History of Primm, Nevada in Timeline

Primm, Nevada, is an unincorporated town in Clark County, prominently situated along Interstate 15 at the Nevada-California border. Its location on Ivanpah Dry Lake, which stretches both north and south of the town, is a defining geographical characteristic. Primm's strategic position makes it a notable stop for travelers crossing between the two states.

1996: Inaugural Terrible's SCORE Primm 300

In 1996, SCORE International started hosting an annual off-road race known as Terrible's SCORE Primm 300 in Primm. This race is part of a series of annual off-road races.

1996: Town Renamed Primm

In 1996, the town was officially renamed Primm in honor of its founder, Ernest Primm, and to avoid confusion with Stateline in northern Nevada.

1997: World's Strongest Man Competition

In 1997, Primm hosted the 20th World's Strongest Man competition.

1998: MGM Grand Acquisition

In 1998, MGM Grand acquired the casinos in Primm from the Primm family.

2000: Census Population

The 2000 census population for the community of Primm was 436.

2004: Apartment Complex Construction

In 2004, under the ownership of MGM Mirage, 52 apartment buildings were constructed in Primm to serve as more convenient housing for casino employees; the complex is called Desert Oasis.

2004: DARPA Grand Challenge End Location

Primm was the end location for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge.

July 1, 2006: Population Estimate

On July 1, 2006, a Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department estimate placed Primm's population at 284, apparently using different boundaries for the area than the 2000 census.

December 5, 2007: Population Update

In a December 5, 2007, article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Primm's population was listed as around 1,132.

2007: Sale to Affinity Gaming

In 2007, the casinos in Primm were sold to Affinity Gaming after being acquired by MGM Grand in 1998.

2010: Fallout: New Vegas Appearance

Primm appears in the 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas as one of the first places the player visits. In the game, the town is depicted as being taken over by escaped convicts.

October 25, 2014: Flying Disc Distance World Record

On October 25, 2014, Simon Lizotte set the Flying Disc Distance World Record at 263.2 m (863.5 ft) in Primm. He used a 157-gram Blizzard Champion Boss from Innova Champion Discs.

2017: Amtrak Thruway Bus Stop Closure

Until late 2017, Primm hosted an Amtrak Thruway bus stop at Whiskey Pete's Resort, providing bi-directional service between Bakersfield, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

2020: Census Block Population

In 2020, Census Block 2156, Census Tract 57.03 and Block 2155, Census Tract 57.03 showed a total population of 650 in Primm.

2021: Sale of Prizm Outlets

In 2021, Prizm Outlets was sold for $400,000.

2023: Prizm Outlets Condition

As of 2023, Prizm Outlets, formerly known as the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, was almost completely empty.

2023: Decline of Prizm Outlets

By 2023, the wholesale outlets mall, Prizm Outlets, in Primm was nearly vacant, contributing to the community's economic decline.

2024: Casino Closure

One of the casinos in Primm closed in 2024 as the community faced economic decline.

2024: Whiskey Pete's Closure

Whiskey Pete's closed in 2024.

2025: Casino Closure

Another casino in Primm closed in 2025 as the community faced economic decline.

July 4, 2026: Primm Valley Resort closing

News reports indicate Primm Valley Resort, along with the apartments and Flying J truck stop is closing July 4, 2026, leading to the town being characterized as a ghost town.