THE DIVORCE SEEKERS: The Intimate True Story of a Nevada Divorce Ranch Wrangler

RENO 1947—The WILD WEST OF DIVORCE

Tired of your cheating spouse? Ready to move on? In 1947, there was just one easy way out of a marriage—six weeks in Reno!

Dubbed the "Divorce Capital of the World," Reno welcomed thousands of divorce seekers from all walks of life. For the wealthy, the place to stay was the Flying M E, an exclusive divorce ranch on the outskirts of town.

Enter Bill McGee, a ruggedly handsome cowboy from Montana, hired as the ranch’s dude wrangler. Bill entertained Eastern heiresses with names like Astor and du Pont, and rubbed elbows with movie legends Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. “At age 22, surrounded by all those women, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” he’d later recall.

Now, for the first time, Bill McGee’s lively, firsthand stories bring the glitz and glamour of Reno’s divorce ranch days back to life played out against the backdrop of the American West. Featuring 180 rare vintage images.

“Like an old Hollywood movie coming to life.”
– Judd Pillot, Writer/Producer

“A treasure for the photos alone.”
– Deb Caletti, The Secrets She Keeps

“The only memoir written by a former Nevada divorce ranch wrangler.”
– Lynn Downey, American Dude Ranch