Casino owner Phil Ruffin buys Primm Ranch — PHOTOS

Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin purchased the 10-acre Primm Ranch estate at 7000 Tomiyasu Lane in the southeast valley near Sunset Park in an October auction for slightly more than $6.7 million, according to Realtor Kristen Routh-Silberman with Synergy Sotheby's International Realty.

"It's a big spread. Maybe we'll turn it into a park for the children," Ruffin told Las Vegas Review-Journal gaming reporter Howard Stutz on Nov. 10. "Somebody wanted to buy it and put houses on it. I wouldn't allow that."

Some who attended the auction said new-home developers were bidding on the property in the New York-based Concierge Auctions event.

Treasure Island's Senior Vice President of Communications Michelle Knoll said Ruffin has hired a "world-class architect" to recommend how best to integrate the compound into his neighboring 12-acre estate. Ruffin will own 22 acres when the properties are combined. Knoll said the land will be kept for his private use.

Meanwhile, the estate that casino developer Gary Primm built in the early 1990s has a gift for the community. In the main house, Primm, a wildlife enthusiast, kept a collection of preserved exotic animals. After the sale of his estate, he gifted the 99-piece collection, valued at $650,000, to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum at 900 Las Vegas Blvd. The pieces went on display Thursday.

In a press release, Primm said this about the gift that has been named the Gary and Matthew Primm Wildlife Collection. "I'm honored to present and to donate our family's wildlife collection to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum in hopes to expand the museum's educational services to the Las Vegas community. Leaving not only a legacy of infrastructure and casino developments, but also one that lends to the educational growth of Las Vegas and its youth, is truly a passion of mine. I believe our collection will benefit the museum's mission in educating children, adults and families in the natural sciences through its interactive exhibits, collections and educational programs, and I hope other notable families in the community will join the cause."

Marilyn Gillespie, the museum's executive director, said her staff and artist Ed Bigelow spent the past two weeks moving the pieces to their new home. Many of the exotic animals are in the African exhibit, which has been redesigned, except for the giraffe, which is in the hallway under its 22-foot-high ceiling — the only place tall enough for it.

One unusual piece of a lion and lioness taking down a Cape buffalo had to be dismantled to get it into the museum, she said.

Some of the pieces are North American species and have been scattered throughout the museum's exhibits.

Gillespie said the pieces were created by the best taxidermists and have been well-maintained.

"Everything is beautiful," she said. "We are very grateful to Mr. Primm for this world-class collection and are very proud that he thought of us."

She said the museum plans to hold a special event to showcase the collection. No date has been scheduled.

The Primm estate has been featured internationally for its underground tunnels, secret doors, indoor shooting range and giant garage with its own car wash and gas station. Routh-Silberman said it drew the interest of megastar Michael Jackson, who toured the home before his death June 25, 2009. The home has been on and off the market for several years and priced from $14.5 million to $16.5 million.

The compound has a 15,000-square-foot main residence, 1,500-square-foot caretaker's house, 3,000-square-foot guest house, equestrian center, dog kennel, greenhouse and golf driving course. The six buildings house 50 rooms.

Contact Real Estate Millions Editor Lyn Collier at 702-383-0299 or email at lcollier@reviewjournal.com.