By MARK WAITE
PVT
Shannon Keel, the new general manager of the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino, appeared to surprise Nye County Commissioners Thursday by proposing land, labor and a monetary donation for a new welcome center on the corner of the Nugget parking lot at the intersection of Highway 160 and 372.
Keel spoke under public comment at a special conference call with the Nye County commissioners who were meeting in Tonopah.
The Pahrump Town Board voted unanimously July 14 to investigate the possibility of purchasing The Kingdom Gentleman’s Club from owner Joe Richards. A prominent town businessman introduced Richards’ idea to town representatives.
Pahrump Town Manager Bill Kohbarger told his board there had been numerous complaints about the strip joint with a castle facade being one of the first buildings travelers see upon entering Pahrump. Commissioners will consider revoking Richards’ brothel and liquor licenses Sept. 7 following the appeal of his bribery conviction.
“We are willing to obviously donate the land, in addition to that a monetary donation. It may also include some labor on that. We’ll do whatever it takes to help both sides to make this work for the town,” Keel said.
Keel said she contacted Kohbarger but hasn’t heard back from the town manager yet. She made a preliminary announcement without any details at this point.
“It would be a better location,” she said. “The Kingdom has limited parking, it does not have good access.”
Large motor homes in particular would have difficulty navigating in the parking lot, she said.
Keel said the corner of Highway 160 and 372 is the center of town.
“We don’t intend to do the entire thing start to finish,” Keel said.
The Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce provides visitor information out of the second floor of the Nevada State Bank building at 1301 S. Highway 160. There is also a kiosk in front of the Bob Ruud Community Center with brochures for visitors. The state of Nevada and, for that matter, Death Valley National Park, don’t have welcome centers in Pahrump.
The Kingdom was envisioned by prominent local businessman Tom Saitta as a tourist center, as well as new offices for town administrative staff and the chamber of commerce.
A welcome center would also help business at the Pahrump Nugget, Keel said, attracting customers interested in gaming at a classy, local establishment.
The Pahrump Nugget Events Center is already the venue for many local events.
Hats off the the Pahrump Nugget!
Way to go Shannon Keel!
This makes far more sense!
And it will save us taxpayers over a Million dollars!
RV’s coming from ‘Vegas WON’t have to make a LEFT turn to get into the parking lot!
There will be ample RV PARKING!
It s located in the center of town!
The amenities at the Nugget are top notch!
There is already EIGHT places right there to eat!
We don’t have to build a town subsidized restaurant!
The ease of getting back on the Highway to any direction will be much easier!
Hip Hip Hooray! The Pahrump Nugget will save the day!
Now, why hasn’t Kohbarger returned her call yet?
Anyone who knows anything about Pahrump would know that the Pahrump Town Manager happens to be out of state on vacation and is not obligated to answer his phone during that time. Also, the property where the Kingdom is located is much larger than the area currently being used so you could expand the parking lot to accommodate rv’s. It’s not like 10+ rv’s/buses would be there at one time. And not everyone who comes to Pahrump is driving an rv. So the Nugget gets all of the restaurant business? Really? What kind of Welcome Center is that? The Kingdom on 160 & Homestead is a perfect location! The Nugget could make a large cash donation toward the refurbishing process!
Diana Hill-
Maybe Kohbarger is on vacation but; anyone with even half a brain would leave an outgoing message to that effect – he didn’t. And most all email programs allow you to activate an auto response when your are unable to respond promptly, like when you are on vacation, he didn’t. I prefer to think someone of Kohbarger’s position would know how to master the tools of his office, or am I expecting too much?
As for the size of the parcels that Richards owns; collectively they represent 390′ of frontage along Homestead Rd. and 230′ along Hwy 160. Now, you can’t add a driveway to the property on the Hwy 160 side and you sure as heck are not going to move the existing building so the only logical in/out drives, for motor-homes are between an opening 182′ wide at the south end of the properties frontage of Homestead – the farthest possible location from the front door of the Castle building, and I’m sure all of the people that depend on that section of Homestead Rd to get to and from home everyday are really going to appreciate always waiting for some lost tourist RV’r to creep in and out of this location – at a snails pace. It might be nice if we consider the RESIDENTS of that area when thinking about setting up a TOURIST welcome center and a FOR PROFIT Chamber of Commerce. Yeah, consider the residents first will ‘ya?
Lastly, you comment that the Nugget gets all of the restaurant business? So you honestly think that a local government operated or subsidized food service location is fair to the taxpaying businesses that are already here? That already made a commitment to this County and Town and pay beneficial taxes to? And further, I think you should familiarize yourself with the proposed location at the Nugget, there is no fewer than EIGHT eating establishments right there, right now and the Nugget doesn’t own all of them. Yes, the Nugget will be the most attractive location to go to but that is only fair seeing how they are willing to participate as a major contributor as opposed to say; buying Joe Richards’ strip club properties for $2.1 Million Dollars. That’s right TWO MILLION, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
So in the long run, Diana Hill, I think that it is far more prudent to place the ‘welcome center’ that everyone now seems we so desperately need – into the parking lot of the Pahrump Nugget. They have generously and graciously offered to partner with the Town on this and provide ample ability to get it done, they have the space and the location just makes sense.
So in closing I ask you this: Please explain your justification for why the Pahrump Nugget should make a large cash donation to refurbish the Strip Club Castle – after Nye County pays $2.1 Million Dollars for it? ‘Common – they just offered us the gift of a lifetime to place it at their Hwy 160 & 372 location for free!
Awesome offer, Thanks Pahrump Nugget.
In an economic environment such as this.. its flat out CRAZY and radical to have the town buying ANYTHING other than flat out basics.