South Carolina- It's been a while since we told you about "Thee Bunny Ranch" in Spartanburg County on Highway 101 South, now we have some new information.
Since our story first aired about the suspicious building two weeks ago, word about "Thee Bunny Ranch" is hopping all over the country, all the way to the mother "Bunny Ranch" in Reno, Nevada .
Remember, what's scandalous about "Thee Bunny Ranch" on Highway 101 is that it also claims to be a church. Now, the building in question is drawing even more controversy, this time from the owner of the "Bunny Ranch" in Nevada.
He says the man in charge in Spartanburg County needs to change the name and come clean with what's going on there.
The original "Bunny Ranch" sits just outside Reno, Nevada. And it's been sitting there since 1955. There's no secret about what's inside. There's babes, lots of 'em, and for a cost. The more you want, the more you pay. It's a world-famous brothel, even offering discounts to men in the military, and it's all legal-- completely legal.
Dennis Hof, owner of the "BunnyRanch", says, "It is a house of prostitution, it's liquor and sex for the last 49 years."
All the way from the west side of the country, the owner of the "Bunny Ranch" in Reno heard about Fox Carolina's investigation surrounding "Thee Bunny Ranch" in Spartanburg County and is upset by what he heard.
"The thing that upsets me most is the perception from religious community that I might be opening up a cathouse with a religious name to it," says Hof.
"Thee Bunny Ranch" in Spartanburg also claims to be a church. It's called the "Church of Faith, Parsonage." The building is secured by a barbed-wire fence. A black limousine sits parked at the front door. The church's hours are 4pm-4am. Guests are welcome by appointment only and for a modest donation of three hundred dollars. A lot of people say inside, instead of women worshipping there's a lot of women being worshipped.
"What I got is concerned citizens wanting to know if I'm going to open up a church and also customers are asking questions down there thinking we're opening up in the area. 'You're opening up in South Carolina? Great! Is Airforce Amy gonna appear there? Which porn stars are going to be there,'" says Hof.
Fox Carolina tried contacting Charles Penland, the man who leases the building on Highway 101 and he refuses to comment. But Penland did tell us before that "Thee Bunny Ranch" is not a business, it's his home, and that he can invite whoever he wants there, for whatever he wants.
Hof says, "If he doesn't change his name, we're gonna come down there with real working girls and picket this place."
And the owner of the "Bunny Ranch" in Nevada is serious. He says he's ready to be in Spartanburg County , with his working girls, as soon as next week.
And we want to point out; we have given Charles Penland more than enough opportunities to respond to all of our stories. One time he granted us an interview but then backed out. Again Monday, he refused to talk with us.
Back Story: Well is it a church or a sex palace? A business in Spartanburg County appears to be doubling as a place for worshiping God and worshiping women.
FOX Carolina investigated the location near Greer on Highway 101. If you've driven down that road in the past week you're probably asking the same question. What used to be Beamers Bar and Grill is now "Thee Bunny Ranch." But under the barbed wire fence there's another sign that says "Church of Faith, Parsonage." Confused yet?
If you're looking to worship you expect to see an altar, a pulpit, bibles and crosses inside. Instead, some people say you won't find God, you'll find Goddesses. And for a modest donation of $300 you can have women, sex, and lots of it.
Jane Doe says, "They had a huge hot tub, leather chairs, and private rooms."
Jane Doe says her friend has been inside what looks on the outside to be a low security prison and at least three people described it the same way. It sounds much like a brothel in Reno , Nevada-- fully equipped with bars, spacious V.I.P rooms, and Jacuzzis.
We tried going inside and contacting the preacher of this place, but apparently the church's leadership isn't available 24 hours a day. We did not get an answer at the steel gate.
So we took our questions to the County's Buildings and Codes Office. Just last week the "church" was granted a license for a private club. Not for a church or a sexually oriented club.
Michael Padgett, Director of Spartanburg County's Building and Codes says, "There's space requirements that have to be met, from churches, schools and they would have to comply."
The property is listed to a Mary Penland who tells FOX Carolina she leases it out and knows nothing about what goes on there. Until last June the "church" was actually Beamers Night Club. It was reportedly shutdown for complaints of drugs and prostitution.
But people near the Greer area say they know better-- and what lies inside "Thee Bunny Ranch" is anything but holy.
"Yeah, definitely, it's like he's looking for ways to get around what he's done before. You know to make it seem like there's not what is going to be when its going to be really what it was before", says Doe.
If the church is a sex palace the manager there had better start repenting. The penalties are pretty stiff and also apply to the entertainers.