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A gas and convenience store chain is moving to take over Primm Valley Casino Resort, sparing the California-Nevada border town from losing its final casino. The small desert outpost faced the closure of its last standing casino by July 4, until a familiar name in Nevada stepped in to stop that from happening.
Terrible’s, the gas station and convenience store empire owned by the Herbst family, will take over operations at Primm Valley Casino Resorts.
The Primm family announced the agreement last week and called it a lifeline for a community that had been preparing for closure. If the deal holds, it would spare hundreds of jobs and keep a long-running waypoint open on one of the busiest stretches of highway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
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A Town on the Brink
Primm sits about 40 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip, right beside Interstate 15, and many know it for its large roller coaster and casinos. For years, drivers treated it as a natural pause point between Las Vegas and Southern California.
However, the town has struggled badly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s, two iconic Primm properties, both closed during the years that followed. News broke in early May that Affinity Gaming planned to halt operations at Primm Valley Casino Resort by early July.
About 340 workers stood to lose their jobs, and many of them lived in company-owned apartments behind the casinos. Truckers and long-haul drivers also worried that Primm would turn into a ghost town, as Barstow, the nearest city on the California side of the border, sits about two hours away. That would create a significant gap for anyone needing fuel, food, or rest.
Enter Terrible’s
The new operator has built its reputation through gas stations and convenience stores around the region. The Herbst family also once owned Terrible’s Hotel and Casino in nearby Jean, which still houses the biggest Chevron station in the world.
Terrible’s President Tim Herbst believes that “Primm’s best days are still ahead” and says taking over operations at the last casino will preserve the town’s legacy and open new opportunities for growth and tourism.
Cory Clemetson, the grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm, believes the future looks bright, as work will start by 2029 on building the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport just a few miles from Primm and far from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. That project could serve to further revitalize Primm’s future prospects.
Gaming License Approval Remains Must Happen Fast
The rescue still needs final approval, as Terrible’s must secure a gaming license. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has scheduled a special meeting for June 25 to discuss the necessary approvals. That creates a tight turnaround, considering the resort had been set to close just a few days later.
Once a property empties out and the workforce disperses, operators face a much harder task repopulating it later than keeping everything running now.
Terrible’s wasn’t the only party to show interest in Primm. A few weeks before the Herbst family’s announcement, LV Petroleum, a Las Vegas-based convenience store and travel center operator, emerged as a possible savior by seeking to buy the Flying J truck stop, keep it open, and preserve Primm’s role as a highway pit stop even if the town had no casinos left.
Primm’s fate now depends on a single meeting in late June. If Terrible’s fails to secure a license, the town will likely continue inching toward ghost town status. However, quotes from a Nevada Gaming Control Board member indicate the chances for approval are strong.
“I would like to spread a little good news for the employees out at Primm,” George Assad told News 3 Las Vegas. “We are having a special session meeting on June 25 … to approve the property being transferred over to Terrible Herbst folks.”
Image credit: Tom Soderlund/Flickr (license)
