Another off-the-Las-Vegas-Strip resort closing

It can be difficult for hotels and casinos off the Las Vegas Strip to survive with all the upscale competition that’s just a few miles down the road.

Some off-Strip resorts have managed to survive for decades, but even legacy properties are vulnerable to economic uncertainty.

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In July, TheStreet reported that Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, the western-themed property just over the California border in Primm, Nevada, would operate on a limited calendar. 

At the time, Buffalo Bill’s ended 24/7 operations but announced it would keep its gaming floor, rooms, and food outlets open on select weekends. Visitors arriving midweek were directed instead to the nearby Primm Valley Resort & Casino. Both are owned by Affinity Gaming.

Now, Buffalo Bill’s operations are being curtailed even more.

Buffalo Bill’s announces extended closure

Buffalo Bill’s has officially been granted permission to close its doors for an extended period.

At a meeting held September 2, The Clark County Commission unanimously authorized Affinity Gaming to close the property’s hotel operations for at least two years, with the option of extending the closure through two additional six-month periods. 

Under the newly approved plan, the restaurants and casino at Buffalo Bill’s will only open for special events and concerts hosted in its 6,500-seat Star of the Desert Arena. 

Operators are being forced to adjust to reduced visitation and changing consumer demand.

Buffalo Bill’s weekend openings shift to long-term shutdown

The move is likely part of a broader strategy by Affinity to consolidate operations in the remote gambling hub, which has struggled to attract steady foot traffic since the pandemic. 

Primm sits about 40 miles south of Las Vegas, serving as both a roadside stop for travelers and a weekend destination for Southern California visitors.

For decades, Buffalo Bill’s was known for gaming and for its quirky and larger-than-life attractions. The Desperado roller coaster, once one of the tallest and fastest in the world, towers over Interstate 15, while the Adventure Canyon Log Flume was a huge attraction for families and thrill-seekers alike.

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So far, Affinity Gaming has not shared details on the fate of these rides, which have been idle in recent years. Their uncertain status underscores the property’s limbo: neither fully operational nor entirely mothballed.

One high-profile piece of memorabilia has already been relocated. The Bonnie & Clyde “death car,” a Depression-era artifact that attracted countless visitors, has been moved to the Primm Valley Resort. That hotel and casino will continue to serve as the primary operational hub for Affinity in the area.

Buffalo Bill’s isn’t only Primm casino facing extended downtime

Buffalo Bill’s is not alone in reducing operations. Last December, Affinity received similar approval to temporarily close Whiskey Pete’s, another of its local properties. Like Buffalo Bill’s, Whiskey Pete’s is technically still open but only operates on a limited basis.

Together, the closures reflect a reality that has been playing out across regional casino markets: When demand drops, companies look for efficiencies. Maintaining multiple properties in the same small market can be costly, especially with reduced hotel occupancy and gaming activity. 

By focusing resources on a single active property — in this case, Primm Valley Resort & Casino — Affinity can maintain a small presence while trimming overhead.

Off-Strip casinos face broader challenges

The story of Buffalo Bill’s illustrates broader challenges for Nevada’s off-Strip resorts. While the Las Vegas Strip has roared back with record visitation and high room rates, outlying casinos have not enjoyed the same rebound. 

“Success off the Strip really depends on macro level trends across the country, [whereas] success for regional casinos really depends on micro level trends within that particular area,” Assistant Professor of Economics Mark Tremblay, of Lee Business School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, shared with TheStreet. Tremblay also noted that the off-Strip Red Rock casino just had its best year. 

Properties that rely on drive-in traffic, rather than convention business and international tourism, have been slower to recover.

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For travelers, the closure means fewer lodging and entertainment choices in Primm, a town that once promoted itself as a miniature version of Las Vegas. 

For Clark County regulators, granting temporary closure status allows operators flexibility without forcing them to surrender gaming licenses, which would otherwise lapse after two years of inactivity.

What comes next for Buffalo Bill’s

Affinity has not announced any renovation or redevelopment plans, leaving the property in a holding pattern until at least 2027.

Visitors driving the I-15 between California and Las Vegas will continue to see the resort’s neon sign and towering roller coaster, reminders of a casino era that may or may not return. 

Whether Buffalo Bill’s ever reopens as a full-time resort, shifts permanently into an event venue, or undergoes a more dramatic transformation will depend on demand — and on how the broader Primm market evolves.

(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a trip.)

Make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

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