Buffalo Bill’s in Primm to shut down for two years under Affinity Gaming’s long-term plan

Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada, will close its doors for a minimum of two years following unanimous approval from the Clark County Commission this week. The decision allows Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming to temporarily shutter the 1,242-room Old West-themed property located along Interstate 15, about 44 miles south of Las Vegas.

The closure comes after Affinity previously secured initial approval in July from both the county and the Nevada Gaming Control Board to suspend operations. The commission’s latest authorization extends that plan, allowing the resort to remain closed for 24 months, with the option to extend the shutdown twice for six months each.

During a brief hearing on Tuesday, Affinity’s legal representative Stephanie Gronauer addressed the commissioners, citing continued low visitation in the Primm area since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gronauer, operations at Buffalo Bill’s have been minimal, with limited weekend activity.

Despite the extended closure, Affinity plans to open Buffalo Bill’s on a limited basis eight to ten times annually, primarily to host concerts and events at the property’s 6,500-seat Star of the Desert Arena. During those short windows, the casino and restaurants will also be available for guests.

Affinity has not provided details on how the property will be staffed during these brief re-openings, nor has it offered clarity on the future of its amusement attractions, including the once-record-holding Desperado roller coaster or the Adventure Canyon Log Flume.

Meanwhile, one of Buffalo Bill’s most iconic exhibits, the bullet-riddled Bonnie and Clyde “death car,” has been relocated to the nearby Primm Valley Resort, which sits on the opposite side of the highway and remains the only Affinity-owned property currently open in Primm.

Buffalo Bill’s is not the only resort in the area affected by reduced demand. In December, Affinity received similar approval from the county commission to temporarily close Whiskey Pete’s, a 777-room property also located in Primm. As with Buffalo Bill’s, the commission granted a waiver to standard county gaming license requirements to facilitate the closure.

While the move is being framed as a temporary measure, there is no certainty on when market conditions might justify a full reopening. Affinity has previously indicated that it is banking on future economic activity tied to the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, a large-scale infrastructure project planned for the Ivanpah Valley region.

However, construction on that airport remains years away. Federal authorities are currently conducting an environmental impact study, which is not expected to be completed until mid-2027. Final federal approval is targeted for spring 2028, pushing potential construction to at least five years in the future.