Las Vegas oil dynasty steps in to try and save border town's last casino resort in a race against the clock to secure its future

Published: 02:33, 17 June 2026 | Updated: 02:43, 17 June 2026 The last resort standing in a ghost town on the border of Las Vegas has nearly been saved as a gas station tycoon family races to seal the deal. Primm Valley Resorts, the last casino among a trio of gambling halls near the California-Nevada border, was set to close forever on July 4. But the Herbst family, who own Terrible's, a mega gas station and convenience store, have stepped in to save the property, according to an announcement made by the Primm family cited by SFGate. Cory Clemetson, who is the grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm and serves as president of the Primm family, said in a press release that the two families are working together to do everything possible to prevent the hotel from closing. The last-minute deal could save more than 300 jobs after, just a month ago in early May, those same employees were sent a letter notifying them that they would soon be let go. On June 25, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will hold a meeting to discuss a gaming license which the resort will need in order to continue operating. With construction soon set to begin on the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, Clemetson told Fox News: 'We'll be the only game in town for the airport for people to stay.' The airport will help alleviate pressure on Harry Reid International Airport, and it will be constructed approximately 20 miles south of the Strip, according to SFGate. Primm Valley Resorts, the last casino among a trio of gambling halls near the California-Nevada border, was set to close forever on July 4 However the Herbst family, who own Terrible's, a mega gas station and convenience store (Pictured), have stepped in to save the property 'Primm has long been one of Nevada's most recognizable destinations,' Terrible's President Tim Herbst said in a statement. 'This partnership reflects our commitment to preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, investment, and tourism for decades to come. We believe Primm's best days are still ahead.' The Primm casino complex was once recognized as a popular, less expensive gambling resort option than ritzy Las Vegas. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted tourism in Sin City's gambling world, Primm's casinos started to sink. The Herbst family was previously invested in the area with their own hotel and resort, which was also named Terrible's. Additionally, casinos have popped up in other parts of the U.S., including California and New York, creating more competition. The Herbsts were previously invested in the area with their own hotel and resort, which was also named Terrible's Whiskey Pete's Hotel & Casino, Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino and Primm Valley Resort & Casino are seen in an aerial view Whiskey Pete's Hotel & Casino shut down in December 2024 Should struggling border casinos be saved for jobs and tradition, or is it time to move on? What's your view?Also, human casino dealers in Las Vegas are being pushed out of the industry and replaced with electronic gaming systems. In October of last year, the Golden Gate Casino officially transitioned to an all-virtual gaming floor in a bid to keep up with the times and appeal to tourists, Gen Z visitors, and locals. The new marketing strategy, known as 'The Night Starts Here,' first made its way into Sin City's oldest casino during the COVID-19 pandemic, but according to owner Derek Stevens, it hasn't really gotten attention until now. The move is just one of the latest attempts by industry insiders to revive a struggling Las Vegas tourism industry, which has faced challenges attracting visitors in recent years. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.