Published on: May 18, 2026, 10:38h.

Updated on: May 18, 2026, 10:38h.

• The Primm family is actively seeking buyers to rescue their town’s three aging border casinos from permanent closure.
• Affinity Gaming plans to lay off 344 employees and close all remaining businesses in Primm on July 4.
• The future of the resort may depend on the upcoming Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, projected to open by 2037.

The family behind the small Nevada border town of Primm is on a mission to prevent its last operational casino, Primm Valley Resort, from shutting down permanently and even revive its two sister establishments.

In comments to The California Post, Cory Clemetson — president of the Primm landowners’ group and grandson of town founder Ernie Primm — mentioned that the family is actively exploring ways to maintain the three aging resorts situated along Interstate 15. Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s, and Primm Valley Resort have long been the initial splash of neon for countless Californians en route to Las Vegas.

On May 5, Affinity Gaming — which acquired the properties for $400 million from MGM Resorts in 2007 — informed its 344 employees in Primm that all remaining businesses would close on July 4.

“If the Primm properties close, so does the welcoming atmosphere they have offered for decades,” Clemetson noted in his statement. “It is against our values to let this happen without pursuing every possible avenue. We are diligently searching for solutions for the Primm properties, fully cognizant of their iconic status in our landscape and in our hearts.”

Affinity, owned by private-equity firm Z Capital, has already closed Whiskey Pete’s in December 2024 and reduced Buffalo Bill’s to an event-only venue in July 2025. Other affected businesses in Primm include the Lotto Store (in nearby Nipton, California), the Primm Center gas station, the Flying J truck stop, and the Desert Oasis Apartments — where many of Affinity’s 344 employees reside. Residents were instructed to vacate by July 6, shortly after losing their jobs.

Clemetson emphasized that the landowners are committed to supporting affected families while evaluating long-term strategies for the properties.

Countdown to a Ghost Town

Affinity attributed its challenges to diminishing visitor numbers, heightened competition from tribal casinos in California, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, rendering the properties unsustainable.

In remarks to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, company spokeswoman Melissa Krantz labeled Primm as “a significant cash drain and management distraction for many years.”

This small town, situated 40 miles south of Las Vegas along the California border, has seen a decline in business over the past two decades, with the COVID-19 pandemic delivering a final blow.

On July 18, 2024, the Primm Valley Resort & Casino was so deserted that Lydia Salmen, 70, was able to sneak into its unstaffed cash cage and make off with $625,000 in cash and $27,000 in casino chips. (She and her spouse, John, were apprehended only because their Nissan hatchback had been recorded by a police body cam during a previous visit to the property.)

The Primm outlet mall, a 371,000 square-foot establishment opened in 1998 and originally branded as the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, now stands as a nearly deserted relic, mainly frequented by YouTube live streamers.

Is a Revival Possible for Primm?

Some real estate analysts argue that the land may hold greater potential as a logistics or industrial center catering to truck traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas.

However, Clemetson insists that the family is committed to finding a way to keep the Primm lights on.

Any efforts to attract a casino buyer will likely depend on the plans for a supplemental Las Vegas airport, as well as requiring patience.

Scheduled to open by 2037 near Primm, the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport is expected to handle up to 35 million travelers annually. Local and federal authorities are prioritizing this project, which is currently in the environmental review phase, as Harry Reid International Airport is expected to reach its capacity limit of 63 to 65 million passengers by 2030.