The Primm family has struck a management deal with Las Vegas-based Terrible’s to operate the Primm Valley Casino Resort and related properties, potentially sparing the iconic border destination from a closure that had been scheduled for July 4. The agreement preserves 344 jobs at the Interstate 15 outpost roughly 40 miles south of Las Vegas, and offers a reprieve for roughly 250 workers who live in employee housing at the remote site.

How the Deal Came Together

The agreement comes five weeks after Affinity Gaming and Z Capital announced they would shutter the properties they had run for nearly 15 years. A WARN notice filed with state officials indicated the closure would eliminate 344 jobs, and roughly 250 of those workers live in employee housing at Primm, making the shutdown especially disruptive for a community with few nearby alternatives. “We are delighted to partner with Terrible’s and the Herbst family to help our family manage and operate these properties that are so important to Southern Nevada,” said Cory Clemetson, grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm and president of Primm South Real Estate Company.

A Border Town in Decline

Primm has struggled for years as its competitive position eroded. The town’s once-bustling outlet mall, attached to the Primm Valley Resort, is down to a single tenant. Whiskey Pete’s closed in 2024 as California’s expanding tribal casinos siphoned off the drive-by traffic that built the town. The combination of reduced gambling traffic and aging infrastructure had made the properties increasingly unviable under the prior operator, leading to the planned shutdown that would have eliminated one of the few employment centers in the remote corridor.

Herbst Family Brings Deep Nevada Roots

For Tim Herbst, president of Terrible’s, the deal extends a family business portfolio spanning gaming, convenience stores, and fuel distribution across Nevada. “This partnership reflects our commitment to preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, investment and tourism for decades to come,” he said. The partnership pairs two families with deep Nevada roots, combining the Primm family’s real estate ownership with the Herbst family’s operational expertise in gaming and retail to chart a path forward for a destination that many had written off.