The year 1978 marked the revival of The Chicken Ranch in two distinct ways.  First, on June 19, the theatrical production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” opened on Broadway for the beginning of a four year run before moving to the four corners of the world.  (Edna Milton served as technical advisor and had a small part in the play.)  It was eventually followed in 1982 with the popular motion picture production of the same name starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.  This brought international attention to this famed Texas institution.

Also, in 1975, an enterprising capitalist bought the rights and established a legal licensed brothel in the town of Pahrump, NV, just outside of Las Vegas.  As prostitution is illegal in Clark County, in which Las Vegas is located, 41 acres were purchased in Nye County near the Clark County border - which makes The Chicken Ranch the closest and most convenient brothel to Las Vegas.

In early 1982, The Chicken Ranch changed ownership.  While the brothel still maintains the quality and business-oriented approach espoused by Miss Jessie and Edna Milton, the traditional Madam role is now filled by a former biology teacher (who feels the brothel has the atmosphere of a sorority and his relationship to the ladies is not unlike a teacher has with his students) and the operation is definitely in the 20th century.  Customers of The Chicken Ranch now arrive by chauffeured limousine instead of horses or model T’s as the brothel has its own free limousine service from Las Vegas.

From the frontier to the space age, each of these stages made its own unique contributions to the myth and legend which has transformed The Chicken Ranch from an unnamed rural brothel to an integral part of American folklore.