Can you tell us a little about Buffalo Bill's in Primm?

Can you tell us a little about Buffalo Bill's in Primm? I understand it used to be quite popular and showcases a car that actually belonged to Bonnie and Clyde. I believe they also used to have a roller coaster much like that at New York-New York as well. Would it be worth a trip down there to check it out?

Ernest Primm bought 400 acres right at the state line between Nevada and California in the 1950s. At the time, it was called, appropriately enough, State Line. He finagled another 400 acres from the feds and built a motel and coffee shop with slots.

In the early ‘80s, Ernest’s son Gary turned the motel into Whiskey Pete’s hotel-casino; in 1990, he opened the Primmadonna (now Primm Valley) and on May 14, 1994, Buffalo Bill's Resort & Casino. It featured 592 hotel rooms and had a distinctive Western motif. When we visited soon after it debuted, we remember being impressed by the care and expense that were invested in the authenticity of the theming. Also, Star of the Desert, a 6,500-seat arena, opened with the hotel-casino and for many years provided big-time entertainment (now the acts are not exactly F Troop, but now exactly A-list).

Of course, we waited until the Desperado roller coaster, along with an indoor log-flume ride, debuted in August 1994. At 209 feet tall, Desperado was the tallest and fastest (90 mph) roller coaster in the United States at the time and was a hell of a ride. In fact, thanks to Desperado, State Line became more than a stopover between Las Vegas and southern California and turned into a destination of its own.

The town was officially renamed Primm in 1996.

Buffalo Bills went through some changes over the decades, including a new 650-room hotel tower that was added in 1995, increasing its capacity to 1,242 rooms. Gary Primm sold the whole Primm kit and kaboodle to MGM in 1998. It changed hands again in 2007 when Herbst Gaming acquired it. Herbst later changed its name to Affinity Gaming and still owns the Primm properties.

In March 2020, Buffalo Bill's closed for the COVID shutdown, same as every other casino in Nevada and across the land. However, it didn’t reopen until December 2022, after undergoing some renovations.

Back in 1988, Gary Primm acquired the bullet-ridden Bonnie and Clyde car, the 1934 Ford V8 in which the notorious duo were gunned down. It cost $250,000 and was originally displayed at Whiskey Pete’s, but is now at Buffalo Bill’s.

Today, Buffalo Bill’s is kind of a shadow of its former self. The log flume is long gone. The roller coaster, though it was announced that it would, was never started back up after the pandemic closure. The main attraction is the restaurants, including a buffet (open Friday-Sunday), steakhouse, pizza place, Denny’s, and Starbucks.

Admittedly, we haven’t been out to Primm for a long time, too long, so we can’t comment with any authority about whether or not it’s worth doing the 80-minute round-trip drive. But that’s what QoDers are for! How about it? Anyone been there recently? Any recommendations?

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O2bnVegas Feb-24-2025

the Desperado

"...the tallest and fastest (90) mph roller coaster in the United States at the time..."

Who knew?  

Appreciate the research and history of Primm, Whiskey Pete's, and Buffalo Bills. Never been there, likely won't ever, but very interesting. 

Candy

Tim Soldan Feb-24-2025

Concerts in Primm

Have seen quite a few very good concerts in Primm at the Star of the Desert Arena. Buddy Guy, Michael McDonald, Marshall Tucker, and most recently Art Lebow's Valentines Day Love Jam with 5 different artista of which was Rose Royce of Car Wash fame. Yes these are worth the 40 minute drive. One guy I wish I'd been able to see pre_covid was Bill Cosby, who also appeared there.

Derick Feb-24-2025

Primm Casinos

Dumps!! Was there couple months ago to grab some lottery tickets and not worth it. 1st time there and probably last time. One casino looks closed down the other across street dreary at best. Last one Buffalo Bills prob best out of 3.

Joseph Merritt Feb-24-2025

11 Buck Miller Lights

I would always stop at Primm on the way in or out of Vegas to place sports bets.  Last autumn they were asking 11 bucks for a Miller Light bottle.  Haven’t been back since.

Reno Faoro Feb-24-2025

primm valley

our group (8) drove down 2 years ago. DISAPPOINTED IS NOT THE WORD.ONE shell of a casino had a few slots , no table games . we put enuff into the machines to accumulate $10 in free gas across the h'way at HERBSTS .  Ate at a restaurant there . drove back to downtown , and scratched that visit off of our future buckets !!!!!!!!!!

Bob Nelson Feb-24-2025

Desperado

Was a very fun roller coaster when it was running.  Drove out from Vegas once to ride it a few times.  Sad to see it isn’t running, it was worth the trip.  The first drop was very steep and you couldn’t see where the track was going even from the front car.  IIRC if went under or through a building at the bottom of that drop.

Jeffrey Small Feb-24-2025

There in December

Pretty bleak.  I recall my first visit in the 1980s.  We stopped for a "pee stop" going from Palm Springs to LAS.  I griped for the next few days that taking a pee cost me $ 85.00!  (The slots were tight!)  When I was back there in December the place was a ghost town.  Yes, the Bonnie and Clyde car moved back over there from across the street but the tables were empty and the restaurants did not even look appetizing.  After losing a few bucks we just went back to LAS.  Too bad that the roller coaster is idle.  The drop into a tunnel in the ground got high marks from my friend after he survived!

Larry Stone Feb-24-2025

monorail

i wonder if the monorail across the highway is still there.  i also heard the shopping mall is empty.

Candace Corbani Feb-24-2025

So Sad

The Shopping Mall featured a Thrift Store - last year - that smelled like mildew.  The Starbucks was across the street from B.B. although the sign was on their humongous sign. So sad to lose a fun stop coming and going to LAS.  Used to be a great place to stay to avoid convention prices.

AL Feb-24-2025

No more Original Pancake House

Many years ago, Buffalo Bill's had an outlet of the Original Pancake House, which is a nice chain.  There was only one thing about it that wasn't great: They didn't offer nonfat milk.  But their griddle concoctions (pancakes and other items) were very good, and not just the same-old-same-old.  It was an echelon better than IHOP.  What a shame that it's no longer there.  I always felt that Primm properties were in a precarious position because such a large percentage of CA visitors heading for Vegas (maybe the majority) really wanted to get to their casino/hotel after being on the road for 4-5-6 hours.  It seemed like it was only those who did not have any loyalty to any particular casino/hotel who had a big itch to pull over and gamble ASAP by stopping at Primm.  And people who are leaving Vegas and headed home to SoCal have little incentive to stop in Primm.  If they were really into O.P.H. and hungry for one of their pancake dishes, that might be the only reason why they would stop.

David Todd Feb-25-2025

Miss the roller coaster

I love roller coasters but this one bit me. Last time I rode, I broke a rib at the bottom of the big drop where it took a hard turn and slammed me sideways. I’d ride it again in a heartbeat. Also Primm had the last cheap gas before heading home to SoCal. Also had a nice discount Tommy Bahama outlet.

Crazy Feb-25-2025

Very nice in 2006, kinda sad now

Its peak was 2006-2007. They bussed a lot of people from East Los Angeles. It’s so ironic – I remember on at least a couple of occasions trying to leave Whiskey Pete it complete gridlock, security had to come out and act as traffic cops. When I was there last year, there were three cars in the whole parking lot at WP. It’s now closed.
Buffalo Bills was very bustling during that period, a lot of tables, machines, restaurants, and some plays for discerning APs. Alas, it is a shell of itself, but at least it has a pulse. I don’t think Primm Valley has table games. But if you have to stop at the border, Buffalo Bills is definitely the choice, but that whole area has been emasculated. It’s a shame.

Question of the Day - 24 February 2025

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