Drive 40 miles north of the California border, and you’ll find Primm — a once-bustling desert town that now looks like a relic frozen in time.
Just a few decades ago, it was packed with travelers eager for cheap thrills, glowing neon lights, and a quick taste of Nevada’s gambling culture.
Today, the streets are empty, casinos are shuttered, and the town serves as a stark reminder of how even the flashiest destinations can fall into decline.
Mini-Vegas and the Allure of Primm
Primm earned the nickname ‘mini-Vegas’ for a reason. Travelers looking to experience Sin City without the crowds and big prices found a home here.
Budget hotel rooms, $7 prime ribs, and slot machines lined the town’s streets, offering a quick and affordable escape into excess.
One of the town’s biggest draws was the 380,000-square-foot Prizm Outlets mall, once brimming with luxury brands like Fendi, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade.
In 2013, the Las Vegas Entertainment Guide even named it “one of the top places to visit in Sin City if shopping is on your agenda.”
But just five years later, nearly half the stores had vanished, and now only one Sanithrift outlet remains — soon to close its doors as well.
The Haunting Transformation of a Desert Town
Daily Mail’s exclusive photos show Primm’s decline in stark detail.
Once vibrant buildings now teeter, windows are boarded up, pastel welcome signs have chipped and faded, and the streets are eerily quiet.
The neon glow has disappeared, the screams of thrill-seekers on roller coasters are gone, leaving only silence and dust where excitement once thrived.
The Fall of Iconic Casinos
Primm once boasted three major resorts owned by Affinity Gaming.
Whiskey Pete’s, a castle-shaped desert icon, offered 777 rooms, a 24-hour IHOP, and endless slot machines.
It closed last year, unable to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic.
Buffalo Bill’s, famous for cheap drinks, hearty meals, and the Desperado — once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world — shut down in 2024 after 31 years.
The Wild West-themed resort is rapidly deteriorating.
Primm Valley Resort & Casino is the last holdout, still operating around the clock and known for housing the bullet-riddled Bonnie and Clyde ‘Death Car,’ a 1934 Ford V8.
Witnessing the Town’s Decline
Robert Scott Morningstar, an employee at Affinity Interactive, has watched Primm’s decline firsthand.
“At one point, Primm wasn’t a ghost town,” he said. “But now it is. The mall being closed and empty hasn’t helped.”
Today, Primm Valley has just one bartender and one waitress.
Morningstar shared his wishful thinking with Medium: “If I were to win that eight billion dollars from the lottery, I would close the casinos and remodel them completely.
I just want to see some work done so they can stay open.”
Regular visitor Melissia Rogers echoed the sentiment, recalling how the town was “always packed with customers” in the 2010s.
“It’s just a stopover on our way to the Strip. It’s kind of sad what happened to Primm.”
Las Vegas Feels the Strain Too
Primm isn’t alone in its struggles. Las Vegas itself has faced headwinds in 2025, with sky-high prices, falling hotel occupancy, and dwindling tourism.
The city has lost roughly 300,000 visitors per month, and Harry Reid International Airport reported 4.56 million passengers in August — nearly six percent fewer than the same month last year.
Other desert stops have suffered similarly. Terrible’s Hotel in Jean, about 12 miles before Primm, began demolition in 2024 after years of sitting empty.
The 12-story Gold Strike building is now a hollow shell.
Plans for a Desert Revival
Despite the decline, Affinity Gaming insists Primm is far from dead.
In February, the company announced a $9-10 million “major repositioning” plan for Primm Valley, including upgraded dining, new retail, an improved truck stop, and a $4 million marquee to reignite the desert skyline.
The goal is simple: recreate the charm of two decades ago, when road-trippers would pull off the highway to grab a bite, try their luck, and maybe stay the night.
Affinity Gaming has not immediately responded to the Daily Mail’s request for comment, but locals and former visitors are holding onto hope that Primm can once again shine — perhaps as a reminder of what Las Vegas itself must do to avoid a similar fate.