NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A month after a Nevada casino narrowly avoided closure and reopened its doors, the ironic destination is expanding its comeback, betting that lower prices and free resort experiences can attract travelers frustrated by high prices in Las Vegas. The reopening of Primm Valley Resort & Casino on July 22 marked a dramatic change for the town of Primm, which had been on the verge of losing its last operating casino-hotel and 344 jobs earlier this summer. The Primm family reached a last-minute deal with Las Vegas Terrible will operate the properties, avoiding the planned closure. GHOST TOWN CASINOS GET A SHOCKING RESCUE AFTER A FAMILY FINDS A LAST MINUTE BUYER Primm Valley Resort & Casino reopened 17 days after Terrible took over management control. “We’re off to a great start,” Cory Clemetson, president of Primm’s landholding group, Primm South Real Estate Company, and grandson of city founder Ernie Primm, told Fox News. Digital. Cory Clemetson, pictured above right, is president of Primm South Real Estate Company and grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm. He said the reopening is “off to a great start.” (Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images; Fox News Digital) The company’s president highlighted the reopening of the pool and steakhouse, along with what he described as a positive response to the changes. Clemetson said Primm also aims to offer travelers a more affordable alternative to Las Vegas. match previously earned reward levels for returning customers as it works to attract long-time visitors to Primm. “I think right now in Las Vegas, one of the hot topics is… people feel that private equity companies in general have taken away what made Las Vegas great like a more affordable vacation by charging parking fees and resort fees,” Clemetson said. Table games could return to Primm Valley “pretty quickly,” while another of the city’s shuttered casinos, Buffalo Bill’s, pictured above, could eventually return. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) “Your overall ability to have a much more affordable vacation and have a great experience seems like it cost you three or four times as much today,” he said. “Primm is trying to reposition that and bring people back in.” BARGAIN BUFFET REFUSES TO DIE AS LUXURY DINING TAKES OVER LAS VEGAS But affordability is only part of Primm’s appeal, according to Clemetson. He said nostalgia remains a big draw for long-time visitors. At the last minute, the Primm family in Nevada found a partner to help rescue their resorts before a feared July 4 closure. One of the resorts, Whiskey Pete Casino and Hotel, is shown above. (Michael Anthony for Fox News Digital) “Primm has a special place in the hearts of many people, not just Nevadans, but from neighboring states and people from all over the country who have come to Las Vegas or taken a trip there,” he said.[People] I don’t want to see [the properties] “With the right vision and the right strategy, we believe Primm can even be better than it ever was.” Board games could return to Primm Valley “pretty quickly” while another one in the city closed its doors. “I think you’ll eventually see Buffalo Bill’s open here, probably sooner rather than later,” he said. “They’re working on it, so there’s excitement.” Beyond the immediate changes, Clemetson pointed to the planned Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport near Primm as a major factor in the city’s long-term future. “In the next 10 years, a second major airport will be built a mile and a half outside of Primm, Nevada,” he said. TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ “And that will give Primm a strategic advantage it has never had,” he said. “With the right vision and strategy, we believe Primm can even be better than it ever was, and has a chance to do so,” he added. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP “There’s no guarantee, but it certainly has a chance, so we’re optimistic about our future.”
