There may be some glimmer of hope for Primm Valley Resorts, the last full-time casino still operating in Primm, Nevada, the tiny gambling outpost formerly known as State Line along Interstate 15.
Members of the Primm family said in a statement shared with The California Post that they’ll be working to keep the neon glow that once welcomed millions of Californians on their way to Las Vegas.
“If the Primm properties go dark, so does the welcome they have provided over the decades. It is contrary to our values to let that happen without exploring all options,” said the statement from Cory Clemetson, president of Primm’s landowner group and grandson of city founder Ernie Primm.
“It is contrary to our values to let that happen without exploring all options. Thus, we are tirelessly working to find potential solutions for the Primm properties, fully understanding their iconic place in our geography, and in our hearts,” Clemetson went on.
“Be assured that we’re working toward a revitalized Primm and a return to better days,” he said.
The potential search for a new buyer comes after a May 5 termination notice said operations at Primm Valley Resort, Buffalo Bill’s, Whiskey Pete’s, the Primm Center and the Flying J truck stop will all close permanently.
The employee letter says workers expect to be separated by July 4 and are “not expected to be recalled.” The company also notified tenants living in employee housing tied to the casino operations that they must vacate their apartments by July 6.
Around 344 employees will lose their jobs, the notice said.
Clemetson criticized that impact, noting hundreds of “hard-working employees” now face losing not just their jobs but also their homes. Clemetson said he is working to assist employees and families.
Affinity Gaming and its principal owner, Z Capital, had been operating the properties for 15 years, but tourist numbers have cratered as casinos open closer to home in California and COVID-19 demolished the industry.
Primm has been a “significant cash drain and management distraction of Affinity for many years,” said Melissa Krantz, spokeswoman for the company, in a statement.
The properties in Primm feel worn down, tired, and “almost abandoned,” Joe DeSimone, a Nevada developer, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Still, Clemetson said the operators “could have done more to make these properties successful,” he claimed.
Finding a buyer will be a tough sell, though some real estate observers have suggested turning the land into an industrial park instead for truckers traveling between Las Vegas and Southern California.