Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada, is set to remain closed for at least two years after a unanimous decision by the Clark County Commission this week. This resolution permits Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming to temporarily close the 1,242-room, Old West-themed resort situated along Interstate 15, approximately 44 miles south of Las Vegas.

This shutdown follows Affinity’s previous approval in July from both the county and the Nevada Gaming Control Board to halt operations. The commission’s latest go-ahead prolongs this plan, allowing the resort to stay closed for a period of 24 months, with potential extensions of six months each, up to two times.

During a short hearing on Tuesday, Affinity’s attorney Stephanie Gronauer informed the commissioners about the ongoing decline in visitor numbers to the Primm area since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gronauer noted that Buffalo Bill’s operations have been very limited, primarily seeing activity on weekends.

Despite the long-term closure, Affinity intends to reopen Buffalo Bill’s on a limited scale eight to ten times a year, mainly to host concerts and events at the venue’s 6,500-seat Star of the Desert Arena. On these occasion, the casino and dining options will also be accessible to guests.

Affinity has yet to reveal specifics regarding staffing for these brief re-openings and has not clarified the fate of its amusement rides, including the record-holding Desperado roller coaster and the Adventure Canyon Log Flume.

In the meantime, one of Buffalo Bill’s signature attractions, the bullet-riddled Bonnie and Clyde “death car,” has found a new home at the nearby Primm Valley Resort, which is located on the opposite side of the highway and is currently the sole Affinity-owned property open in Primm.

Buffalo Bill’s is not the only establishment in the vicinity impacted by decreased demand. In December, Affinity obtained similar consent from the county commission to temporarily close Whiskey Pete’s, a 777-room property also situated in Primm. Similar to Buffalo Bill’s, the commission approved a waiver for standard county gaming license prerequisites to facilitate this closure.

While this move is being presented as a temporary solution, there’s no guarantee as to when market conditions might allow for a full reopening. Affinity has indicated hopes that future economic activities linked to the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, a major infrastructure project planned in the Ivanpah Valley area, will bolster business.

However, construction on this airport is likely years away. Federal authorities are currently engaged in an environmental impact study, which is not expected to wrap up until mid-2027. Final federal approval is aimed for spring 2028, pushing any potential construction to at least five years in the future.