A Farewell to a Borderland Icon
For decades, a brightly colored Native headdress atop a bison welcomed weary drivers on the I-15 as they crossed from California into Nevada. Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino in Primm was a beacon of affordable fun—an alternative to the neon dazzle of Las Vegas just 40 minutes north. But now, an era is drawing to a close.
Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino will cease full-time operations on July 7, 2025, according to a statement released by Primm Valley Resorts, a division of Affinity Gaming. While the property will still open occasionally for concerts and special events at its Star of the Desert Arena, the hotel, casino, and dining operations will no longer operate around the clock.
With this closure, the last of the original three Primm family resorts to remain fully open disappears into the desert sunset. Whiskey Pete’s closed in December, and Primm Valley Resort & Casino will now shoulder the full guest experience for visitors still looking to stop in Primm.
From Neon Dreams to Desert Silence
When it opened in 1994, Buffalo Bill’s was the crown jewel of Primm, a once-bustling stopover town formerly known as State Line. Designed to lure travelers with budget-friendly room rates, quirky attractions, and a carnival-like atmosphere, the resort opened with 592 rooms, eventually expanding to 1,242.
More than just a place to crash, Buffalo Bill’s made memories.
Its Star of the Desert Arena booked names big and small: from the likes of Reba McEntire and Aretha Franklin to Snoop Dogg and Captain & Tennille. Meanwhile, families and thrill-seekers came for the rides, the food deals, and the offbeat charm that defined “Old Vegas” in miniature.
Cheap thrills were literally the name of the game: $2 beers, $7 prime rib dinners, and $25 live shows were all part of the draw.
Desperado: A Coaster That Once Ruled the World
The biggest star, however, wasn’t on stage—it was perched above the freeway.
Desperado, the towering arrow-straight steel coaster, opened with Buffalo Bill’s in August 1994. At 209 feet tall and launching riders at 80 mph, it briefly held the title of the tallest and fastest coaster in the world—and still delivers a potent adrenaline rush.
Want to experience it yourself? Check out this immersive front-row POV video to feel the speed and intensity:
Crafted by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer, Desperado drops 225 feet at a steep 60-degree plunge into a cavern under the casino—then races through the Mojave desert landscape and back. It was a marvel of its time.
Though standing but not operating since early 2020, it has been maintained—although public reopening remains uncertain.
A Community in Transition
Primm Valley Resorts has not revealed what will happen to staff currently working at Buffalo Bill’s. Nor has it provided a roadmap for attractions still inside the property—including the famous Bonnie and Clyde death car, a grim but historic display that once attracted crowds.
Buffalo Bill’s had already been struggling to rebound from the pandemic. Videos shared by travelers showed quiet hallways, shuttered restaurants, and empty gaming floors—far from the lively bustle that once defined the resort.
Reservations past July 7 are now being redirected to Primm Valley Resort & Casino.
Final Thoughts
Buffalo Bill’s wasn’t just a pit stop—it was a unique slice of Americana. It combined the kitsch of roadside attractions with the thrill of high-speed coasters and the draw of headline acts, all at a price that made it accessible to nearly anyone heading toward Las Vegas.
As the lights dim and the bison headdress fades into the desert dusk, a chapter in Nevada’s roadside history comes to a close.
One question remains in the air like the final crest of a coaster drop: What happens next to Desperado?
We’ll be watching.
