Star Trek The Experience Closing In September [UPDATED] June 29, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Conventions/Events/Attractions , trackback
In May TrekMovie first reported that the future of the Star Trek The Experience at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas was in doubt after its contract ended in December. Recently we reported that talks were continuing to the end of this month, but apparently a decision has been made in the last couple of days and the contract will not be renewed. After over 10 years in operation, The Experience will close its doors in early September.
An official announcement is expected early this week, but multiple sources have confirmed with TrekMovie that the decision to close The Experience has been made. Negotiations between CBS, Paramount, Cedar Fair (owners of the Experience) and the Las Vegas Hilton went on longer than originally expected. There was hope that the new Star Trek movie coming in 2009 would help boost attendance, which has been in decline, but not all the parties could come to an agreement. Apparently the Hilton Hotel was the biggest holdout, convinced more money could be made using the space for other purposes.
Employees at The Experience are being informed today of the decision. A press release may be issued as early as Monday morning. The final date is likely to be in the first week of September, after the Labor Day weekend holiday. Although the contract for The Experience ends December 31st, Cedar Fair is required to completely vacate the premises by that time so they will need the time to clear out. No word yet on what will happen with all the rides, replicas and costumes, but all the original props and costumes will be returned to CBS.
The closure of Star Trek The Experience have no effect on the official Creation Star Trek convention being held August 6th-10th at the Las Vegas Hilton. The attraction will be up and running during the event and is likely to spur additional sales for the convention as Trekkies visit it one last time (or for those who haven’t yet checked it out, their first and only time).
Officials from CBS & Cedar Fair have not returned calls or emails yet on this late breaking story. As more information comes to light, TrekMovie will provide updates.
UPDATE: Officials with CBS have confirmed the story and say a release from Cedar Fair should be forthcoming soon.
UPDATE 2: Official releases and comments from CBS, Cedar Fair, Robert Picardo and fans
Comments»
“All good things must come to an end.”
-Q
The Experience should get a bigger place to call home anyway. They could do all kinds of fun stuff, a bigger Enterprise set up and more interactive things. Maybe this could be a good thing like the new movie.
Michael Adams? THE Michael Adams? President of the University of Georgia Michael Adams? who knew he was a Trekkie? It is sad that Uga VI died. Long live Uga VII.
This is total BS! There’s nothing else to say other than that! I’d like to go one last time before September, but that’s probably not possible. I never saw Borg 4-D. So angry right now! Star Trek always gets S-H-I-T on. All those companies in charge of it were pretty much stupid anyway, this just confirms it.
But I didn’t even get a chance to visit….. Curse my youth…
Weird that it should end now and not in 18 months or so? Star Trek XI is going to be a such a HUGE event. Their loss!!! $$$$$$$$££££££££
…a sad day, indeed. However, it was starting to show its age. Fortunately, I’ll be getting to see it one last time in Aug.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT!!! NOW HILTON CAN SUCK A CHODE! YOU BLOW HILTON! SEPTEMBER IS MY 21ST BIRTHDAY AND NOW ITS RUINED! I HAD PLANS TO GO THERE! F**K F**K F**K!
Damn, damn, DAMN! I was really hoping to make on last trip there, but alas, I guess that’s not going to happen.
I feel especially bad for the folks working there though, they always worked hard to entertain.
I’ll miss the place.
This really sucks. I am soo happy my wife and decided to take the last minute trip to Vegas last summer.
We are going to miss that place. I can’t belive all those idiots involved don’t even want to wait for the new movie. Oh well, I better put in one last order of Sulu’s Wing Sauce before it’s gone forever…
rasa frasin’! I never got to go. Looks like i missed out on this one. T-T
Ten years isn’t a bad run. It would probably need a big upgrade to be better tied into the movie, and not seem dated. From a business perspective I can understand a decision to wrap it up rather than reinvest. When The Experience opened, Star Trek had two TV series on the air and regular movie releases and it was the middle of the late-90s economic boom. That isn’t the market conditions today, and I’d be surprised if Star Trek ever hits that level of saturation again. On the other hand there are a lot of Vegas acts that seem to live forever even though they’re not on top of the charts anymore. Oh, well. Anyone who wants to see it better get in while they can. I never went but a couple friends made separate trips and I’ve still got a couple bottles of “Romulan Ale” blue wine coolers.
OMG I am soooo depressed!!! The 40th Anniversary convention there was the best week of my life! I can’t even imagine another big Vegas con without the Experience. I was hoping to go this year if the rumors of closing were true, but I can’t manage it. I am crying real tears!!
Well, that’s sad news. I’m so glad I’m going to the Creation con in August. One last time through the exhibit.
Wow I am glad I decided to go to the ST convention in August this year, 4th year in a row. This year I will make sure to pay special attention to all the little things I might have skipped by in years past.
Its all about money, they will probably add shops and resturants, thats all Vegas needs more of.
Maybe the convention will be held at some other hotel in Vegas, the Hilton was getting kind of run down, not to mention its not on the main strip.
Take the ride a couple of times and say its been fun.
I’m flying into LA on August 27. I planned to drive to Vegas to see Experience. Now I’ll have to get a move on and drive to Vegas before it shuts. Talk about cutting it fine!
And I’m coming all the way from Australia. I really hope they shut the 1st week of Sept and not BY THE FIRST WEEK!
Shame. I saw once. Others should be able to also.
go ahead closed for yes, nah, yes, no huh wtmf!!!!!!!!!!!!!! everything is bullshit!!
The economy is actually hurting Vegas for the first time in a long time so I image the Hilton, being off the Strip, is feeling it even more.
The problem is that it’s too damned expensive. Everyone I ever brought there over the last decade has LOVED it, but the price has continually gone up. They used to run coupons in the local discount booklets that were available in every cab and at every monorail stop, and that would always bring some more people through the door, but they never kept it going.
I’m really bummed. I’ll miss the Warp Core Breaches, for sure.
The problem isn’t that the Hilton was run down—it looks the best it’s ever looked in the last 25 years. The problem isn’t that it’s not a strip hotel–the monorail makes it an easy trip. The problem is it’s too expensive and they stopped advertising.
Shoot, I never was able to go. I do have two semi-humorous stories, though.
I worked for the steel company that made the big Hilton/Experience sign. We had to sign every plate we fabbed. My initials are all over the inside of it. I also stole a set of the drawings.
The other story is that a friend of mine actually went and bought me a six pack of Romulan Ale when he was in Vegas. Nice thing to do. Too bad the great State of Utah confiscated it at the airport.
Steve Allen (ex-Microsoft) should buy it and incorporate it into his SciFi museum. But then again, I said that when Firefly stuff went on auction too, and he didn’t go for that either.
Oh wait, I think his name is Paul Allen.
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHH. This pissess me off SOOOOO MUCHHHH. I never got to go and I was hoping to go in June of ‘09 but it looks like this dream is squashed. I really hate the people who made this descision. Star Trek is coming back huge!! They are screwing themselves out of money by closing it and YES why close it so soon? Give them more time to clean up and give us, THE FANS, more time to visit.
I really hope that for some oddball reason this is untrue, even though I feel stabbed threw the heart by the people behind this descision. I hope Star Trek XI is sooooooo huge that they REGRET their descion to close and I hope that it hurts them much $ wise to know that they lost so much business.
It would have been nice to go at least once……….once.
Long Live Star Trek.
I am not surprised by it closing. I am just amazed that it is happening so soon. I thought they would have waited until the end of the year and maybe until the new movie came out. Alas it is a sad day indeed. I can’t wait to have many drinks at Quark’s during the convention one last time.
I’m not surprised. I’ve been to it 5 or 6 times over the years, including opening night, and the number of paid attendees has dramatically changed over the years such that it almost seems deserted at times.
It is pretty sad though.
Well I was hoping to be able to go over Christmas but I guess that won’t be happening now. Frak that!
Sad indeed. This upcoming Con will be a landmark.
This is HORRIBLE! I’ve been their once. I think it would be great to go the last day, but with the econ it’s unlikely
Totally SUCKS!! I was hoping to some day get there.it was on my list of places i wanted to see. Stupid stupid mistake! I wanted to get married there. of course i needed to find someone first. This sucks!
does the words live long and prosper mean anything?
I hope maybe the rides and attractions find a new home.. i had always wanted to order from the site. maybe i should before it goes.
its a huge mistake. especially with the new movie coming out..
This is a disaster. Seriously.
I will be offering Cedar Parks sucks shirts soon :)
But in all reality, let’s do something to save a piece of our second home.
From the above article it sounds like it was the Hilton, not Cedar Fair
YOU WOULD THINK ANOTHER HOTEL CHAIN WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE IT IN!!!!I MYSELF HAVE BEEN THRUGH IT 5 TIMES OVER 5 YRS IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. MAYBE THERES STILL HOPR WITH THE NEW MOVIE COMING OUT . IF IT MEANS CHANGING THE STAGE TO THE ORIGANAL BRIDGE FROM THE NEW MOVIE THAT WOULD BE GREAT A LITTLE CHANGE NEVER HURT HERES HOPEING!!!! JIVE LONG AND PROSPER TREKIE FOREVER!!!!!
A shame. Stepping onto the Enterprise bridge was an out-of-body experience, and all that memorabilia was fantastic(not to mention the Warp Core Breach at Quark’s). It WAS showing it’s age though, particularly the TNG ride. I was planning on hitting Vegas again before the end of the year but I don’t know if I’ll get there before it closes.
If the new film is a big hit, there will be a new attraction based on it somewhere in the world.
I’m sorry it looks like I’ll never see it, but The Experience never really grabbed me. Once they chose to not replicate anything from the original series, it wasn’t going to be my idea of a Trek “experience.” But I understood why — it befitted the 24th-century era of Trek on TV and the movies at that time.
This news is disappointing, but not unexpected.
The first ride - experience - was awesome. In those days there was a larger number of staff on hand in costume. It really was a ‘Star Trek’ experience, including getting hammered on ‘Warp Core Breeches’ in Quarks Bar afterwords.
I went many times over the years, and that first ride never lost it’s charm. A trip to Vegas wasn’t cool without In and Out Burger, and a trip on the Enterprise-E.
The Borg Experience changed all that. It was cheesy, the displays seemed to lack any real sense of the series, and there was a cut-backs in staff levels. The day we went, I counted only three staff.
The ride was 3/4 empty. It was unoriginal, and the seat was just uncomfortable - not to mention stupid as the chairs tried to ‘assimilate’ me. ‘Some experience’. The only saving grace was that I did the original ride afterwords. That was 3 years ago.
To say the Star Trek Experience had grown ‘tried’ was an understatement. The original ride still was cool, but was showing it’s age. The thrill of being beamed seemed to have half the air, the sets looked old, and it started to smell bad. It was cool in it’s day, and maybe after JJ’s relaunch - something will return in another form.
So, if you’ve never done it, take the time to go to Vegas before September and be a part of something that was for a time, very cool for any fan.
David
I have to agree with others here. With the movie coming out next year I think the timing of this is terrible.
Maybe we should start a campaign to get Cedar Fair to move it to one of their amusement parks, like Cedar Point in Ohio. (That park is awsome, more roller coasters than any other park I believe).
Thank goodness my husband and I are heading to Vegas for the ST con. After seeing it the first week it opened 10 years ago, who would have thought that after 10 years (and about 4 or 5 visits) I would be seeing the Experience within weeks of its closing. It has been a good run…..
‘D’, it was a trip on the D
Awww, what a shame. I was hoping to get to Vegas one last time to see it alas, it just didn’t work out this year. As it stands, I am very glad I did see it once. It was a absolute blast and I’ll miss it, but I’ll always have the memories. It was fun while it lasted.
That’s a damned shame.
Damn,
No more Quarks and hot Klingon Women
Warp Core Breaches all around
Don’t hope too hard for Cedar Fair to move The Experience to one of their parks. They’re good at coasters, but don’t seam to get theme attractions or history. I think that most people (not all I know) who have seen the choices that they’ve made with Knott’s Berry Farm since they bought it would agree with me. They don’t seem to like updating things. They do better at tearing down and building something new. The best thing to hope for, is for another hotel in Vegas, or another amusement park chain deciding to revive the concept if the movie does well. Maybe Universal would be willing to do something. They had a fairly good Star Trek show in the 80’s and have done well with their Terminator and Simpsons attractions.
This sucks! Especially since the closing day is probably going be either on my 20th bday or shortly before/ after. I was hoping to go next year for my 21st for obvious reasons.
As mentioned above, I think it would seem like a good idea for another park to take some of the Trek attractions there and put them there, or something similar. I actually think that maybe because of the Abrams connection, that hopefully Disney takes over. Even though they have Star Wars there, I can see a new Trek attraction whenever they redo Tomorrowland at Disneyland.
At least we’ll have the exhibition, or tour, or whatever it’s called now. Should’ve tried harder. With the new movie, it’s likely there will be new Trek fans…and this is a great place for new Trek fans to begin to immerse themselves into the trek world. such a shame….the D-bridge I will miss most of all….stepping foot onto that bridge was an experience I’ll never forget.
I went to the STE a few years ago, and it was already beginning to feel like a neglected Chuck E. Cheese for trekkers. Even thought the rides were pretty cool, the museum and bar felt dated and over-prolonged.
Still, why cancel the contract right when Trek is about to become more popular than ever before? Why not just give it a facelift and a new ride? Seems to show a lack of forsight….
I sent the Hilton E mails saying if they closed Star Trek I would have no reason to visit the Hilton when in Vegas…I never got any response other than the auto one saying I would get a response in a few days.
I have stayed and played and been there multiple times including their new years party 2 years ago. No More….
The fact they were the main holdout was just what I was afraid of…. More slot machines will be better for the hilton…and we all lose an imaginative fun attraction that was a world showcase and meeting place for trek fans all over the world.
HEY BOB ORCI, can you and JJ Buy it and move it to Hollywood or another casino, maybe even improve it? HAHA I can always dream…
I am thankful for the good times I have had there. Thanks to all who worked there..special thanks to April…I luv all you guys….Will miss seeing you all……..
Also, the Warp Core Breach is the best drink meant for two or more people that I’ve ever finished by myself :)
It’s five different kinds of rum, five different fruit juices all swimming in a futuristic glass bowl with dry ice so that it stays icy cold for and hour or so.
Conversely, the terrible Disruptor Blast was obviously just vodka and mountain dew :(
I am coming from Australia in July and will pay a last visit. It was always on my list of must do’s whilst in Vegas. This year it will be a sad event. Will have to buy up big in the store and eat heartily and drink merrily at Quarks.
Starfleetmom #13… Myself and Sheri were also at the 40th anniversary convention which was my first and only star trek convention. I spent thousands….was worth it but cant afford it. I feel your pain as I have been to the experience every time weve been in vegas and we loved it….It would be cool to have something star trek themed at Disneyland maybe in Tomorrowland close to the Star Wars simulator….we can dream…but most of the fun of the attraction in vegas was the great staff, the great people acting and caring about Trek and the ride and us fans…
I have never made to the experience. Yet they had a pretty good run. The experience lasted longer than some casinos have in Vegas! Remeber the good and let it rest. It was much more geared to TNG nad up than TOS anyway. And TOS is what Paramount is looking at now.
On one visit one of our children had a pacifier in her mouth. The Ferengi actor asked about our little “humann’s” object.
When I explained that where we come from (Conneaut, Ohio), that was our “universal translator”. He had an outstanding laugh and gave me one of his Star Trek The Experience pins.
NOTE TO POSTERS
please do not post people’s phone numbers or email addresses
I am outraged that it is closing And happy that my husband and I decided to go this year. My husband and I got married there this April. It was everything we could have hoped for it to be. But we were hoping to go to our fist convention there next year. Guess I should have went this year. I can’t beleive they are closing it I guess T & A is all that Vegas really cares about. To heck with anything that really means something to an expansive base of people. We need sex and nudity to bring in people so we can demoralize them even more. No love for the nerds.
StarTrek.com message boards are down. I guess everyone is venting over there and has caused an overload. CBS probably won’t notice it for a week, if they even check it.
My only problem with the “experience” is its heavy concentration on the latter incarnations of trek… I think if fans wouldn’t complain, they would have been glad to eliminate the movie 1701 enterprise completely… but that is just there to lure TOS fans like myself… once inside, TOS is soundly ignored from the rides and restaurant… with only some recreated props from the tos movie era.
hmm ………….never even been there. my only hope now is that they move it to somewhere else. but i guess i cant see that happening …..but i really wish it would. I can honestly say without a doubt with this gone i dont think i would ever want to visit vegas now , i am sure i would have enjoyed the other stuff but this would have been one of my main reasons for going , if i want now i would just be annoyed the closed it. so the hilton think think they can make more money with the space , let me guess more slot machines or something ? yea great , just be like everywhere else in vegas, grrr i am so annoyed.
well, they could at least give us the ride videos for download…
It’s official. Star Trek the Experience is closing September 1, 2008.
Chad Boutte, the Operations Manager and Marketing Director at the Experience in Las Vegas is the primary media contact for all news regarding their closure.
Justin Toney:
I’ve tried to reply on the startrek.com boards now that they’re up but I’m unable to login, I’ll post my reply here if it’s okay.
ANTHONY: If you wish to avoid this feel free to delete this comment
The reply is as follows:
“I’m currently emailing Chad about my last visit. I was hoping to get permission to film the experience. I figured it was a long shot and I was right, unfortunately they are unable to allow any filming of the attraction. I know that you did a fan film on the bridge, so I’m assuming that he means the actual rides.
I am willing to help in any way possible.”
next year the Hilton is going to realize what a mistake it made.
#3 “Long live Uga VII.”
Go Dawgs! Sic ‘em! WOOFWOOFWOOF!!
Peace. Live long and prosper.
The Vulcanista }:-|
I was thinking and hoping the same things guys….That someone could film the behind the scenes tour for instance….and copies of the movie portions….and someone, star trek magazine or someone needs to print out their incredible Star Trek Timeline..My digital camera didnt work well enough as it is all backlit…It contains all the history of the future from nasa and Capt Archer to Next Gen…..and incorperates all the updated explanations from Enterprise as well…
I already sent an e mail to star trek magazine requesting an article with pix and even sent an e mail to gary at creation ent. to see if he can look into putting at least some of the ride and interviews on dvd when they have the convention since I wont be there…maybe since they are licensed to be star trek conventions that paramount may let them show some of it…i mean its being dis assembled why in the heck would they object to showing behind the scenes and have memorable scenes for us fans to remember it by???
People keep wanting to blame the Hilton or Paramount or Cedar Fair for STTE’s closing. Yeah, they each have their hand in it, but the indication seems to be the closure is due to low attendance. You can’t blame them for that. That really falls to us, the fans, for not turning out. We all have our part to play in this. Don’t think the Hilton owes it to you to keep it open just because you think it should be. Nothing lasts forever, not even in three-shows-a-day Vegas.
Please know that I am not trying to flame anyone or that I’m trying to bass the buck (I’m part of this too). I just thought it needed to be said. Besides, Trek and its’ fans have survived worse things than this.
I’m sorry, that should say “pass the buck…”
Gutted - just gutted.
Unfortunately filming is strictly prohibited and they didnt seem to be able to make any exceptions. It’s really too bad that this history will be lost…
(sigh.) Terribly sad, but inevitable.
The only reason I ever went to Vegas was for the ST:E. I have been there 5 times since. Every time I would stay all day doing the rides walking around the promenade. The best food I have ever had was at Quarks. I’m talking with some friends about another trip before it closes. On those days I’ll have fun, hang with friends and enjoy the whole Trek experience. When I leave I’ll have memories of something truly fun. That will more than likely be the last time I will be in Las Vegas.
I’m going to miss it alot. But heck…6 times I’ll have been when the doors close. Some of my happiest times.
Glad I’m going first week of Aug! :-)
Mr. Hilton has no honor!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had the chance to visit it back in 1999, it was on a flying visit to Vegas (I live in the UK and was only in the states for five days!) drove to Vegas from LA especially for the “experence” and it was well worth it.
it’s a shame to see it go, i was hoping to go back later this year to and was looking forward to it.
Let’s hope the new movie is a great success and even more of these experences pop up world wide.
I don’t quite know what to say. My wife and I got married there in 05. We were hoping to have a a 5 year vow renewal there in 2010. We’re quite bummed.
It’s understandable. It’s all about $$ and attendance and the 24th century Trek, on which it is based, has run it’s course.
If JJ’s Trek is wildly successful, I expect we’ll see a similar TOS /Abrahms’s themed attraction somewhere in the future.
I wonder what will happen to all the goodies in the “museum” part of the attraction, that was the best part.
Damn I was hopin the Experience will stay. I loved it last year and will make the most of it this year at the Con.
Not sure I would like a version based on Abram’s new movie since I believe it will be totally different from the Star Trek I love. Abrams version seems like it will jetison the past 42 years and be very alien.
keep the 24th Century look, Quark’s bar and the Enterprise D look amazing.
Very sad: my wife and I got married on June 20, 1998 and went to Vegas on our honeymoon. She was NOT a Star Trek fan, yet, went to it with me. After going through it once (towards the beginning of our honeymoon), I asked if we could try going a second time before we went back home.
Much to my delight, she had enjoyed it enough to say yes. We had hoped to go back this year for our anniversary, but unfortunately, gas prices pretty well annihilated that idea. NOW, this!!!! Ughhhh-I am so bummed. I wanted to see the Borg thing, even if it was lame (as some people have stated here). I do agree with Daren Doc: there was a great need for more original Star Trek “stuff”. Maybe a “Galileo 7″ shuttlecraft ride, though my dream would have been an Enterprise bridge (no bloody A, C, C, OR D). Oh well…………
[…] For Star Trek fans it was like a pilgrimage - a visit to Las Vegas and a visit to the “Star Trek - The Experience” rides at the Hilton. Now it’s closing. […]
#8 … “NOW HILTON CAN SUCK A CHODE!”
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe we already have video?
perfect new venue for Star Trek The Experience: The Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey…there are tons of Trek fans in New Jersey…why? because in a decaying state like Joisey we Joiseyans need belief in a brighter future…LOL…Vegas was too large a city for the exhibit; it got lost amidst the glitz and glamour of Vegas…in Atlantic City it’d stand out more and attract many more exhibit-goers with much less advertisement…smaller city…
An odd numbered Trek movie without Shatner and now this. Sounds like the final nail in the coffin of the franchise.
82. ??? The guy is in his 70s how many more Treks do you think he is capable of being in (speaking of nails in coffins)? Trek XIII starring the corpse of William Shatner. Sorry, I don’t mean to start the Shatner in the movie thing again, but really! (and I am a huge TOS fan–McCoy, my favorite character of all Trek time).
Seems sort of stupid for Hilton to give up the ghost now on the precipice of the movie which may revise interest. Then again, sounds like “Star Trek-The Experience” is more a TNG/DS9 24th century thing, so probably wouldn’t quite sync with the new vibe of JJ. Never been to it, but I have the travel mug, purchased by my ex-wife. The logos have worn off, much like novelty and freshness of the display (judging by many postings here). Helluva’ mug though.
Wow 82, even Shatner has given it a rest……….join the club.
Like most other attractions that close out west, someone will pack it up and ship it to Branson, MO…..
Wandered through the Hilton about a month ago, and noticed the back end looked exactly like it did when we went through it a few years back, so I’m not surprised. Had no desire to see an exhibit that stopped being updated. Posters prove the point - those who went and commented about it being tired, and those screaming about the need to keep it open on the chance they might see it some day. Well, Paramount ain’t likely to promote a new movie at an attraction so rooted in the past they are trying to avoid. Remember, they are trying to reach a general audience as well. The franchise will not survive without a new fan base…..
I’ve never been. Oh, well. At least I’ve gone to the Tour in Long Beach.
So sad - I always said I’d know if I found the perfect man, because he’d want to get married at the Experience as much as I did. Now how will I ever know? ;-)
What are they doing with the bridge?
Can I buy it an install it in my attic?
Noooooooo! I must take the opportunity to make a pilgrimage one last time to Star Trek Mecca.
This is a very bad business decision considering the entire franchise will be getting re-invigorated May 2009.
As Captain Picard would say:
Lets See What’s Out There!
Time to move onward and Upward.
86, speaking of the Tour, I see that its been scaled down and renamed: http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek_The_Tour
Startrek.com still has this claim:
“STAR TREK THE TOUR will travel to 40 cities in the United States over the next 5 years. Check back soon for a list of cities we will visit in 2008.”
–
Its been almost a half a year and still no update. Now the ticketmaster link is dead. Is that a bad sign?
This is going to turn the Vegas Hilton into an unknown redshirt.
For the Hilton will be hollow and I have touched the sky…
The Hilton has ideas on bigger revenue. They see Caesar’s with a room that seats 5,000 @ $100 a pop, a night, to see Elton John, Cher, and Bette Midler. They see all the other casinos with 3,000 seat theaters with Cirque De Soleil acts @ $100 a pop, a night. They see all these nightclubs generating $1,000 for a lounge seat in VIP, where they have at least 50 and $500 for a bottle of Alize. The Hilton wants a cut of that kind of action.
The owner of the Hilton, Colony Capital’s Thomas Barrack, owns Michael Jackson’s neverland ranch and is trying to convince him to perform 225 nights a year at the Hilton.
It’s all about the money.
Went there twice and loved it both times. I’ll miss the blue Warsteiner, eh, Romulan Ale. What lives long in Vegas prospers in Vegas…
Strange they wouldn’t wait until after the new movie is released. Ah well, someone should go with a video camera and make a good, thoughtful video with commentary of the place and post it for posterity, so those that can’t go can see a part of history.
I am going to miss Quarks; loved the drink specials and all the Ferengi’s running the joint. No more warp core breaches. I wonder what they are going to do with Quarks since it is a complete recreation of the original set. It would be nice if someone purchased it and moved it somewhere else.
When my friends and I would go, every one of us wanted to do/see at least one thing in Vegas. Being the only Trekkie, of course I would choose The Experience. And everyone in my group would have a blast, Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike. I never went to the Borg 4-D ride and, with gas prices the way they are, most likely won’t be able to make it by closing time. Shame… Being that Vegas is all about gambling and shopping and drinking, The Experience stood out for me as something unique and different to do in Vegas. Now , sadly, I’ll have to assimilate myself with the collective that is Las Vegas. Thanks for nothing Hilton!
I have to say I’m not moved at all by this news. Like the conventions, I’ve never felt a need to go. I love watching Star Trek, and I even like some of the older novels. I never collected Trek toys or left the casinos in Vegas long enough to play at The Experience. I just love the show and look forward to the new movie.
It was obviously not making enough money, or the Hilton wouldn’t be shutting it down. It’s all about attendance and dollars spent. There just wasn’t enough.
May the Hilton go bankrupt. Bastards.
It seems that my prior message was
deleted. I’ve been declawed - Ouch!
This sucks. I have been wanting to check it out for years and never got chance. Now I never will. This would have probably been the only thing to draw me to Vegas so I can probably scratch Vegas off of my must visit one day list. I would have gone to a Vegas convention for the added benefit of THE EXPERIENCE but I think now SDCC will be my ultimate convention goal now! Maybe the Hilton’s could have got Paris to model an original series mini to bring up attendance!
Damn. I’d always hoped/assumed I’d get the chance to check this out at some point, but I’ll never get to Vegas in time… *sigh*
I hope The Experience finds new life in some other venue. The fact that they’re dismantling (from the sounds of it) as opposed to demolishing gives me a bit of a chance, maybe.
Sorry, kids. No Big Loss. It was always a dissapointment. Been there 6 times. Was there for all the openings and premieres. Cedar Fair never put money back into it. they just let the quality drop. Its not anybodys fault but Cedar Fair. In Quarks bar they had NO shotglasses! Even the worst bars in my town have shotglasses!
The more I think about it, 10 years is a pretty good run for something like this, and alot of things have changed since 1998 in the world of Star Trek production. There were still two series on the air, and another yet to debut.
7 years later, Star Trek was at an impasse. Fortunately, we now have a big budget “back to roots” Star Trek film to look forward to, but it apparently wasn’t enough to convince TPTB that another generation of Star Trek fans would be flocking to The Experience as a result.
Star Trek so needs it’s own Theme Park, that way stuff like this wouldn’t happen as often, if at all.
Did Paramount make it’s money back on The Experience in the first place ?
I know they poured a lot of money into it’s construction and so forth.
- W -
* Curious *
One stpep forward-
Two steps back.
Instant replay
Sneak attack.
R. Lamm c1972
The Franchise dies, piece by piece
before our eyes
while the saving grace is hidden
behind a cloak of secrecy.
With all of the negatives
going on in the periphery,
I become nervous once again.
R. Tompkins 2008
Some rollercoaster ride, isn’t it? Makes me wax almost poetic.
I live here in Las Vegas and make a point to go to the Experience at least twice a year. I have two very good friends of mine who worked as actors for the experience since it opened. I loved it and will miss it. Lunch at Quark’s Bar, running from the Borg and Chasing Klingons high above the strip…..all the goods things end way too soon!
I think that they did. Otherwise I dont see why they would have expanded it, twice. Also, I read an article from a few months after they opened (probably mid summer) and they had already had 1 million attendees, at that time admission was around $20, so that’s $20 million just in ticket sales, not merchandise or food. Within 8 months of it being open.
#109—That may be true, but once again, the Star Trek fan landscape is much different 10 years later. There are no spinoff tv series on the air, the last feature film bombed, and the promise of STXI reinvigorating the franchise may not be enough to persuade Hilton to renew the contract. They may have made their initial investment back, and even paid for the improvements with early ticket sales, but business is business. When the landscape changes, you must change with it.
I just got back from the Hilton yesterday on my 2nd visit to the experience. I’m so glad I did the “Backstage Tour” this time. If you can get there before September … DO IT!
I’m not going to post a link, so it doesn’t get removed, but there is some bootleg ride footage on a “popular video sharing site”. Doesn’t do the ride any justice of course, but at least it’s something if you weren’t lucky enough to go…
This is terrible! I was hoping to visit STAR TREK: THE EXPERIENCE. But, as it turns out I will never ever be able to. I hate not having the chance at something big!
106 - I was just thinking how sad it could be if there were a theme park… and it ended up like Al Capp’s “Dogpatch USA” , the PTL Club’s Heritage USA or Nashville’s defunct “Opryand USA”.
I guess the lesson would be not to put USA in the title.
Look, they’d make more with slots in the same place. Let it go… Vega$ wasn’t the right location in the long term, anyway…
It might do better in Orlando.
My wife and I live here in Vegas and go to SSTE about twice a week. We were married there on the bridge 3 years ago before moving here last year. It was obviously a positive in our decision to move here. So, we have become very attached to the place and the people who work there. It’s hard to put into words what STTE has meant to us. We had been hearing rumors for months about it’s pending doom. Yesterday it was confirmed. All employees were told that Labor Day ,Sept. 1 would be the last day of operation. It’s sad that something so unique has to come to an end. Yes, it could use some updating. But, it cost 50 million to build 10 years ago. Can you imagine what the cost in dollars would be today? It’s a tribute to the longevity of Star Trek and it’s fans that STTE has remained open almost 11 years now. That’s a long time for anything like it to last in Vegas.
Having first hand knowledge of what has been going on there, I can tell you that the one main reason it is closing is that the Hilton which is owned by Colony Resorts simply doesn’t want it there any longer. I’m sure there is blame to go around, but they are enemy number 1. Plain and simple. STTE has been trying very hard to renew the lease, but has been shot down every time. It finally became obvious that it just wasn’t going to happen.
I feel fortunate that we’ve been able to go there so often and made life long friends.. I feel bad for those who will never have the opportunity to see it. It has never gotten old for us. We still love it just like the first time we walked into it.
For those of you who didn’t like it or are critical of it. I feel bad for you. It’s Star Trek. What’s there not to like?
So, we’ll be there on the last day with one last warp core breach and plenty of tears. A very sad day in the Star Trek universe.
Thank you to everyone there for all the great memories. You guys are great.
Sorry for sounding so sentimental. It’s just how we feel.
The TNG bridge was the best part about it. But, the rest of the ride felt silly and the corny tour guides didn’t add much to it. The museum was fantastic, though,
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is so freakin’ Sad!!!! I want 2 go b4 it closes, but I don’t know honestly if I’d get there….I’ll pray that maybe it will b moved somewhere else….SOMETHING…SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!!!!! Sob!!!!! This is a Sad day indeed….
104. In the 24th century there are no shot glasses, even in the best bars. ; )
First StarTrek.com (virtually). Now The Experience.
Sigh.
We are left with the Tour, but how long before that, too, folds?
For me, the Las Vegas Hilton will never be the same.
To all of you who keep saying “oh, I should have gone” or “I meant to get there one day” …YOU HAD 10 YEARS!!!!! If you had made that trip to TrekMecca maybe it would have been around another year or two.I went the year it opened and again five years after that. It WAS cool but even then was showing its age.
The best part was that you could take your pic sitting in the Captain’s chair, and then look around the bridge. Fantastic.
Well, this sucks! They should give it until Sep. of ‘09. Hilton thinks it is better business to put slot machines in it’s place. Also, the Trek Convention should move back down to L.A. where it belongs after this!
Somebody had better pick this up …. it would be nice if it could be somebody close to the northeast alsooo. But I would still be happy for anyone to pick it up and keep it going. You will benefit deff. 2009!
I wonder how much they would sell the attraction for?
Wow all the interesting Vegas simulator type rides/attractions seem to be going away. At one point you had the wild Luxor ride adventure, the STAR TREK experience and I think a few other fun exhibit/ride/theme places. Funny I began to think of Vegas more for those type of things than gambling, etc. I know there are Vegas purists that would bristle at that thought.;) Oh well never made it to the Borg deal and I guess all things do end in the end. Would be fun for a TOS simulator ride exhibit to pop up somewhere. It seems unlikely, yet one STAR TREK experience happened maybe another one will at some point.
[…] TrekMovie.com published an updated article reporting that “[a]fter 10 years in operation, The Experience will close its doors in early […]
I’ll definitely be stopping by this weekend while I’m in town for Westercon 61. I may organize a group excursion if there’s any sort of at-con newsletter to spread the word.
I’ve been on both rides. They’re good but maybe it’s time to move the whole thing to a hotel closer to the strip.
I’ve been 6 times and love it every time.
From getting “beamed,” to standing on the bridge of the Enterprise D when the lights dim for Red Alert, to enjoying a meal under the starships, to seeing a Ferengi and greeting him by yelling “Ferengi!” to have him respond, “Humon!”… to standing on a deck of a space station being attacked by the Borg., to riding a Turbolift and hearing Riker’s voice on the comm… to spending hours reading the history of the future timeline… to seeing uniforms worn by the cast in some of my favorite movies..
We are losing the Temple of Star Trek and it will likely never be replaced.
I am soo sad - Its all coming to the end… Star Trek needs to be re-created for the new generation to enjoy, just like the baby boomers and generation x that enjoyed it so much…
This suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I will have to eat twice as many Class M Pizzas and drink many many more warp core breaches this August than last.
They should move it to Kings Island or Cedar Point (both in Ohio) so it is nearer the population center of the country. Las Vegas is damned inconvenient for the vast majority of the population.
Further, any hope that Las Vegas had of making it a family destination is dying as fast as the gas prices rise.
133: agreed, but unlikely. It would be great, I’d go all the time. It’d be only a few hours drive, verses a minimum of a 3 hour flight (w/o layovers, which is tough to find!)
And the price is going up to $50 for the summer!
I wonder how much for the large unlit Enterprise at the entrance…
Don’t know where I would put it…but….
Dude I’m outraged. All you fukn americans saying shit like ‘Oh no, I can only go one more time!!’
How many trips have you made there you bastards?? Do you know what its like being a trekkie in Australia?! No conventions or anything worthwhile. I was planning on making the trip to america in the next few years to see this and now its gone. Count yourselves lucky. Wankers.
its been said about 137 times above, but it really is sad. my wife & I had a blast at last years Vegas con and the nights getting blasted as Quarks was the real highlight. met great fans, had good food, talked a Borg man, tried to drunkly flirt with a Romulan babe….I loved Borg Invasion 4-D (as cheesy as it is) and the gift shop was a dream come true. it is shame every Trek fan won’t be able to check it out. sad sad sad.
If Star Trek: The Experience is experiencing a decline and closure 11 years after its’ opening, I don’t honestly think that Star Trek could be popular enough to sustain its’ own theme park. Maybe a new attraction at Universal Studios or a Disney park, but not an entire park unto itself.
Yes, this is really upsetting but really no surprise. Vegas is doing it’s best to strip itself down of anything cool, kitchy and themey and turn itself into playground for rich young idiots from LA. I’m sure some trendy lounge/club with a three letter name will fill the space vacated by ST:TE.
I’m noticing this year many of the fun 80s acts that used to regularly tour here seem to be relegated to Primm and Laughlin. Everything now has to be trendy and edgy. Mandalay Beach’s concert series in the last few years had featured acts like Hall and Oates, The Go Gos, Foreigner and all sorts of stuff. This year it’s “Gnarls Barkley” and “Vertical Horizon” *yawn*.
I was never there but I’m dissapointed to hear it’s closing. It’s another sign that Trek is … not dead but … gone, at least for the time being.
This is a real shame that it is closing. We went there twice, once in 2002 and once in 2003. We spent the whole day ridding, eatting and shopping. The whole experience was FAN-tastic. My Wife and I were planning a trip in October for her birthday at Star Trek: The Exeperience, I guess Disneyland will have to do.
SC
What would make the most sense, especially if they can find the space, in Las Vegas, is that Planet Hollywood buy it and move the whole thing down the strip to Planet Hollywood Casino & Hotel. First of, at the Las Vegas Hilton, not only is it at the end of the strip, off the foot traffic path. Sh*t, having the Las Vegas Monorail station, for the Las Vegas Hilton, not more than fifty yards walking from the entrance few Star Trek: The Experience, didn’t help increase attendance. The Las Vegas Hilton isn’t real popular with people partying on the strip - it’s really more popular with people attending something over at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The only time that’s been of benefit to ST: The Experience is during a Trek Convention.
But put it in almost dead center in the middle of the strip, attached to a casino/resort that already has “Hollywood” in it’s name, might just give it a steadier flow of attendees during the year. It sure as hell, when it was the Aladdin, didn’t hurt Criss Angel.
The question is who, with Planet Hollywood, to try and sell that concept to, and can you actually make a business case for now, or would it have to wait until the next Trek Movie comes out.
WHy isn’t is being moved to Atlantic City???
The East Coast is always the red-headed step-child for all this kind of stuff. We didn’t get the Star Trek Motion Picture exhibit from Universal Studios out here. Nor the Battlestar Galactica Exhibit (Great Adventure anyone???).
We’re not going to get “The Tour” as promised…
The least they could do (and the smartest thing) is to move the Experience, lock, stock and barrel here to the East Coast where it isn’t played out and will get the boost from the movie next year.
I guess we’re lucky to have the Enterprise at the Smithsonian…
I’m planning my vacation now. Seriously. I’m looking at going the end of July. Any other serious people interested in going and meeting up or something, send me an email!
Luke again….
Saw the email and didn’t realize it would not post. So, if you’re serious, here’s my email, hidden just a wee little bit: Just Everyone Do It 917 at that yahoo place.
I’ve been going to Vegas every year since 2000 and I make a point to stop by ST:TE EVERYTIME. Truly a shame that this has to happen. I consider myself to be a avid Trekkie and always look forward to the rides and the atmosphere. I was hoping for a lottery hit or something because I know what I would have done with most of the money. I wish there was someone that could step in a save ST:TE.
Thanks for all the memories and the escape from the real world.
Somehow, I think if someone else were to take over ST:TE, that they would probably scale it down somewhat, maybe get rid of one of the rides. I have to say that if someone else took it over, I can’t see The Experience staying in Vegas, much less ending up on the Strip. Not if it has a record of declining attendance. You would have to be really persuasive to convince a potential owner to put up the money to put ST:TE on the prime real estate of the Strip.
Guys,
Vegas in in the sh*ts due to Mr.Bush’s recession. The Hilton needs to generate revenue on the site, and slots would most likely do better than STTE.
It’s a shame that CBS is not on the ball with this property. The Experience, the touring show and the website are all a wreck. In the corporate world, it’s called incompetence.
I’d be surprised at this point if they even know a new film is coming out. They’re busy licensing out Star Trek cake makers and birthday favors. No one gives a crap anymore.
CBS, please sell it now.
I’m gonna be honest here, I have been to the experience quite a few times, and am sad to see it go, but
It is too expensive for what it is. It is not an allday experience except for the most devoted and if your spouse/sig. other isnt an equally huge fan it doesnt provide value for non fans beyond one ride on each attraction.
Klingon Encounter
Pros:
The Enterprise D bridge is fantastic, so is the beam aboard effect, and the transporter room and corridors, the “grand corridor” is okay but it doesnt look like any TNG set ever shown on screen.
Cons:
The ride itself has terrible graphics, they were a stretch 10 years ago as far as beliveability and are nearly laughable now, only the most fervent devotion to trek will allow you to look past the effects of the Klingon Encounter and find them satisfying. The accuracy of the bridge makes up for it though.
Borg Encounter:
I always liked this alot, my only complaint was that the setting does not take you through an established Trek locale, the station is well done, but I think something is lacking when you arent in a space that takes you into the reality of the show, oh well, the effects are pretty goos, I was very satisfied.
The Promenade
This was always a big treat except you couldnt go onto a second level, and Quark’s was a one story place instead of the dramatic layered set featured on the show.
They committed sacriledge by roofing over the second level of the promenade (making it into a non set specific “Captain’s Lounge” and reducing the promenade into a series of cave like rooms instead of the grandeur of looking out through the promenade windows we know and love from the DS9 set.
The upkeep was lacking, although one can say this was merely a “more authentic” station but it seems a copout to go that way.
Overall I will miss it, but a few of the inconsistencies always bothered me from a purists poit of view, a lower price allowing for more frequent visits and the inclusion of non-trekker family members might have compensated for these deficiencies or even better provided the volume of visitors to ensure upkeep of the attraction.
What a bunch of babies! The thing has been open for over 10 years and now it looks like an old Vegas ride! Those of you who think the Hilton is at fault are just lost! Grow up and say “Hello” to reality, chumps!
Went there twice over the years, once with my dad (now deceased), and once with my wife. Made a fairly extensive video the second time, which I will now have to track down and have converted to a DVD.
I think I’ll also have to go online and start snagging up some stuff, since it’s doubtful I’ll be able to make one last pilgrimage.
[…] hit the Internet today that the Star Trek Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton is closing in September. I figured it would close sometime this year, as news came in April that it had no […]
Remind me NOT to stay at the Hilton now.
Having visited the Experience three times, the most recent being in February, I say it’s definitely time to shut it down if they aren’t going to improve it. It isn’t what it used to be since they ruined the Promenade by roofing in the second story for the sake of a buck. Not to mention the overpriced crap in the stores, and nickel-and-diming of the photo process (used to be a flat fee to take a pic of as many people as you wanted on the Enterprise Bridge, then it became a twenty dollar fee for one person, with each additional person costing five bucks), Quarks isn’t what it once was. In addition, many much-needed refurbishments to the Klingon Encounter were never made, making it feel like a second-rate carnival ride, and the Voyager themed experience was never very good anyway…
I the plus side, I never need to go to the Las Vegas Hilton again….
Well I can see why Star Trek the Experience is closing. When Some of us fans are upset and LOVE IT there, others say it sucks and is too expensive and like an old Carny ride…
Well…I loved it from the first time to the latest…I think Josh#129 said it best for me…Those shared experiences he listed all add up to the experience and the thrill and the FEEL of being in a trek verse no matter how small….and making friends and seeing everyones love for star trek…It wasnt kept up perfect and it wasnt perfect. But I think you naysayers protest too mucheth….it was the best we had to a semi religious Trek Temple Pilgramage as others have mentioned. For those reasons I will miss it. It always managed to transport me to the trek universe no matter how briefly…It was a comfortable fun place to go every time in vegas….
Gerry L #115—Your comment its star trek what s not to like….RIGHT ON! One thing I notice from comments all over this great website is that many many FANS are VERY PICKY….They only like TOS or TNG and hated ENTERPRISE and NEMESIS etc…..
Well I guess we all deserve to be supported VERY LITTLE since so many of us dont want to support star trek in anything other than their limited favorite incarnations….IF all fans supported The Experience like those of us who love it…it may still be around….even telling my fellow friends/fans how great it is nobody I know ever went and some of them went to VEGAS fairly Frequently….I have to agree with Gerryl #115 that the many negative comments here for such a fantastic one of a kind attraction only proves they dont like star trek as much as I do I guess….Will the new movie Fracture and divide us fans again and cause more problems for Star Treks future? We will see….We already have some saying the movie will be a piece of garbage when they havent even seen 1 second of it yet….IDIC people IDIC if you really believe in star trek you should support its many incarnations or soon we will have NO incarnations….
I hope Paul Alen ex microsoft mogul in seattle heard its closing. maybe he will buy it and assemble the bridge to add to his sci fi museum….maybe even the ride parts….wouldnt be the same without the great employees it has now but it would be better than nothin….
Also If no one is allowed to take pix and movies of the ride I hope the employees do it themselves and anonymously release it on the internet….after all what are they gonna do FIRE EM? HA HA Kinda like the FLASH MOUNTAIN Website showing gals flashing on the splash mountain website in disneyland….
Hey if they wanted to make more money they should have turned the Enterprise Bridge into a themed hotel room and we all could have joined the 3 billion miles high club or something hahahaha
You know, if Paramount really thinks TREK is an important commodity, they would put the “Experience” on its lot tour in California.
With all the people who travel annually to the studio tour at Paramount’s lots, this seems to me a no-brainer of where and who should maintain it.
It would be a prime location, says me!
There are public tours at the studio, aren’t there?
Just think, with all the old sets to choose from, they could make this a prim-o tour if it were in Hollywood.
We should all complain to the Hilton and Cedar Fair and voice our opinion.
I hope they sell some costumes and props!!! I will be in the front of the line! This sucks big time, maybe they will have a big bang ending for all of us!!!!!!!
I bet the stuff I have purchased and “acquired” from there is valuable now and I should save it for ebay later :)
I will probably be set for life…
Sadly,
John Hennington
There are only 3 things in Vegas that pull me off the Strip - Hard Rock Casino, DefCon, and The Star Trek Experience. I visit the Experience EVERY time I am in Vegas - in fact it is probably the ONLY place I visit EVERY time. I always get my Warp Core Breach (Who says its a drink for 2 or more?!?!?) The Hilton will have nothing to pull me in now.
The Hilton is doing what it thinks will make it more money, so I have no malice towards them. I just think it is a bad idea. I doubt I will make it to Vegas again in time to visit Quark’s one last time. I will miss it.
So sad… but impetus for an impromptu vacation. As soon as my boyfriend and I read this we booked our flight and hotel. We are making the pilgrimage from Boston to August in Vegas (HOT!) as we refuse to let the experience die without our participation.
Guys - don’t worry. I read in the Las Vegas Review Journal that the lease at the Hilton is just not going to be renewed. There is a very big possibility that the experience will just move to a different location. I hope to go back five years from now and still see it! :-)
Good comment Michael, still Hilton is crazy thinking anyone’s going there other than for The Experience - it’s Trekkie Mecca!
Someone tell cedar “Procedure is Not Recommened”
The Shat could buy it!
Or perhaps a pledge like the one for the extra season of enterprise? - even sell shares in it…
Hi, I’m from Mexico and totaly sucks, seriously; i got to see it ones and i loved it!!!! BS for the decision made!
[…] It saddened me not a little this week to read that Star Trek the Experience, a museum/theme ride that has been in the Las Vegas Hilton for over a decade, will be closing this September. […]
My Family just returned from The Experience right before the official announcement. While checking out of the Hilton we were told we were lucky to have seen it before it closed by the end of the year. We were also told that a Michael Jackson theater will be replacing it. How’s that for an insult!!! He’s more out of date than Star Trek.
[…] After ten years, the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas is closing. I first attended the experience during a business trip to Vegas in Spring of 2001, and I really enjoyed it. In addition to a recreation of the NCC-1701-D bridge, and a motion enhanced ride, they’ve also got a really nice Star Trek museum. I’ve got a collection of photos that I’ll put into my Flickr account sometime this weekend. The timing seems a little odd, considering there’s a reboot of the Trek franchise on the way in the form of a new film, but I suppose if attendance is too low to maintain the exhibit, something’s gotta give. If you’d like to see the exhibit, you’d better get to Vegas soon. The Star Trek Experience is closing in September. Via: trekmovie.com. […]
Has anyone thought of asking the Shat to help?
Wow… the same weekend where another beloved attraction was confirmed to be closing in September, the Adventurer’s Club at Walt Disney World… now this.
Ugh.
@Mazzacano Shater was part of that horrible “Star Trek: The Tour” BS that was in Long Beach earlier this year… it was horrible.
How many of you would like to see it stay open or move to a new locaiton?
ITS TOO BAD THAT CBS AND PARAMOUNTAND THE HILTON HAVE
DECIDED TO REMOVE THE STARTREK THE EXPERIENCE.
THAT WAS A VERY PO0R CHOICE TO MAKE. MAYBE IF THEY DIDNT
CHARGE SO MUCH TO GET IN , THEN MAYBE THERE WOULD
BE MORE BUSINESS. THE EXPERIENCE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
REASONS FOR MY STAYS AT THE HILTON. GREED SEEMS
TO BE THE BIG WORD AND RULE THESE DAYS. KEEP THE
THE EXPERIENCE AT THE HILTON. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY
RIGHT THING TO DO.
We need to bug both the Hilton and Cedar Fair. I dought the Hilton would ever keep it open, but Cedar coud move it if enough poeple were interested. Everyone who wants to try should email Cedar and bug the heck out of them! I MEAN REALLY BUG THEM!
The news of the closure does not surprise me. Extremely bad management and marketing is to blame for the decline of my favorite place to go in the universe. They had the potential to reinvent themselves yet you have staff who working their who is unfriendly, and general mangers who are a joke and don’t return calls. The money for the attraction (store) can easily be generated through locals if they were to cater to them and instead they carry junk in their store that is overpriced compared to what you can easily find elsewhere on the web. I am saddened that the negotiations with the Hilton went poorly however what has the management done to keep the place open. When the original series was set to go off the air a grass roots effort made another season to appease the fans. This could easily be done again if “haling frequencies were truly open” then the management would be calling out to all the fans to keep the place alive, but then lets remember this is Cedar the great people who ruined knotts berry farm. Bring a creative team in and you would not have to close, but hailing frequencies are blocked and disruptors are pointed torwards the place being blown to bits. Their are millions of Star Trek fans out there from all generations. Young and old would flock to the saving, however Cedar sucks and so does their staff. Too bad a great thing was lost to stupidity.
Here is a petition to help save the Experience. thanks
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savestartrekexp
[…] themed attraction in the Las Vegas Hilton will close on Sept. 1, confirming news first reported on TrekMovie.com. Go To […]
The problem in Vegas is that they think TOO big. A better business decision would be to build smaller hotels with fewer rooms not the Megahotels with thousands of rooms and have 80 per cent of the rooms empty. I always thought that 5 hotels each with a different flavor of Trek would be a great idea because Trekkies don’t mind paying premium prices for a quality product. Perhaps Reno would be a better venue or some city where the real estate is not so outrageous and operating expenses is exorbitant.
I purchased a thousand dollars worth of plane tickets for a November Trip just for ST: experience.
I am pissed.
Please fill out the above petition and send it on to others. Please but the Hilton also. thanks
Having lived in Vegas for a long time, I remember watching the first plans being shown, the Shuttle craft being lifted into the Hilton by crane, and enjoying the original Delta Quadrant silverware at Quarks. But as they worked to improve the experience, the price kept going up…and up…and up. The Vegas of the 90’s is gone, they are not interested in your family income now, only the asian whales with big, big bucks to blow. That floorspace will be another Paigow or high roller buffet area this time next year. I am very, very sad to see this thing go (it was the only reason to hit the Vegas Hilton anyway) but when you look at the nearby residents(Turnberry Place, etc) the Hilton is speaking to a new customer.
Those of you who live in Vegas as well know what I speak. Screw all these condos.
Its sad to see the star Trek Experience go, I’m glad Me and my husband had the chance to come to Vegas last year and get to see it. There are many fans that will miss it.
Another thing I would like to see come to Vegas if not another star trek Experience is a Stargate Experience. That would be AWSOME!!!
Who ever puts these things together….. Think about it… PLEASE!!!!!
Anyone who’s had dealings with Cedar Fair can tell you they are incompetent.
If they found a way to turn lead into gold, I guarantee you they’d also find a way to lose money on the deal!
That’s not to say CBS isn’t equally guilty.
If it isn’t a cheap reality show, they don’t understand it and therefore want to kill it off.
They’re morons.
Maybe someone needs to do a petition for keeping this tradition going. I enjoyed one time there, other family members are going. Too bad the rest of the world can’t come and enjoy these people we grew up with.
Wil Wheaton with all your talented writing skills you made my dad laugh.
My dad doesn’t laugh that often but YOU made him laugh. Wow! I will never forget that.
Plus, I am glad you got to meet my brother & me during the convention ‘07. (Remember the engineer that your are made my brother one-HEE HEE) Seriously, my brother did become an electrical engineer.
Thanks to every other star that was in Star Trek, OLD & NEW. We will always have these films to remember you by.
I will remember eating popcorn & snacks waiting for the show to begin with my dad & brother. Great memories.
I’m happy I got the chance to go there. Twice!!!
[…] that be” from closing the doors on what has been known as Star Trek “Mecca”. TrekMovie has now posted two reports noting the passing of the Star Trek: The Experience, located in the Las […]
why are you keeping the closure so quiet to the public. all of those
of us who have taken the time to write , should have our opinions
count. ive gotten go enjoyment out of the experience. as i wrote
before , greed is a bad thing. why doesnt hilton management
answer our comments and remarks? KEEP IT OPEN;
Gerry L.: What a great commentary. I’ve been there once or twice a year every year since it opened. It’s always the first place I go when i get to Vegas. You expressed my sentiments perfectly!
My son has a congenital heart defect, life threatening. Make a Wish granted him a wish last summer and I talked him out of wishing for the Star Trek Experience because, after all, we could make that happen. Pushed him to wish for something he couldn’t get on his own, and so he did. We promised to take him to the Star Trek Experience.
A week before this announcement, we purchased $1000 worth of non-refundable plane tickets to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving 08 to take him and fulfill our promise.
Devastation at this announcement and the fact that now, we have no money to go within the next month having put all the cash we have into the tickets for Thanksgiving cannot even be put into words.
Unfortunately, I now have to live with the fact that this was the one wish that he wanted to make when he had the opportunity to wish for the thing he wanted most in the world, and because I thought they would never close it with this little warning, he can’t ever have it.
*My* heart, now, is broken.
There is a petition going! Please sign! thanks
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savestartrekexp
keep the startrek the experience open. its only fair.
KEEP IT OPEN
My husband and I were just there this past Tuesday. The Star Trek Experience was the first thing we wanted to do in Las Vegas. My husband and his family are long-standing Trekkies. I am a Trekkie by marriage. What a great time we had. I especially enjoyed the Klingon ride.
I noticed that there were not many characters at the Experience (only 3). Quark’s bar had only one Ferengi entertaining the guests…kind of sad. I hope the Experience finds a new home. It was worth the trip.
M
ps
Take the monorail and find your coupons in the ‘What’s On’ magazine. The price has gone up to $49.95- Yikes!
I’ve heard a rumour (but bear in mind I’m in Scotland so it might very well be just that -an unfounded rumour) that the LV Hilton is to close for a multi-million refit and when it opens in 18 months or so the ST Experience will be part of it’s entertainment. Maybe you lucky people over in America can do a bit digging and see it there’s even a kernel of truth in this rumour. As Spock said there always are possibilities!!!!
My wife and I came when it first opened. We are here now and just found out it is closing. It is indeed a sad prospect to loose such an icon and Vegas will be a little less fun because of it. We will no longer stay at the Hilton because of there “wise” decision to not renew the lease with Cedar Fair.
Star Trek Experience will live on now only in our memories…
….Kapla
[…] as I said, this place is closing on September 1st…I am actually really bummed about that because I would go back to Vegas just for this place! […]
FANS OF STARTREK SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND PETITION
TO KEEP IT OPEN. I FIND IT IN BAD TASTE THAT THEY DONT
RESPOND TO ALL THE MESSAGES REGARDING THE
EXPERIENCE AND IGNORING ALL OF US. THIS IS A CLASSLESS
ACT OF GREED. BY ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED. PARAMOUNT
STUDIOS SHAME ON YOU. HILTON SHAME ON YOU. PARAMOUNT
PARKS AND WHO EVER YOU SOLD TO SHAME ON YOU.
KEEP IT OPEN
CAROL
Sad, truly Sad. I’ve been to the Experience once before in 2005, and now Im going back in August 24 to Vegas.
Before reading this, I had all the intention of going back now with my wife…. but Im hesitant, is everything going to be slum and bogged down because of imminent closure… or will there be a last glimmer of light before the end?
I think I might kill myself. This totally is depressing.
Hilton is stupid for shutting this down all the Rich condo owners aren’t going to gamble there they’ll go to the nicer casinos at least the ride brought in people.
i was looking forward to getting a photo of me with my first child on the enterprise bridge when we go to vegas in november. I guess that idea is shot to hell.
The loss of the experience means I’ll never visit the Hilton again…jerks.
ARE YOU PEOPLE EVER GOING TO LEARN ,THAT WITH ALL THE
NEGATIVE EMAILS YOU ARE GETTING, YOU ARE STILL GOING TO
SHUT THE EXPERIENCE ? THAT WOULD BE A VERY STUPID AND
GREEDY MOVE.
KEEP THE EXPERIENCE OPEN ;
STOP IGNORING THOSE OF US THAT GIVE A
DARN.
CAROL
Its a sad, sad thing to know that our future generations will not have an opportunity to experience the EXPERIENCE.
But after attending the Vegas Star Trek convention this year, I heard a little rumor that there may be some hope yet.
The rumor is that the Star Trek Experience (STE) may find another home in Vegas at one of the other many hotels (Luxor? hint, hint)
I hope this is true cause from further conversation with staff/crew of the STE all props(except those on loan from paramount), models & set designs will be DESTROYED!!!
Oh, the horror, the horror, won’t somebody please think of the children,
KAAAAAAAHNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
203. Carol Partian is correct.
You will make more revenue with the Star Trek experience and theme hotel than you would with a Micheal Jackson themed hotel which is rumored to be the replacement.
There are a lot more of us Star Trek geeks with money than any 80’s, one-gloved wearing, pedafile wanna-be’s. (do you really want to support a man of that stature? I know I would not bring my chrildren to any such attraction)
Here’s an idea, instead of closing the STE why not update it, make changes, improve on it?
Oh, I forgot that people with money ignore the opinions of the masses even though its the masses that puts the dollars in their pockets..
(If anyone knows of any group to help fight this atrocity and to help keep the STE experience open and/or in moving it, please post it ASAP. Its going to take all of us to fight this)
(All hailing frequency’s are closed, the Griever is going in to gray mode till further notice)
Below is a petition link obtained from the website for the
USS Las Vegas to help keep the STTE open .
they maybe closing it but they don’t have to vacat the Hilton
till 12/31/2008 maybe that will be enough time to save the experience…..
Please sign it…..
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savestartrekexp/
My wife and I are traveling to the US at the end of August, (we live in Australia), going to Hawaii and Vegas.
One of the things I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do is (a) go to ST:E @ the Hilton, and (b) renew our vows Trek-style. I’ve been so excited and looking forward to this, it was going to be the highlight of the trip for me (the wife is a closet Trekkie-by-marriage).
I checked the ST:E site today, and saw the bad news.
Then I checked our itinerary. We arrive in Vegas on September 3rd.
I am devastated. Truly devastated. Even worse, the wife went to Vegas last year (with her mum), but I wasn’t able to go. Bah, this news just caps of a truly bad day!!!!
I took my family to Vegas in the summer of 2007. I took my two older sons (9 & 6 years old) to see the Star Trek Experience. It scared the heck out of both of them…especially the Borg one. Their emotional rush at what the experience was for them made it even more memorable. All that and walking on the bridge of the TNG Enterprise!
As a lifelong Trekkie of 40 plus years all I can say is thanks for bringing the experience to us the fans. Being able to share it with my sons was, as the advertisement says, “Priceless”.
It would be great if it comes back somewhere again. But if not, I’m glad I had this one chance to experience Star Trek.
Thanks for the memories!
“Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan”
Well just came back and hate to say the main gift shop area is closed.
They still have the area behind the kiosk open with the harder to sell stuff still open at 20% off. Almost bare bone to the wall.
All the romulan ale is gone and the klingon bloodwine is going fast.
Bought a couple of bottles to open for the next movie.
Never gonna get my Capn Kirk at Quarks as they were full when we visited.
Security as usual at the Hilton were JERKS.
Unlike the folks at the STE, they are not kid friendly because they cannot gamble.
iI SEE THEY FINALLY RESPONED TO ALL THE EMAILS THAT WE ALL
SENT. AND IT HAS DONE NO GOOD. THATS TOO BAD. THE HILTON
HAS NOW LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER FROM STAYING THERE
EVER AGAIN . OF COURSE THAT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM HEARING
THIS FROM WHAT IM SURE THEY CONSIDER A PEON. BUT IT
SHOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE ALL CONSUMERS, AND
WITHOUT US IF WE BAN TOGETHER THE PEOPLE WHOEVER
WILL AFFECT THEIR BUSINESS. BIG MISTAKE TO CLOSE THE
EXPERIENCE.
CAROL PARTAIN OF ONTARIO
I was planning on going to ride Borg Encounter 4d and The Klingon Encounter next month and I can’t believe that they would that close the ride. That’s so unfair
its official - http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8923367
the last day IS september 1st