As the deadline looms for Primm’s shutdown with the planned July 4 permanent closure of resorts and amenities at Nevada’s southern California border gate, a representative of the family that owns the land is warning the public not to get too excited about recently unveiled proposals to save the town.
Cory Clemetson, president of Primm’s landowner Primm South and grandson of Primm’s founder Ernie Primm, said Thursday that a deal is not imminent and that plans involving any specific potential partner “are overstated and premature.”
Clemetson issued a three-paragraph statement early Thursday and did not respond to questions.
Although he did not refer to it specifically by name, Clemetson appeared to be responding to a proposal by LV Petroleum LLC, a company that operates 84 truck stops in 34 states, including three in Nevada, to operate hotels, casinos, fuel operations, stores and other amenities on Primm.
In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal Wednesday, LV Petroleum CEO Kris Roach described the company’s vision “to restore the entire outlet and make Primm good again” and “operate everything at the outlet … pretty much farm-to-table.”
Roach said he hoped to finalize a deal quickly to avoid possible shutdowns by the July 4 deadline.
The planned closure of Primm was revealed on May 5 when the current tenant of the property, Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming, announced that it was no longer financially feasible for the company to operate the facilities at Primm. An estimated 344 employees would lose their jobs if the Primm facilities close.
Clemetson said there are a number of potential partners who have made proposals to Primm. The LV Petroleum plan gained attention because it was referenced at a special Nevada Gaming Control Board meeting on May 21 about an unrelated licensing matter involving Affinity, and board members took the opportunity to speak with Affinity executives about the Primm situation.
Clemetson said the Primm family is doing everything they can to save the town.
“On behalf of the Primm family, I want to thank the tremendous interest and support we have received since our tenant, Affinity Gaming, and its principal owner, Z Capital, announced on May 5 that they intend to close most of the properties at Primm that they have operated and leased from us by July 4, 2026,” Clemetson’s statement said.
“Like other community leaders, residents and visitors to Nevada, we obviously do not want that to happen. Since the relatively sudden announcement, we have worked tirelessly to find qualified partners to operate as many of these businesses as possible. We are doing everything in our power to prevent people from losing their jobs – and in many cases, being displaced from their homes in Primm.
“We appreciate the many potential partners who have expressed varying levels of interest in operating one or more properties at Primm. However, recent reports suggesting that an agreement with any specific potential partner may be imminent are overstated and premature. Our family is currently considering opportunities involving several well-established operators who have successfully operated similar hotel-casino properties in Nevada. toward the best possible solution, particularly for the hundreds of Primm employees and their families who manage this difficult situation.”
This is a development story. Check back for updates.
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