The family that owns the land where casinos and gas stations have long operated in Primm on the Nevada and California border released a statement Thursday tamping down speculation that any deal to sell the land to a Las Vegas-based travel center company is imminent.
Last week, CDC Gaming reported that LV Petroleum, a developer and operator of travel centers and convenience stores, put in a bid for Primm family land where one of three casinos remains operating, but is set to close in July. Without any details given, that information was given to the Nevada Gaming Control Board by Scott Butera, the CEO of Affinity Gaming. Earlier this month, Affinity announced that it will permanently close operations at Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s, Primm Valley Resort, the Primm gas station and Flying J trucker fueling stop. Affinity has been leasing and operating the properties for nearly 15 years on land owned by the Primm family.
On Wednesday, the Nevada Independent quoted LV Petroleum CEO Kristopher Roach as saying that the company was willing to “take over the whole exit” at Primm, including operating one of the closed hotel-casinos. He said he wanted to keep the Flying J truck stop and adjacent facilities open. Roach told the publication that his company would reopen Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino, which has been closed since December 2024.
On Thursday, Cory Clemetson, president of Primm landowner Primm South and the grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm, issued a statement to CDC Gaming that acknowledged the interest and support they’ve received since their tenant Affinity Gaming announced the closing of most of the properties at Primm.
“Like other Nevada community leaders, residents, and visitors, we obviously don’t want that to happen,” Clemetson said. “Since that relatively sudden announcement, we have been working tirelessly to find qualified partners to operate as many of these businesses as possible. We are doing everything in our power to prevent people from losing their jobs and in many cases being displaced from their homes at Primm.
“However, recent reports suggesting that an agreement with any specific potential partner may be imminent are overstated and premature. Our family is currently considering opportunities involving multiple well-established operators that have successfully operated similar hotel-casino properties in Nevada. Rest assured that we will continue to explore all viable options as we work toward the best possible solution, especially for the hundreds of Primm employees and their families dealing with this difficult situation.”
Last week, Mike Dreitzer, the chair of the Gaming Control Board, received assurances from Butera that the operator is working closely to help with any potential sale.
“We are hoping to have a very orderly transition of that property, but we are exiting as the tenant,” Butera said. “My team has been working tirelessly to provide voluminous information to the Primm family to hopefully support that cause. I hope it’s going well, and it’s in our best interest if we can have that orderly transition.”
Dreitzer asked Butera if Affinity “is doing everything it can in good faith” to support an opportunity for a successor planned at the site. Butera said they “have done everything possible” to work with the Primm family. “It is in our best interest that this is transferred successfully.”
Butera told the Nevada Gaming Commission it’s a difficult lease and expensive property with increased competition in California. “We’ve been losing money for years,” Butera said.
