomfortable because they were treated like outsiders.

"'There was just a lot of stuff we had to put up with at Old Bridge because we were Mustang girls. They gave us attitudes," complained Champagne, who said she feels much more comfortable with her friends and customers at the Mustang Ranch.

Although the morning passed slowly, as it usually does in the sex trade, things began to pick up at the ranch during the late afternoon, when local customers were getting off work for the weekend.

The customers filtered in and the girls lined up, dressed in revealing French-cut bathing suits and stiletto heels. A customer would then make his selection, and the pair would eventually retire, while the others girls waited in the living room, which was decorated for the holidays with a glittering Christmas tree and half dozen poinsettias on coffee tables.

Carts of Accessories

As the day progressed, the veterans returned to the bagnio, wheeling shopping carts loaded with linens, love jells, latex toys and condoms -- required by the house and state law -- as well as other accoutrements of their profession.

"The Mustang Ranch is the best thing that ever happened to Nevada," exclaimed a satisfied customer, who identified himself as "just plain John." He raved about the joint because he said he was confident that he was less likely to pick up a venereal disease there than on the street.

Vicki Hamilton, Nevada's AIDS coordinator, said no incident of HIV transmission has been recorded in the state's 32 legal whorehouses. She said licensed prostitutes are required to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia once a week and for the AIDS virus and syphilis once a month.

Although AIDS apparently has not been passed on in the legal brothels, other diseases have been. To combat those dangers, the ranch provides a broad selection of condoms, including Kiss of Mint and Snugger Fit.

"I'm real glad to be back," said Stacey Wilson, 22, a Rubenesque blonde with an open face and a friendly smile who said she loves her work and especially likes being paid for it.

'Free Is a Cussword'

"Free is a cussword here," said Stacey, noting that the most basic service starts at $40, and erotic frills can run a tab up to $200 an hour or more, depending on the energy and imagination of the customer.

Everyone at the ranch yesterday seemed upbeat and enthusiastic about the reopening. Perhaps most excited was the Storey County government, which receives $60,000 in license fees from the Mustang Ranch, the largest of the county's two legal whorehouses.

CAPTION: PHOTO(2)

(1) JOE CONFORTE/Former owner is now manager/BY CRAIG SAILOR/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE, (2) Mustang Ranch prostitutes Stacey Wilson (left) and Champagne Smallwood said they are glad that the bordellohas reopened/BY JOE GOSEN/SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

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