Whiskey Pete's Closed, Buffalo Bill's Closed - Primm is Dying

Описание: Primm Nevada is dying. 3 casinos, 2 closed, 1 barely survives. Whiskey Pete's closed Dec 18 2024. Buffalo Bill's shifted 24/7 operations to Primm Valley July 7 2025. Primm Valley Resort = only casino left.

WHISKEY PETE'S CLOSED: Dec 18 2024. Affinity Gaming called it "temporary" - Clark County approved 2-year closure (can extend to 3 years). Bonnie & Clyde death car moved to Primm Valley after closure. Not temporary, permanent with PR spin.

BUFFALO BILL'S CLOSED: July 7 2025. "Shifting 24/7 operations to Primm Valley" = closed except for concerts/events at Star of the Desert Arena (6,500 seats). Desperado roller coaster closed since 2019, never reopened. Log flume tested but closed. Hotel only opens when Primm Valley sells out (rare). Casino dark unless concert. Buffalo Bill's now event space/overflow only.

PRIMM VALLEY RESORT - LAST ONE: Only 24/7 casino in Primm. 624 hotel rooms, 773 slot machines. Table games returned July 2025 (blackjack, craps, roulette, 3-card poker). Bonnie & Clyde car on display. William Hill sportsbook. 8 restaurants (several limited hours). Pool renovated. Casino floor redesigned with newest slots. But empty even weekends.

OUTLET MALL GHOST TOWN: Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas opened 2000, had 100+ stores (Calvin Klein, Nike, Coach, Gap, Polo). Now: ONE tenant (Sanithrift thrift store). Endless vacant storefronts, "For Lease" signs. Mall in good condition but abandoned. 3 casinos = thriving mall. 1 casino = dead mall. Consolidation didn't save Primm, concentrated decline.

WHY PRIMM DIED: Indian casinos killed it (Pechanga, Morongo, San Manuel - Californians gamble 20 min from home, don't drive to Nevada). Gas prices increased (tourists drive straight through, don't stop). Vegas got better (Cosmo, Aria, Wynn built in 2000s - why stop at border casino headed to world-class?). COVID final blow (closed March 2020, traffic never recovered). Affinity Gaming: Weekdays dead, weekends barely sustainable, can't operate 3 casinos on weekend-only traffic.

"REST STOP" STRATEGY: CEO Scott Butera: "Repositioning from destination properties to travel resources" = Primm now rest stop with slot machines. 40 EV charging stations (fastest between LA/Vegas). Gas, food, bathrooms, lottery, slots while you wait. Opposite of original vision (Ernest Primm built destination, now truck stop with hotel). Betting on Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport (Ivanpah Valley) won't open until 2037+ = hope not plan.

JEAN ALREADY GONE: 10 miles south. Gold Strike/Nevada Landing/Terrible's all closed. Gold Strike closed March 2020 COVID, storm damage, partially demolished, becoming warehouses. Jean = ghost town (just gas station). Primm heading same direction. I-15 corridor (Primm, Jean, Stateline) once thriving casino towns, Indian gaming killed all.

CONCERTS CAN'T SAVE IT: Star of the Desert Arena 6,500 seats. Summer 2025 schedule nearly empty after Buffalo Bill's closed July 7. First concert: Aug 30 (7 weeks later). No other shows booked 2025. Why? ICE raids/checkpoints California state line. Concerts target SoCal Hispanic market, many avoid area (enforcement concerns). Bookings dropped. 20-30 concert nights/year can't sustain 624-room hotel/casino. Buffalo Bill's opens for concerts but won't be daily casino again.

FINAL VERDICT: Primm dying slowly, visibly, inevitably. Jean already gone, Primm next. Maybe Primm Valley operates 5-10 more years but trajectory clear. California-Nevada border once meant gambling/freedom/entertainment. Now means abandoned casinos, empty malls, ghost towns. Primm not dead yet, but dying. Nothing will save it.

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