Mini-Vegas on California border saved as Terrible’s takes over Primm casinos

The dusty casino outpost on the California-Nevada border has been saved — just weeks before the last full-time gambling resort on the edge of the state was set to shut down for good.

Terrible’s, the historic Nevada company owned by the Herbst family, will take over hotels and amenities in Primm, the longtime desert pit stop along Interstate 15 that has greeted generations of Southern Californians driving to Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The move could spare Primm Valley Casino Resort, the Oasis Apartments, The Lotto Store and related properties from closing on July 4.

Cory Clemetson, grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm and president of Primm South Real Estate Co., said the Primm family is “delighted to partner with Terrible’s and the Herbst family” to help manage and operate the properties.

The Primm and Herbst families will be “doing everything possible” to prevent the still-operating properties from closing next month, Clemetson said in a statement cited by The Nevada Independent.

“Primm has long been one of Nevada’s most recognizable destinations,” Tim Herbst, president of Terrible’s said in a news release. “This partnership reflects our commitment to preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, investment and tourism for decades to come. We believe Primm’s best days are still ahead.”

The dramatic rescue comes after Affinity Gaming and its parent company, Z Capital, stunned workers, residents and state regulators in May by announcing plans to close the remaining Primm operations by July 4.

A May 5 termination notice said Primm Valley Resort, Buffalo Bill’s, Whiskey Pete’s, the Primm Center and Flying J truck stop would all close permanently. Around 344 employees were expected to lose their jobs.

The California Post previously reported that tenants living in employee housing tied to the casino operations were also told to vacate their apartments by July 6.

The shutdown threatened to kill off the last remnants of the quirky casino corridor once known as State Line — a cheaper, kitschier alternative to the Las Vegas Strip for Californians crossing into Nevada.

For decades, Primm lured road-trippers with cheap rooms, loose slots, outlet shopping, a roller coaster and roadside oddities, including the infamous Bonnie and Clyde “death car.”

But traffic dwindled over the years, and the rise of massive tribal casino resorts across California cut into one of Primm’s biggest advantages: convenience.

Affinity had already scaled back the area’s three major resorts. Whiskey Pete’s closed in December 2024, while Buffalo Bill’s shifted largely to special events at the Star of the Desert Arena.

Primm Valley Resort was the last full-time casino still operating.

The pending shutdown would have also affected The Lotto Store on the California side of the border, one of the state’s biggest lottery-ticket sellers when jackpots surge.

Clemetson said future plans for the Primm properties could include renovations, upgraded traveler amenities, enhanced food and beverage offerings, infrastructure improvements and other investments meant to improve the visitor experience while preserving Primm’s identity.

The Flying J travel center also appears likely to continue operating, with Pilot Co. saying it has been in close contact with the Primm family about a long-term solution, according to the Review-Journal.

“We are encouraged by the progress being made toward identifying a long-term solution for the Flying J location in Primm, Nevada,” Sam Edgmon, vice president of operations business development at Pilot, said in a statement.

Terrible’s, historically known as Terrible Herbst Oil Co., is one of Nevada’s most recognizable brands and operates convenience stores, gas stations, car washes and gaming facilities across Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah.

The Herbst family is also familiar with the desert stretch south of Las Vegas, having previously owned Terrible’s Hotel & Casino in Jean.

It remains unclear how quickly Nevada regulators will approve new gaming licensing for Terrible’s in Primm, though the Review-Journal noted state gaming officials are already familiar with the Herbst executive team because of the licenses the family holds.

For now, Primm’s neon glow appears to have survived its closest brush yet with becoming a ghost town in the desert.

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