Divorce ranches sprung up in the 1930s when Nevada relaxed its divorce laws. This unique and controversial style of resort was incredibly popular for several decades before becoming obsolete.

Research:

• Brean, Henry. “The rise and fall of Reno's quickie divorce industry.” Reno Gazette Journal. Sept. 18, 2017. https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2017/09/18/rise-and-fall-renos-quickie-divorce-industry/677065001/
• Bromley, John. “Two ‘Divorce Ranches’ Still Thriving.” Nevada State Journal. April 27, 1969. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1010901428/?terms=divorce%20ranch&match=1
• Miller, Wendy. “Divorce Ranch Owners Take Issue With Magazine Story.” Nevada State Journal. July 8, 1965. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1010619253/?terms=divorce%20ranch&match=1
• “Editor’s Comment – Not New.” Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. June 5, 1931. https://www.newspapers.com/image/683040112/?terms=nevada%20divorce&match=1
• Flat Rate Divorce Ranch Neely’s Latest Venture.” Shamokin News-Dispatch. January 7, 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/image/68323301/?terms=divorce%20ranch&match=1
• “High Society.” Reno Divorce History. https://renodivorcehistory.org/themes/the-rich-and-famous/high-society/
• Holmes, A.S. (1999). “Don’t Frighten the Horses”: the Russell Divorce Case. In: Robb, G., Erber, N. (eds) Disorder in the Court. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781403934314_8
• Jain, Priya. “Betty Goes Reno.” Slate. July 21, 2010. https://slate.com/culture/2010/07/a-visit-to-the-glamorous-divorce-ranches-of-the-mad-men-era.html
• “Mrs. Corey Gets a Divorce in Four Hours.” Reno Gazette-Journal. July 30, 1906. https://www.newspapers.com/image/147027965/?terms=Laura%20Corey&match=1
• “Nevada Divorces Invalid.” Fort Worth Star Telegram. Aug. 10, 1931. https://www.newspapers.com/image/635854363/?terms=nevada%20divorce&match=1
• Nevada State Legislature. “CHAPTER 125 - DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.” https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-125.html
• “Nevada;s Easy Divorces O.K. in Other States.” Evansville Press. June 9, 1931. https://www.newspapers.com/image/764481281/?terms=nevada%20divorce&match=1
• “Reno Divorce History.” University of Nevada, Reno Libraries. https://renodivorcehistory.org/
• Salisbury, Vanita. “Welcome to Splitsville: How Reno Became the Divorce Capital of the World.” Thrillist. July 22, 2022. https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/nevada-divorce-ranches-history
• Savanapridi, Shane. “Las Vegas Divorce Ranches.” City of Las Vegas. Feb. 14, 2020. https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/News/Blog/Detail/las-vegas-divorce-ranches#:~:text=The%20divorce%20ranch%20was%20the,bills%20to%20spur%20economic%20growth.
• “Sisters Tell Tales From The 'Divorce Ranch.’” StoryCorps. NPR. July 16, 2010. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128545233
• Wernick, Robert. “Where You Went if You Really Had to Get Unhitched.” Smithsonian. June 1996. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/where-you-went-if-you-really-had-to-get-unhitched-1-41543097/
• Vlosky, Denese Ashbaugh, and Pamela A. Monroe. “The Effective Dates of No-Fault Divorce Laws in the 50 States.” Family Relations, vol. 51, no. 4, 2002, pp. 317–24. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3700329