MARK WAITE / PVT Engineer Ed Taney breaks the news to Pahrump planning commissioners Wednesday: Say goodbye to the Route 160 movie theaters, at least for the foreseeable future. Advertisement

The Holiday Inn Express and Buffalo Southwest Grill are close to becoming a reality, but the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission also heard the Terrible's Town hotel and eight-plex movie theater project may be dead.

Ed Taney, of Taney Engineering, made a presentation for what appeared to be a routine request for the abandonment of 60 feet of the Highway 160 Frontage Road right-of-way and 20 feet of the Shoshone Drive right-of-way, which lies behind Terrible's Town Casino.

The property consists of 10 lots which included those set aside for the casino, gas station and parking lot. Taney Engineering said the abandonment was necessary to correct inconsistencies, creating a distance of 75 feet from the Highway 160 center line to the property line for the expansion project. Public easements would be dedicated for utilities within the expansion.

The Nevada Department of Transportation had objections to the traffic study. NDOT Traffic Engineer Kent Sears wanted a better right turn design from Highway 160 onto Crawford Way. He also wanted better driveway spacing on Highway 160.

The Nye County Public Works Department representative also was against the abandonment request.

"We feel with drainage issues we need this piece of right-of-way for drainage and/or road improvement," said Sam Musselman.

It wouldn't be necessary after all, Taney said.

"What we were just apprised of is that the property is potentially not going to be developed. They're placing it on hold. Given my understanding of that and my understanding of public works concerns, I'd like to request we withdraw that item without prejudice," Taney said.

He did add the project could be resurrected at a later date. The Herbst family recently acquired casinos in Primm on the California state line.

"So there goes our movie theaters," RPC Chairman Mark Kimball remarked.

Nye County cmmissioners approved the rezoning of the 12.16-acre site from open use to general commercial in October 2006 and approved the conditional use permit. Plans called for a hotel, movie theaters, covered garage and casino expansion.

Architect Pat Lenahan said late last year Herbst Gaming and Brendan Theatres agreed on the plans for the movie theaters. Brendan Theatres, based in Concord, Calif. operates the theater complex at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas. The 21,620-square-foot theater was to have 1,300 seats.

Taney referred further inquiries to Lenahan, who wasn't available by presstime.