You’re driving south on the I-15, caffeine levels dipping, desert sun beating down on the hood. Then you see it—the castle.
For decades, Whisky Pete's Hotel and Casino Nevada has been the unofficial "Welcome to Nevada" sign for millions of Californians. It was the first place you could legally lose twenty bucks on a slot machine after crossing the state line. It was the home of a legendary outlaw car and a very weird monorail.
But if you pull into the parking lot today, you’re greeted by chains and darkened windows.
Honestly, the state of Primm is a bit of a shock if you haven’t been there in a few years. What used to be a bustling oasis of cheap rooms and neon lights has become a quiet, dusty shadow of itself. There is a lot of confusion online about whether the doors are ever opening again.
The Current State of Whisky Pete's Hotel and Casino Nevada
Let’s get the big question out of the way first. Whisky Pete's Hotel and Casino Nevada is currently closed.
It wasn't a slow fade, either. The property abruptly shut its doors on December 17, 2024. While the owners, Affinity Gaming, officially called it a "temporary closure" to focus on their other two Primm properties (Buffalo Bill's and Primm Valley Resort), the reality on the ground feels a lot more permanent.
In early 2025, Clark County granted the owners a waiver to keep the hotel and casino closed for up to three years without losing their gaming license. This means the building could sit empty until 2027 or 2028.
Why? Basically, the math doesn't work anymore.
Primm used to thrive because it was the first stop for gas and gambling. Now, people just keep driving. Modern cars have better range, and the rise of tribal casinos in California means people don't have to cross the border to find a blackjack table.
You’ve probably seen the rumors that the whole town is being demolished. That’s not quite true yet, but it’s definitely on life support. The only thing still truly active at the Whisky Pete’s site is the truck stop and a handful of slot machines tucked away by the diesel pumps.
Who Was the Real Whiskey Pete?
The name isn't just a marketing gimmick. It’s based on Pete MacIntyre, a guy who owned a gas station on this exact spot back in the 1920s.
Pete was a character. Legend says he struggled to make a living selling gas to the few brave souls driving across the desert, so he started moonshining. He became known as "Whiskey Pete."
When he died in 1933, his dying wish was to be buried standing up in a secret location overlooking the highway, supposedly with a bottle of bootleg booze in his hand so he could watch the travelers go by.
Fast forward to the 1970s. During construction for a bridge connecting the casinos, workers accidentally dug up an unmarked grave. It was Pete.
They moved him to a cave nearby, but the legend stuck. Ernest Jay Primm opened the casino in 1977, naming it after the local bootlegger to give the place some "Old West" grit. It started small—just a gas station and a few slots—but eventually grew into the 777-room castle we see today.
What Happened to the Bonnie and Clyde Death Car?
This is the main reason people used to stop at Whisky Pete's Hotel and Casino Nevada. For years, the lobby housed the actual 1934 Ford V-8 that Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were sitting in when they were ambushed by lawmen.
It’s a grisly piece of history. The car is riddled with over 100 bullet holes.
If you go to the Whisky Pete's lobby today looking for it, you'll be staring at a locked door. Because the casino is closed, the display has been moved.
Currently, the car and Clyde’s blood-stained shirt are located across the street at the Primm Valley Resort. It’s still free to see, but the vibe is different. It used to feel like a roadside oddity at Pete’s; now it feels like a museum piece in a largely empty mall.
The car has a weird history of its own, traveling between various casinos for decades. It was bought at auction in 1973 for $175,000, which was a massive amount of money at the time. It’s been at the state line for the better part of thirty years, surviving ownership changes and the decline of the town itself.
The Rise and Fall of the Primm Empire
To understand why Pete’s is dark, you have to look at the "Big Three" of Primm:
- Whisky Pete's: The original, themed like an 1800s castle.
- Buffalo Bill's: The family-friendly one with the Desperado roller coaster.
- Primm Valley Resort: The "fancy" one attached to the outlet mall.
In the 90s and early 2000s, this place was a gold mine. The Desperado was once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. The Star of the Desert Arena hosted huge country music stars and boxing matches.
Then the 2008 recession hit. Then the California tribal casinos expanded. Then the pandemic happened.
By 2024, the ownership decided they couldn't justify keeping all three open. They poured money into Buffalo Bill's—renovating rooms and refreshing the casino floor—and decided Whisky Pete's was the odd man out.
There's talk about the "Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport" being built just a few miles north in Ivanpah. The owners are basically holding onto the property, waiting to see if a new airport will bring 35 million travelers past their front door by 2037.
Is Primm a Ghost Town Now?
Sorta. But not entirely.
While Whisky Pete's Hotel and Casino Nevada is shuttered, Buffalo Bill's is still operating, though its hours are wonky. They often close the hotel during the week and only open fully for concerts or big events at the arena.
The Prizm Outlets mall is the real tragedy. It used to be a premier shopping destination. Now, it’s mostly empty storefronts and "Space for Lease" signs. You can walk through the whole thing and only see a handful of people.
If you’re a fan of Fallout: New Vegas, the town has a weird second life as a pilgrimage site. The game features a fictionalized version of the town (Vicki and Vance Casino is the stand-in for Whisky Pete's). Gamers frequently stop by to take photos of the real-world locations that inspired the post-apocalyptic setting.
Ironically, the town looks more like the game now than it did when the game was released.
What You Need to Know Before Stopping
If you are planning a trip or a quick stop, don't rely on old blog posts or outdated Google Maps info.
- Don't try to book a room at Whisky Pete's. The website will just redirect you to Buffalo Bill's. If you show up with a reservation for Pete's, you've likely been scammed by a third-party site.
- The Monorail is dead. The tram that used to zip people across the I-15 hasn't run since around 2016. It sits on the tracks like a piece of modern art now.
- Gas is expensive. Because it's the last/first stop in Nevada, they charge a premium. You’re better off fueling up in Jean or waiting until you hit the outskirts of Vegas.
- The Lotto Store is still a thing. The small store on the California side (technically not part of the casino) remains one of the busiest lottery retailers in the world when the Powerball gets high.
The Future: Will It Ever Reopen?
Honestly? I wouldn't bet on it.
Affinity Gaming is pivoting. They’ve stated they want to turn their Primm properties into "travel resources" rather than destination resorts. This means more EV charging stations, more fast food, and less focus on 700-room hotels with 90s carpets.
Whisky Pete's is an old building. It needs millions in renovations to meet modern standards. In a world where the Las Vegas Strip is building $2 billion spheres and high-tech resorts, a fake castle in the middle of the desert is a tough sell.
The most likely scenario is that the building remains closed for the foreseeable future. It might eventually be repurposed as employee housing for the nearby solar farms or the proposed airport, or it might just continue to sit there, a giant neon tombstone for a different era of Nevada gaming.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Trip
If you want to see the "Old Primm" before it’s gone for good, here is how to do it:
- Visit the Death Car: Go to the Primm Valley Resort. It's still free and located near the back of the casino floor.
- Check the Concert Schedule: If you want to stay in Primm, check the Star of the Desert Arena schedule. Buffalo Bill's is much more "alive" on those weekends.
- Eat at the Mad Greek: If the casino food options look depressing, drive five minutes to Baker, CA, and hit The Mad Greek. It’s a classic.
- Skip the Mall: Unless you really love walking through empty buildings for the "liminal space" aesthetic, the outlet mall isn't worth your time anymore.
Whisky Pete's had a good run. It served millions of "steak and eggs" specials and paid out a lot of nickels. But for now, the castle is quiet.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the official Primm Valley Resorts website for the most current operating hours for Buffalo Bill's before you arrive.
- Look up the Star of the Desert Arena calendar to see if a concert is happening during your travel dates, as this is the only time the area feels truly active.
- If you are a photographer, visit during the "golden hour"—the desert light hitting the abandoned monorail tracks and the Whisky Pete's towers makes for incredible, haunting shots.