Tentative approval has been given to Herbst-family owned JETT Gaming to take over both operation and ownership of the Searchlight Nugget. The casino comes with plenty of history, built in 1979 by Warren and Verlie Doing in the small town of Searchlight, 60 miles south of Las Vegas.
The property struggled heavily due to the recession and the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge built in 2010, which diverted traffic away from U.S. 95.
Executives told the Nevada State Gaming Control Board the goal is to bring amenities to the property and give people a reason to stop by. JETT operates the Terrible’s Searchlight, less than 1,000 feet from the Nugget.
Only 50 slot machines can be found inside, along with a few table games which are only open on weekends. The Control Board issued a gaming license with the condition to allow just 100 slot machines and no table games.
The company estimates nearly 90 percent of patronage comes from drive-by traffic. “We’d like to give folks heading to the lake a reason to stop,” Tim Herbst, JETT Gaming executive, said. The company is also exploring the idea of building a museum or historical center at the Nugget to lure in additional patrons.
Verlie Doing announced in 2013 she was ready to move on, and was asking $5 million for her Searchlight businesses, the 21-room El Rey Motel, various commercial buildings and 41 acres.
