Latest news with #BuffaloBill's
Indianapolis Star
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Primm casino Buffalo Bill's, once a Vegas drive staple, shrinking operating hours
A casino at the California-Nevada border is set to shrink its operating hours, the latest sign of trouble in Primm. Buffalo Bill's will stop 24-hour operations and only open when the resort's Star of the Desert Arena is in use, Primm Valley Resort & Casino said in a statement to USA TODAY. "In order to deliver the best possible experience for today's guest expectations, Buffalo Bill's will be shifting its 24/7 operations to Primm Valley Resort & Casino," the casino – owned by Affinity Gaming – said in the statement. The company told Las Vegas Fox affiliate KVVU that the casino, food and beverage and hotel would remain open for concerts and special events. The company said in the statement that it will announce fall shows "soon" and lists performances by Argentine singer-songwriter Amanda Miguel on July 5 and Grupo Cañaveral on Aug. 30 on the Buffalo Bill's website. Reservations for the Buffalo Bill's hotel through its website were unavailable after July 7, including for the weekend of the Grupo Cañaveral performance. The casino's statement on the closure of Buffalo Bill's did not mention the fate of the Desperado roller coaster, the Adventure Canyon Log Flume ride or the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car. The "shift" follows the December 2024 closure of Whiskey Pete's, the Affinity Gaming property on the west side of Interstate 15. Though the closure of the 47-year-old property was described to the Las Vegas Review-Journal as "temporary," Whiskey Pete's does not appear on the list of casinos operated by Affinity on its website. Affinity won a waiver from Clark County Commissioners to maintain the license associated with Whiskey Pete's for at least two years, according to Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS. A gas station on the property continues to have slot machines. Primm Valley was once considered an affordable and family friendly alternative to Sin City, located about 40 miles to the south of the Strip. Buffalo Bill's offered "$2 beers, $7 prime rib dinners and $25 shows" in 2009, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Ernest Primm opened Whiskey Pete's in 1977 to capitalize on travelers to Las Vegas and handed the business off to his son Gary, who opened Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill's in 1994, according to the Sun. The popularity of the resort town diminished through the 2010s, with the COVID-19 pandemic dealing a decisive blow. Recent visits to both Primm Valley Resort and Buffalo Bill's by USA TODAY staff saw sparse crowds. The once bustling outlet mall currently has only one tenant: the Sanithrift thrift clothing store. Primm Valley Golf Club, on the California side of the border, closed in 2024 amid a sale, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. "In recent years, and particularly post-pandemic, the traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties," Erin Barnett, Affinity senior vice president and general counsel, said in an Oct. 18 letter to Clark County published by KLAS.
Indianapolis Star
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Primm casino Buffalo Bill's, once a Vegas drive staple, shrinking operating hours
A casino at the California-Nevada border is set to shrink its operating hours, the latest sign of trouble in Primm. Buffalo Bill's will stop 24-hour operations and only open when the resort's Star of the Desert Arena is in use, Primm Valley Resort & Casino said in a statement to USA TODAY. "In order to deliver the best possible experience for today's guest expectations, Buffalo Bill's will be shifting its 24/7 operations to Primm Valley Resort & Casino," the casino – owned by Affinity Gaming – said in the statement. The company told Las Vegas Fox affiliate KVVU that the casino, food and beverage and hotel would remain open for concerts and special events. The company said in the statement that it will announce fall shows "soon" and lists performances by Argentine singer-songwriter Amanda Miguel on July 5 and Grupo Cañaveral on Aug. 30 on the Buffalo Bill's website. Reservations for the Buffalo Bill's hotel through its website were unavailable after July 7, including for the weekend of the Grupo Cañaveral performance. The casino's statement on the closure of Buffalo Bill's did not mention the fate of the Desperado roller coaster, the Adventure Canyon Log Flume ride or the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car. The "shift" follows the December 2024 closure of Whiskey Pete's, the Affinity Gaming property on the west side of Interstate 15. Though the closure of the 47-year-old property was described to the Las Vegas Review-Journal as "temporary," Whiskey Pete's does not appear on the list of casinos operated by Affinity on its website. Affinity won a waiver from Clark County Commissioners to maintain the license associated with Whiskey Pete's for at least two years, according to Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS. A gas station on the property continues to have slot machines. Primm Valley was once considered an affordable and family friendly alternative to Sin City, located about 40 miles to the south of the Strip. Buffalo Bill's offered "$2 beers, $7 prime rib dinners and $25 shows" in 2009, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Ernest Primm opened Whiskey Pete's in 1977 to capitalize on travelers to Las Vegas and handed the business off to his son Gary, who opened Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill's in 1994, according to the Sun. The popularity of the resort town diminished through the 2010s, with the COVID-19 pandemic dealing a decisive blow. Recent visits to both Primm Valley Resort and Buffalo Bill's by USA TODAY staff saw sparse crowds. The once bustling outlet mall currently has only one tenant: the Sanithrift thrift clothing store. Primm Valley Golf Club, on the California side of the border, closed in 2024 amid a sale, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. "In recent years, and particularly post-pandemic, the traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties," Erin Barnett, Affinity senior vice president and general counsel, said in an Oct. 18 letter to Clark County published by KLAS.
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Primm casino Buffalo Bill's, once a Vegas drive staple, shrinking operating hours
A casino at the California-Nevada border is set to shrink its operating hours, the latest sign of trouble in Primm. Buffalo Bill's will stop 24-hour operations and only open when the resort's Star of the Desert Arena is in use, Primm Valley Resort & Casino said in a statement to USA TODAY. "In order to deliver the best possible experience for today's guest expectations, Buffalo Bill's will be shifting its 24/7 operations to Primm Valley Resort & Casino," the casino – owned by Affinity Gaming – said in the statement. The company told Las Vegas Fox affiliate KVVU that the casino, food and beverage and hotel would remain open for concerts and special events. The company said in the statement that it will announce fall shows "soon" and lists performances by Argentine singer-songwriter Amanda Miguel on July 5 and Grupo Cañaveral on Aug. 30 on the Buffalo Bill's website. Reservations for the Buffalo Bill's hotel through its website were unavailable after July 7, including for the weekend of the Grupo Cañaveral performance. The casino's statement on the closure of Buffalo Bill's did not mention the fate of the Desperado roller coaster, the Adventure Canyon Log Flume ride or the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car. The "shift" follows the December 2024 closure of Whiskey Pete's, the Affinity Gaming property on the west side of Interstate 15. Though the closure of the 47-year-old property was described to the Las Vegas Review-Journal as "temporary," Whiskey Pete's does not appear on the list of casinos operated by Affinity on its website. Affinity won a waiver from Clark County Commissioners to maintain the license associated with Whiskey Pete's for at least two years, according to Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS. A gas station on the property continues to have slot machines. Las Vegas alternative faltering Primm Valley was once considered an affordable and family friendly alternative to Sin City, located about 40 miles to the south of the Strip. Buffalo Bill's offered "$2 beers, $7 prime rib dinners and $25 shows" in 2009, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Ernest Primm opened Whiskey Pete's in 1977 to capitalize on travelers to Las Vegas and handed the business off to his son Gary, who opened Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill's in 1994, according to the Sun. The popularity of the resort town diminished through the 2010s, with the COVID-19 pandemic dealing a decisive blow. Recent visits to both Primm Valley Resort and Buffalo Bill's by USA TODAY staff saw sparse crowds. The once bustling outlet mall currently has only one tenant: the Sanithrift thrift clothing store. Primm Valley Golf Club, on the California side of the border, closed in 2024 amid a sale, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. "In recent years, and particularly post-pandemic, the traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties," Erin Barnett, Affinity senior vice president and general counsel, said in an Oct. 18 letter to Clark County published by KLAS. Barnett points to a potential airport being built nearby as a reason for a "resurgence." However, the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport in the Ivanpah Valley between Jean and Primm has been under consideration for decades and will not open earlier than 2037, according to the Review Journal.
Los Angeles Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Buffalo Bill's Resort prepares for final rodeo as casino is set to close amid Primm's struggles
The giant rainbow-colored headdress sitting atop a bison beckoned generations of Angelenos and other drivers heading into Nevada on the 15 Freeway. Sure, Las Vegas was only 40 minutes north, but at Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino, patrons could enjoy gaming, drinking, neon lights and entertainment without the Sin City prices and crowds. It's an era that will soon end as Primm Valley Resorts — which operates Buffalo Bill's on the desert strip known as Primm along the California-Nevada border — announced the resort's imminent closure. 'In order to deliver the best possible experience for today's guest expectations, Buffalo Bill's will be shifting its 24/7 operations to Primm Valley Resort & Casino,' the company said in a release Tuesday afternoon, referring to the sister resort adjacent to Buffalo Bill's. Primm Valley, owned by Affinity Gaming, added that Buffalo Bill's would still host concerts and special events at its Star of the Desert Arena. The company did not say when the hotel would be closing. Las Vegas insider Vegas Advantage broke the news Monday evening. Hotel reservations for Buffalo Bill's could be booked through the Primm Valley site and third-party vendors, but they do not show rooms as available after Sunday. Guests who try to book reservations at Buffalo Bill's for after Sunday are redirected to Primm Valley Resort. Primm Valley did not disclose in its announcement what would happen to workers employed at Buffalo Bill's. The resort was the final of three built by the Primm family and placed in the unincorporated Clark County town previously known as State Line. Whiskey Pete's, which shuttered in December, was first opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill's in 1994. The hotel boasted 592 rooms at its opening (the Bellagio has nearly 4,000 rooms) and eventually expanded to 1,242 rooms. Buffalo Bill's utilized low prices and attractions to lure guests. There was the Desperado roller coaster, which was the tallest, fastest coaster in the world when it opened in 1994; it sent visitors screaming 209 feet above the freeway right outside the resort. The Star of the Desert Arena hosted major acts, including the Captain & Tennille in its opening year. It also booked Reba McEntire, Aretha Franklin and Snoop Dogg in 2009, according to the Las Vegas Sun. The Sun wrote that year that the hotel also offered '$2 beers, $7 prime rib dinners and $25 shows' to guests who wanted a taste of old Las Vegas. Buffalo Bill's temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic and reopened in December 2022 but struggled to attract customers, like all hotels in Primm. Visitors posted videos of vacant stores and restaurants in the Primm Outlet Mall and of vacant gaming floors. Primm Valley did not provide information on what would happen to the Desperado or attractions inside the hotel such as the famed Bonnie & Clyde V-8 Ford, which the outlaws were riding in when they were fatally shot. Affinity Gaming is hoping patrons will gravitate toward the last casino standing. 'We invite our guests to join us at Primm Valley where they will find the newest slots on our redesigned casino floor, beautifully appointed rooms, oasis pool experience, and wonderful dining,' their note read.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Buffalo Bill's to close this week, South LA's third casino shutdown since 2020
Buffalo Bill's, one of the three properties owned and operated by Affinity Gaming in Primm, Nevada, is set to shut down on July 7. The company also owns the Primm Valley Resort and the now-closed Whiskey Pete's casino. This marks the third casino closure in the south of Los Angeles since 2020, including Terrible's in Jean, once known as Goldstrike. Buffalo Bill's casino to close next week(Representational Image) Las Vegas Locally broke the news on its social media page by writing, 'The legendary Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino in Primm is closing next week, per @Vegas_Advantage. Everything is ruined.' Why is Buffalo Bill's closing? Raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted towards Hispanic communities living in southern Los Angeles have been rocking the neighborhood in recent times. This has prompted members of the community to reduce leaving their homes for non-necessary activities, a change that has significantly impacted casinos such as Buffalo Bill's, which relied on these people as their major clientele. Although no official statement has been provided by the company for the closure, business being affected by immigration raids and the COVID-19 pandemic is largely suspected to be the reason. How will this closure affect Primm Valley Resort? July 6 will be the official last date for members to book rooms at Buffalo Bill's. Following that, all other dates have been blacked out on the calendar by the company and the system promptly displays a message for the customer to try booking a room at the Primm Valley Resort instead. The next available bookings at Buffalo Bill's are available for a four-day weekend in November. The hotel and casino may be reopened at that time to handle the overflow of guests coming into the city for a festival in nearby Goodsprings, Nevada. The casino floor may momentarily reopen on concert nights at Primm. Post closure, the nearest concert is scheduled for August 30. The Primm Valley Resort will continue to offer only slots and video poker, since all table games, electronic table games, restaurants, and the hotel shut down in December 2022. The Bonnie & Clyde cars currently on display in Buffalo Bill's food court will be moved to the Primm Valley Resort post closure. Recently, Affinity Gaming invested in a major remodeling of the Primm Valley Resort to boost business and made several game improvements as well. Following this closure, Primm Valley Resort will be the only operational casino near the California state line along Interstate 15. By Stuti Gupta
