Primm Family Fights to Save Nevada Casino Town's Future

A Nevada family refuses to let their grandfather's desert town fade into history without a fight.

Cory Clemetson and his family are working to revive Primm, Nevada, after the town's casino operators announced plans to close its last resort this July. The Primm Valley Resort & Casino closure would complete a devastating trifecta, following the shutdown of Whiskey Pete's in December 2024 and Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino in July 2025.

Clemetson, president of Primm's landowner group and grandson of town founder Ernie Primm, isn't accepting this fate quietly. "If the Primm properties go dark, so does the welcome they have provided over the decades," he said in a statement, adding that his family is working "tirelessly" to explore revival options.

The stakes are deeply personal for hundreds of people. The final closure would eliminate 344 jobs and displace many families who live in the border town. Clemetson criticized the casino operators, arguing they "could have done more to make these properties successful."

Primm once thrived as an affordable alternative to Las Vegas, offering budget-friendly hotel rooms and lower-stakes gambling just across the Nevada border. But changing times hit hard. California developed more gambling options closer to home, and Las Vegas became easier to reach directly.

The town lost much of its appeal as a first-stop destination for excited gamblers crossing the state line. Tourism dropped during COVID and never fully bounced back.

The Bright Side

The Clemetson family owns the land beneath these iconic properties and has both the motivation and resources to seek new operators or solutions. Unlike abandoned mining towns scattered across Nevada, Primm has a family fighting for its future.

"Be assured that we're working toward a revitalized Primm and a return to better days," Clemetson promised. The family understands the town's "iconic place in our geography, and in our hearts."

The search is on for partners who can reimagine what Primm could become. Whether that means updated casino operations, new entertainment concepts, or a completely fresh vision for the border town remains to be seen.

For now, hundreds of workers and their families are holding onto hope that the Primm name will continue to mean opportunity in the Nevada desert.