Deal In The Works To Bring Back Star Trek The Experience [UPDATED] October 16, 2008
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Conventions/Events/Attractions , trackback
Just last month Star Trek The Experience closed its gate at the Las Vegas Hilton for the last time, but now there is new hope. Back in July when CBS officially announced the closure they hinted they were working on bringing it back, and it appears that they may have succeeded in finding a new home for Trek’s premiere attraction.
The first word came this morning when Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman mentioned in passing at a press conference that a deal was in the works to move The Experience to the Neonopolis entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Vegas. The Las Vegas review Journal confirmed the statement with Rohit Joshi, the developer who owns Neonopolis, who stated there are "very serious negotiation" going on. Originally built in 2002, Neonopolis has struggled since its inception. Joshi purchased the development in 2006 and has since been trying to find ways of turning it around and he sees the Trek attraction as a way to do that. If the deal does go through then Cedar Fair (the current owners and operators) would not be involved, a spokesperson confirmed that their arrangement with CBS ends this year.
When contacted by TrekMovie, CBS would not comment on the deal. However sources have confirmed that the deal looks like it will go through and that material from The Experience is already being transferred from the Hilton over to Neonopolis. No confirmation yet on when The Experience would re-open but hopes are that it would be before the premiere of the new Star Trek movie in May of 2009.
Details are sketchy on what will be retained, but apparently the licensing deal covers everything that was in the Hilton, including all the rides and Quark’s bar. However, that does not mean that everything will be the same, only they would have that option. In addition, the staff and cast are likely to be given the opportunity to move to the new location. There is no word on if there will be any additions to The Experience. As noted in the TrekMovie ‘farewell review,’ Star Trek The Experience is showing its age and due for an update. This is especially true with the new movie coming out. As the new images released this week show, the new Star Trek has a new look that is not reflected in The Experience which is focused primarily TNG-era of Trek.
This is a developing story, so keep checking back with TrekMovie for updates, but for now things look good for a comeback for Star Trek The Experience.
UPDATE: More from Vegas press
Ben Spillman of the Las Vegas Review Journal has an update which makes the project sound even more likely to happen, but still no details yet. The article also quotes me discussing my recommendation that any renewed version of Star Trek The Experience should be updated to encompass the whole franchise, including the new movie.
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Comments»
Awesome!! I hope I get to go this time around!
excellent
I was one of the last to leave when it closed. I hope it comes back
Cool beans, I hope one day to down a Quark Special and let Morn talk my ear off.
I was one of the last people of the door at the Hilton. I hope it re-opens.
Just last night I was sorting photos and came across some I took at The Experience in September 2002. I seriously got misty eyed, so I am all for bringing back what was a great place all around.
I somehow doubt they would bring back the same old rides though. Think JJ has room on his plate for yet another project? ;)
I say move it to LA and add it to the Paramount Studios lot tour. Hello, Paramount / CBS wake up.
Wow!! What an amazing 48 hours. We finally get a decent glimpse of the new movie and the Experience will most likely reopen! Flippin sweet!!
“All good things must come to an end” my AT DOLLAR DOLLAR!
Good to hear. I never got a chance to see it. Oh Deniiiiiisssee!
One would think that Oscar Goldman could simply get the Six Million Dollar Man to go pick it up and carry it right down town :)
Very cool. Keeping fingers crossed.
great news
Oscar Goldman is mayor of Vegas now? Cool. So, he ordered Steve Austin to bring back Star Trek The Experience. Da-da-Duh-daaaa… da-da-da-da da-duh-daaaaaa….
I for one would love to be able to put my spacesuit back on and make all the fans some more Warp Core Breaches. Lets hope it happens.
This is the best news I’ve seen on this site in a while now!
I really hope it doesn’t get made over into the Abrams-verse of Trek. Fine, add that in, it’s now a bastard child which will have to be shoe-horned into things, but hey, whatever, so long as my favorite theme attraction gets to live… just don’t change the TNG thing totally, just… god, please, just give an updated TNG/DS9 experience… something set in the Dominion War or post Nemesis in a new adventure…
OOOH! They could give the TNG crew a last mission with a new ride! Sure, not the same as an awesome movie, but damn if that wouldn’t be awesome!
Great news! Amazing news! I loved Star Trek: The Experience so much I can’t put it into words. I was deeply saddened to hear it was going to close, but now my spirits have been lifted! I really hope they keep Quark’s Bar. The rides were really fun, too, but I understand that they need to be updated. I hope they can add a TOS ride or something that ties in with the new movie.
BOTTOM LINE: The Trek news just keeps getting better! We’ve recently had:
Star Trek Online re-launched and general launch date announced
Star Trek (movie) screenshots being released
Star Trek: The Experience rising from the ashes! Can it get any better?
Derf, you deduced my quip, sir. Well played.
Awesome. I went there two weeks before they closed with my father, and it was great.
WooHoo love the Experience, may it Live Long and Prosper
That would be most fitting since there should surely be a resurgence of interest in Trek come May 2009!
Oh I hope they do this. I intend to go to the Trek con in Vegas in the future and it would be so great to be able to see the Experience after all.
The mayor’s name is Oscar Goodman not Oscar Goldman. Goldman was Steve Austin’s boss on the Six Million Dollar Man.
First the movie news/updates and now this? What a great week to be a Trek fan. So much good news that I feel like celebrating…as a matter of fact, I think I just might do that…keep up the good work!
Hope it’s true! I hated to see the Experience come to a close.
Good. I always wanted to see it and now I might still get the chance.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaae!!
When it rains it pours. What a week for Trek!
Yawn!
NOT CANNON!
sorry about the goodman/goldman thing…I was obsessed with SMDM when I was a kid and I guess it just stuck with me
I guess there really are possibilities…
I’m very glad to hear that there is a deal in the works. I went to the closing ( Pictures here: http://www.iceflow.net/trek/ ) of the experience and was very sad to see it go.
Hopefully, they will extend it to include the new film. Here’s for hoping.
Dang, we have to leave the strip?
Its not an ideal location, I think they will have to give “experience” a refit to make it worth it.
I would definitely visit again if there was a refit, but its iffy if there isnt.
It would have worked much better downtown.
It’d be interesting to know if those who lost their jobs will be first in line for the relocated exhibit.
Also, if ST XI is a success, who controls this thing? CBS or Paramount?
I’m just happy to hear I may have a 3rd chance to visit!
First..Awesome to hear, I really liked stopping in at the experience in between gambling
Very cool. I’m guessing, though, that any revival of The Experience would ultimately focus on the new movie (particularly if it’s a hit), so the transfer of existing assets may wind up being moot.
Sean.
You need to get a grip.
Biff
I wasn’t ever able to make it in the first incarnation, but if this deal goes through I’ll make it a point to be there opening weekend.
Best. News. Ever.
Peldar joi, everyone.
Nice.
AWESOME!
first
Maybe this time I can attend it.
If it returns, I’m going. Not too many times have i been given second chances like this one.
A truly Capital development, never was able to experience it at the Hilton.
It would be awesome if they did it all up in the theme of the new movie.
And good if they can get the dedicated staff back, that would be a plus.
Here’s hoping.
Well it looks like I may goto Vegas after all!
Possibly first…but honestly…doesn’t really bother me if I am not. I’m cool like that.
Sounds sweet. I hope to actually be able to see it if it returns. Good times.
Cool! Maybe I’ll finally be able to check the thing out!
Neonopolis needs the shot in the arm. The last time I was there, it looked less like a polis and more like a pol-”ess” — i.e., more like ghost town than a town.
Let it also be said that the Neonopolis area is not exactly as high-rent as the LV Hilton. Nevertheless, this may work in the attraction’s favor, since costs wouldn’t necessarily be as high as on the Strip.
Across from the Neonpolis, I believe, are a couple of very decent theme-type restaurant/bars, and one of the classic “old Vegas” hotels in the area has just had a major renovation.
Let’s hope the deal goes through.
Long live Trek!
Well, it would be very nice if the “Experience” found a new home….. perhaps now I can actually get a chance to see it …. in it’s new form…
Q2
Pretty cool, eh? I’d like to go back and see it again if it is brought back.
This would be great! I only saw the Experience once, ten years ago, and would love to see i again!
I’m sure it will be updated to the new movie.
Oh thank God!!!
Or, er, Thank Q!
Awesome!
I was able to go my first (and last I guess) time a few months ago, and it’s really worth saving.
Although I’m not sure about being “downtown” Vegas, since it’s not really the busy part of vegas by any means. So I don’t know how that’ll work out….
Orlando wouldn’t be a bad location either.
Either way, I just hope they spend some $$$$$$ to redo some of it. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Voyager ride….so I’m more then ok with them ditching that for a J.J. Created Ride ;)
Woohoo! I definitely would come back to Vegas for Trek: The Experience!
Wow I’m never the first. This makes me very happy to hear. I am a long time Trekker who never got into DS9 until last year. So I was sad I would never see Quark’s. But now I can. Just tell me when the grand opening is and I will be be there.
PLEASE Bring it back!
Fantastic News! The Experience may be coming back and I’m First! :-P
Will Shatner be on the ride?
LOL… Comments didn’t post the first time I clicked on this story. Can someone help me get this egg off my face?
oh that me first comment? lol i hope they want reopen star trek the experience but i want star trek classic command bridge!
YES!!! THERE IS HOPE!!! I am glad that they are hinting at its return, especially since Trek 09 is coming out. This is great news indeed.!
First in line to get in, that is… :-P
I only first visited the Experience last fall… I’d really enjoy a chance to go back!
This is encouraging news!
Excellent!
Well, this just made my day!!! Awesome news!
Wow. I loved The Experience when I had the chance to go ten years ago, and this was before Borg Invasion 4-D and a lot of other cool stuff.
I would love to just be able to know there was a chance I could go again.
66th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
see jesus horray! Today has been the best fricking day for startrek in a long time.
oh man, I didn’t even make 66
New Movie
New Experience
New Game
New Pants
Life is good.
THANK THE PROPHETS! Or Worm Hole Aliens…or what ever you call them. I thought all hope was lost. I never got a chance to go when it was at the Hilton…I really do hope this goes through.
Yes!
Indeed, “There are always possibilities..”
LONG LIVE THE EXPERIENCE!!!! I visited two weeks before closing to say goodbye to APRIL! SAY APRIL GIRL MAYBE YOU HAVE A JOB NOW!!!! HOPE THEY REHIRE ALL THE GREAT CAST CREW AND AWESOME BARTENDERS!!!
I BET THIS MAKES JERRY AND FRANCINE VERY HAPPY
I have loved the Experience and cried when it closed….
Uhmm all you people saying it needs to be updated to ABRAMS or to add a TOS etc….WELL that all sounds well and good but if they are moving it to downtown and reassembling….Its going to mostly be the same attraction if its going to open before may….
I think they will barely have time to move reassembling and build rehire and get it running by may…..Now here is hoping they leave room for expansions and additions and PARAMOUNT invests another 100 million for updates and new stuff and such….hmmm which hotel would it be by?? Heres hoping the MONORAIL goes all the way to downtown soon! hahah…
Yah Anthony you rock dude! Once again….After being dead only a month THE EXPERIENCE LIVES AGAIN! And NEW PIX from the movie! YES!!!
Maybe all good things DONT have to end!!!! RIGHT AWAY ANYWAY!!
Hey this way they could add the Klingon luggage instructional video at the airport again!
Hey one of the Klingons was going to be reassigned to ruepenthe prison colony…they better tell him he can come back to the time station now hahaha
Anybody who did not see the wonderful videos interviews and pix of the experience closing at uglycouch.com go see it…..they actually make me laugh and cry at the same time so touching and funny and the experience ceos speech about how important we fans were and how we loved and they gave us love back….i just about lost it there! He also ended his speech with THERE ARE ALWAYS POSSIBILITIES….HE WAS RIGHT!
CHAD BOUTTE!!! APRIL!!!! KEEP ON TREKKIN!
im not gonna say it
What a week this has been. AWESOME movie shots and info, gas prices falling like a rock, and now this!! Perhaps I can get back to see The Experience again. I saw it during it’s first few months of being open, and never got the chance to get back. Maybe cheaper airline tickets are on the horizon? Maybe Star Trek isn’t dead? Maybe, if really lucky, Anthony can give us some remastered update with a date for “The Cage”? That would be a cherry on top of this awesome week. Only thing better would be an exterior shot of the big E!
Haveing lived in Vegas and in getting ready to move back there this is the greatest news. I loved going to the experence and eating at Quarks and haveing the best Tripple cheese burger and fries or steak and arguing with the ferrengi about me paying to much for the food and tickets.I hope this does reopen so i can go again and argue with them again and then have a drink. my faveroite was the Warp core Breach and Guinens special.
Never made it….might get a second shot!
Kool. Will be great.
How I hope this is true.
This will be so kool.
This is great news! :)
I was so saddened by the thought that I’d never get to experience, er, The Experience, so it’s awesome to see that I may get my chance after all…
I’m with those who would prefer to see an expansion/revision to incorporate the new film, rather than a wholesale “reboot” of this attraction, so that it celebrates the entire history of the franchise.
(Besides, I still want to try those two rides for myself. ;))
GREAT NEWS!
Can’t wait to be drinking and having a blast with my family again. This is who we are!
Long Live Quark’s!
Trek for life.
I love the exeruance and i do hope thay redo to a new Klingon incounter i would love to see the old cast there.
I just hope Las Vegas’ OSCAR the MAYOR is not a weiner….
sorry Anthony, I couldn’t resist…
needless to say, this is great news, though it seems to me CBS should think of moving it to a more centrally located spot in the country.. say Chicago…that way it could be more easily accessible to folks who think Nevada is too far too travel.
Maybe it will be up and running by the time I come home, which incidentally has been moved from March to late January. woo hooo!
YES!
This is great news – I never got to see the Klingon Encounter when I went for a day-and-a-half for the Vegas Trek con and I never got to eat at Quarks (the line was too long). If it opened back up I’d consider a special trip from Atlanta just to do those two things….
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssssssssssssss!
The Experience was a very special place. I am SO glad that its being saved!
Thank you Neonopolis! See ya’ll there!
LOVE the idea The Experience is coming back. Now I can stop trolling eBay for stuff.
Not so in love with in being in Old Vegas. I never go down there when I visit, but I guess I have to now. Wish it could stay on the Strip.
Be great to see the Experience back.
Hope it keeps with TNG era still though
Awesome. I love that place.
GIVE ME MY DAMN ROMULAN ALE…YES!!!!!!!!!
Wherever it may go, I will follow.
The planet just doesn’t rotate right without The Experience.
Yay and hoorah! Let’s get a bunch of Warp Core Breaches and Borg Spheres (they’re green) and 12 million straws. Maybe this time, though, they could have different items in the different gift shops.
Am I correct in assuming that they did not destroy those great, giant shiant ship models that hung over everything? Those were awesome pieces. And I hope that they will get enough money to be able to patch up the rough edges that The Experience was starting to show. Duct tape on the entrance ramp and a grimy captain’s chair on the bridge was not cutting it.
And if it moves to Neonopolis do we have to take the Deuce to get to it? I like to stay at the Excalibur.
God I hope this is true! Next time I’m in Vegas I’ll be warping down for a Hamborger and a James Tea Kirk!
YES!
That’s great news!!
PLEEEASE let it work out!!!
Wonderful News I know alot of fans want Star Trek Experience to return.
Make it so – please
I went to the Star Trek Convention at the Hilton to say goodbye to the Experience.
I’m really glad to see it return.
Now, what changes would they make? What stays and what goes?
Let the speculation begin …
Glorious News!!!
Sweeeeet!
Very good news.
I’ll go back to Vegas to see the Experience one more time. I hope they at least include something related to the new movie…the don’t have to get rid of the TNG-Era stuff, though. It’s cool too.
YAY!!! I thought that was the end, and I’d never get the chance to…experience it! Please let ST: The Experience come back! I really want to go!
Awesome. Fingers crossed this actually happens. :)
Here is the thing all…..I love the Experience. I am a four time visitor. If we get a new experience, we all need to go to it. We can’t let it suffer the fate that the last one did. Again, I went four times, each time I went, the experience had lost here, and cut there, and each time it was less of an experience. This was all due to declining business. If they re-launch, I will be there soon to support it the best I can. I live in Kansas, the Experience is in Vegas…not exactly in transporter range, but I do my best to get there as much as I can. I hope you all can join me, and lets make the new experience bigger and better!
My wife and I have been to STTE a dozen times culminating with the renewal of our wedding vows this past June. While always a blast, it was in dire need of an updating. The casino just outside it was a waste as I never saw it crowded. I had hoped that that area would be turned into a third ride based on TOS/STXI plus a family style restaurant. Perhaps we’ll see something like that at a new location. I’m extremely happy to here that it is likely to return. If not in Vegas, I hope that it is added to some existing theme park such as Disney or Universal.
There was a Baseball at the decommisioning ceremony. I knew that meant it would be back.
I don’t care where it is, what time period it’s from, just as long as there is an experiance for me to take me son to. That’s all I ask.
While I am not one fur things like this… I am glad it will be back fur all ye’ who overwhelmingly adore this attraction…
I would go ta’ Vegas ta’ meet Oscar Goldman…. see what parts o’ me he could make a bit more robust…
Sooo… what could they add ta’ it this time around? Catsuit adventures?
Arrrrrrr…
Not crazy about the location, but some Experience is better than no Experience. Hearing news of a possible reopening is stupendous (thank you, Anthony), and inclusion of the new movie MUST be on the things-to-do list for its attractions.
Mr. Spock said ” There are always possiblities” Now it seems that is true more than ever. My wife and I attended the ST CON and spent our last day in Quarks with friends and weeping about the loss of an atmosphere that is found no where else. Back in 1999 when I first went to STTE my first drink was a Tranya which was my last drink on Sunday of the CON. It appears I will not go thirsty after all. “The needs of the many out weight the needs of the few” See you all there at the new home!
I am so freaking happy. HOOOOORAAAAY!
YYYYYeeeeesssss!!!!!
Bring on the Warp Core Breaches! When it opens again, I’ll fly over as soon as I save up enough for the air fare.
Do we call this the ST:TE- A? (like Enterprise A?)
Nice quote from Anthony P. in the updated article!!
I missed the closing, but I WILL be there for the re-opening!!
I was there three times. Each time, the visit to Quark’s was like visiting an old friend. Despite the fact that the last time everything was looking pretty ragged, it lent some consistency to Vegas- a place that was ever-changing.
Thanks for the news- and everything else- Anthony!
OMG OMG OMG!!!!
BEST news I’ve heard all day!
MAKE IT SO!!
Whoo hoo! The new owners WILL NOT be sorry!
Since the closing last month, my husband has
been inconsolable and I need my Happy Husband
back!!! We will up our “Treks” to Vegas to several
a year instead of cutting back to twice a year.
I can’t wait to have a drink with Gerry and Francine at
the new venue!!!!
I hope like hell this is true. I will attend the opening day if it is.
I really hope that Quarks and the Borg experience stay. The Klingon experience should be reworked. It’s fantastic up until you get in the very dated looking simulator ride. Quarks can’t go away though. That must must must stay. And an updated museum tour would be great. I loved the displays that they had.
This could draw a lot of attention to Downtown and Neonopolis for sure.
Please be true. Please be true.
Oh, and frak the Hilton.
Alright! Maybe I’ll be able to go to this one.
I have spoken with two former “alien ambassador” cast members who are ammenable to resuming their roles should the opportunity arise. For privacy sake, I will not identify them. What remains to be seen is whether there will be a place for TNG/DS9/VOY-era characters in the new STTE or if the focus will shift dramatically to the new movie alone.
I always thought the exclusion of a TOS environment or ride was a glaring omission at the original STTE… now the conundrum is how to include TOS and the now defunct Next Generation-era and still be a viable vehicle for promoting the revived/retooeld/rethought/rebooted franchise as represented by Abram’s upcoming movie.
Whatever they come up with, I look forward to bellying up to a new incarnation of Quark’s bar… or whatever they end up calling it!
Squee!!! Awesome!! I was bummed when it closed. I was only able to go to the Experience like 10 years ago. Definatly will go to the new one! I’d love to have another Cheeseborger…mmm…
Yes I believe the ships were saved….There is a video on youtube look it up under the experiences enterprise….at the last second before the HILTON was going to demolish it…a vegas businessman had a crew come down and disassemble the TOS Movie enterprise which was IN THE WAY of the hilton and they removed it just in time..I believe the other ships were still safe not taken down yet and will probably be moved….
I kinda thought when someone did that that SOMETHING was up about saving the experience and i heard rumors we would hear something this week. They were right…and i could tell by the way they worded it that the news was probably good….
Now…anybody know if the monorail will be extended to downtown and how much longer? Someone mentioned a rapid transit system is that it or soemthing else? Downtown to me is scary because I am afraid it will fail down there….not a very family friendly area like the strip is…It should be on the main strip..maybe they should open a quarks bar only on the strip with costumed people for the restaurant and bar, and a free shuttle to the expereince downtown… hmmm…..
As I mentioned it take them up to a year or more usually to design an attraction or an add on so just getting the current one moved and up and running is probably going to be the main focus at first….if they add or change it would have to be designed first…..Now…I disagree about why the experience was in dis-repair…not really due to declining sales….it was mainly due to paramount being sold to cbs who didnt do amusement parks so selling to cedar fair who only did amusement parks and also did not know what to do with it exccept say its not making enough money so THEY cut back on personnel and upkeep etc…..
I am hoping now that PARAMOUNT/CBS is geting smarter they will keep it and upgrade it to where it should have been and stayed and also design and expand and make it newer…I also agree QUARKS has to stay and the rides too….HOW CAN SOMETHING THAT DEPICTS THE FUTURE LOOK ITS 10 year old age Anthony? ITS THE FUTURE IT HASNT HAPPENED YET! hahaah But I know what he meant…like I said mainly due to lack of upkeep by new owners….who also scaled back costs….If it does open downtown I hope to GENE RODDENBERRY that it is successful..BOTH local VEGAS and ALL STAR TREK FANS need to continually support it so it can thrive and get bigger and better. I hope that will be the case..But again…Downtown kinda scares me! But its better than having no experience at all! SO THANKS NEONPOLIS and CBS if you guys can revive it! MAKE IT SO!
Oh YUh you know what I would LOVE ?? If the new STAR TREK EXPERIENCE becomes more popular than ever while the HILTON notices the missed opportunities and missing customers like us, all star trek fans…hope it hurts the hilton….Not that I am mean or vindictive….well maybe I am in this case….CURSE YE VEGAS HILTON for calling the experience the place that attracted all the nerds….Nerds got money too ya know….
wow, i am giddy, genuinely giddy…
i heard the rumors early in the year and made a detour in the spring to go just in case…to know that it would be back is great…
the choice of the old strip is so, so, so much better then the hilton option. the hilton is at the extreme end of a very dead side of the new strip, its such a trip to get to anything of real value there as the hilton has nothing going for it compared to the big boys whereas the old strip has such a charm to it to where it could stand on its own.
end of the day, both sites involve a trip to get to the best of vegas as in bellagio, bh, etc… atleast with the old strip, you have other things to preoccupy you as well, there is some great gambling to be had in the old strip.
jim, i would go ahead and assume there is no chance of the monorail being extended and frankly, unless your group is less then 3, its a silly mode of transport as cabs are cheaper. maybe off on the math but cant imagine by much, i thought the monorail was very overpriced for what it was.
that said, i do have concerns also about the long term viability of it in the old strip now that i have thought about it some. i think what kept it running at the hilton so long even though it was a pisspot of a casino/hotel was its robust convention facilities that in off star trek convention times, atleast kept going with curious walkup conventioneers type business. also, if i remember right, its close to the vegas convention center, the spot of the biggest halls around and where the (sorry name escapes me) big gadget convention at the beggining of the year happens.
i think the bottom line of this all is it will happen, but it will happen on the cheap, as in, don’t expect many upgrades. this will be built on the cheap with them trying to ressurect as much of the sets already built to make this happen. its just a simple risk-reward or cost analysis situation. for where its going and for what the state of the franchise is in , in the first place, its just not a lucrative enuf of a endeavor to throw the money into it that would warrant the upgrades people are hoping for. if the new site goes at it in that they are buying the sets on the cheap as opposed to them just collecting dust and eventually hopefully luring away the creation convention, then its something that may bring them a profit margin worth the risk…anything beyond that, even i being a trekkie, would say its just a stupid investment.
we lost what a lot of us considered a great home for star trek, i have so many fond memories over the years just losing myself in the very, very strong drinks at quarks and just soaking up the feel of being in a star trek environment. if someone does it on the cheap and reporduces as much of it as they can, i will forever be greatful. i frankly dont need the upgrades people are hopeing for. for me, it was fine enuf, it was awesome for when i go to vegas for a few hours enjoy my love of star trek again. i have so many crazy vegas stories, and for the last few years, they included the experience..it killed not to get to the closing, i will take it back in any shape or form i can get it in. for me, as long as quarks is back, i got what i wanted.
Well thought out Ssahnan. Thats kinda the point I was making twice now, that moving to downtown especially at first, it will be all they can do to move what is there now, get it up and running again….Will the space be as big and grand as the original was? I do not think it can be taken the space they will have to move into and adapt. I think at first it may look even more dated/old than when it was GRANDLY DISPLAYED at the Hilton. I will be amazed if they can make it look even mostly as good as the original design. They are going to have to adapt to the Mall Space which is very different from the design from scratch that the Hilton was. That ingenious circular two level layout the hilton had….is going to have to try to be adapted to different spaces. Some will be easier probably like Quarks Bar will probably be able to stand on its own….But the placement of the ships and museum would have to circular by nature….there would probably be some room for the rides to change a bit but not too much. I hope it comes close to equally the hilton layout but even if they did it would not have the interesting space quest casino as a front drop either…that must have cost a lot to make as well….
Bottom line like you said they are moving to downtown and it will be done on the cheap by all involved parties..cheaper rent means more profits for CBS, and hopefully more business to the area will be drawn in from the trekkers, fans, and curious people already in the area….If they do change it there wont be much money or time to do much….but if it was a solid sucess then further upgrades would attract even more business so you cant rule that out if it is a hit. But I also worry it will do worse there languish and die because of how remote it is from the strip. We all the star trek fans will have to make sure we go out of our ways to visit everytime we are in town and support it as much as we can! I agree with you however that I will be happy if the current attraction is up and running and all the great cast and crew and bartenders are all back at their jobs entertaining us! Here is hoping! I never thought it looked old and dated..it still looks futuristic to me haha….but I always felt so nostaligic and happy being there drinking in the atmosphere enjoying the great cast that it was always wonderful for me. And if it opens again will continue to be my number destination when in Vegas!
as Klings say KA PLOW! haha dontknow how to spell it…
I also felt BAD I wasnt at the closing but it was also very busy and i think my visit two weeks before the closing was more relaxed and intimate giving me time to do the rides eat at and hang out at quarks and say goodbye casually instead of a crazy last day. But I love looking at the last day footage and wish i was there ! As someone else has mentioned I also have been haunting e bay for star trek experience stuff…Someone is even selling a control panel from the bridge! Where they got that I will never know….and doesnt Paramount still own that/ Hmmm oh well
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
It should go on the road. A traveling experience for those who cannot make it to Las Vegas.
In any case, I bet it will still be too damn expensive.
This is just the best news ever. I’m back to planning Vegas for my 30th next year – coincides with the release of new film as well. Could it get any better
30th who am I kidding that should have been 40th – Hohum
Mixed news. I was hoping it would return, but I was also hoping it would open in a new city.
Yes, the ships were saved. I was there when the Enterprise was carefully dismantled and packed away. The way I heard it, Paramount ordered them to be destroyed (which would have been tragic, but then, it’s not like there was any plan to use them again). As far as I can tell, Joshi is the man who saved the fleet, as he stepped in and jumped through the necessary hoops to pay for their preservation (apparently, it was not as simple as just buying them, there were licensing issues involved).
That negotiation was almost certainly the beginning of this new deal in the works. Whether Joshi had his eyes on the whole attraction from the beginning or just wanted to preserve the ships originally, I don’t know, but I like to think that in a strange sense, maybe the fleet of ships helped rescue The Experience.
I do know that at least some of the materials from the attraction were destroyed. And much of the architecture couldn’t just be moved, as the space was built specifically for the attraction. I strongly doubt that this new location could be built and running by next Summer. But I will see you there when it is.
Thank you for your comments Thomas, they are always well-thought and enlightening.
If the position was offered, do you think you would find yourself working at ST:TE again?
Absolutely.
Yes Thomas thank you for the semi insider views….Its nice to hear from someone on site involved. What did you do at the experience? I wonder what April thought? Would Chad still be head? Can you get Gerry and Francine to leave us some posts..Miss em! April too!
How well and how many times I have been at the Experience I knew right away that if it was going to be moved anywhere this would be a big job and as you mentioned so much of it was designed and built for the very original shape of the attraction. The guys at paramount and related companies that designed the experience were all geniuses. Any one that had not been there its even hard to describe it. As an experience for what it was it packed a lot into its space….it truly was superior to just about anything anyone else has done similar to it.
Thanks to Joshi and all who helped save the ships. I also hope Paramount noticed how so many people Loved the experience and its talented cast and restaurant bar people. I hope all of us helped make the difference too. I think we did.
FYI about the guy on e bay selling a piece of the plastic con panels from the experience bridge set-others asked the guy selling the con panel how he got it and he said it was legimately bought and or it was to be thrown out as garbage so that would also confirm what Thomas was saying about some of it being destroyed or thrown out. He was also selling a smoked glass portion that was originally by the ticket area years ago….it has the starfleet symbol on it too.
Best of luck to all that the deal is accepted and the move remodel goes great and awesome people like Thomas and April are back entertaining us!
Glad to hear you’d come back, Thomas.
You’re the one who actually pushed the button to take my souvenir photos the last time I was there in early August. I believe you had some good comments on the red shirt with “expendable” in Star-Trek-Font I was wearing at the time.
My wife and I always take the Monorail when in Vegas. One time we sat in a car with another person who turns out to work for the Monorail company. He said they do have plans to extend the Monorail to downtown from where it currently ends at the Ratpack era hotel, Sahara. Now if you got off at the Sahara, there is a shuttle that takes you downtown and lets you off at the Fremont Street & Las Vegas Blvd intersection. Which is where Neonopolis is at or close to it. The Monorail has plans to be extended to McCarren Airport but when this all happens is any ones guess. Just to extend it to DownTown is a huge effort. Getting permits, right-of-ways and contruction eqpt. The biggest hurdle he said was getting hotels to sign on to having a station. That is what takes time and slows down the plans for any extension. Whether there is an expanded monorail or not, that will not stop my wife and I from getting to the new location of Quarks for a Borg Sphere or Mind Meld or any drink. Taxi’s or the Duece bus gets there just the same. We all just have to support it in what ever location it is in. Gerry and Francine…we will see you there!
Hello everyone.
Just a few tidbits Francine and I have learned over hte last couple weeks.
We were actually there a couple days ago t otake one last look around. It was Chad’s last day there. He will not be moving to the new location. He relocating out of town.
The new owner has bought everything left at the experience. They are taking apart the bar and restaraunt and plan to rebuild it downtown. At least as close to the original as possible. The plan is to start wit hthe bar, restaraunt and wedding bridge first and then the rides. Don’t know of any major updates. But, there will be some.
The Enterprise is actually still at the old site in 4 pieces sitting on supports near the ticketing area. The other ships are still hanging up in the ceiling and believe it or not the lights are still on. They are trying to figure out how to get them apart and get them out of the building. The TNG Enterprise is huge and there’s no hole in the building big enough to get ot out.
The restaraunt area has already been taken out. The bar is next. Part of the retail area is gone. The rides are stil there. The bridges are still there, but the tv parts of the video displays are gone. Cedar Faire took them to thier other parks.
What I’m told is tha tthe plan is to have something open by the new movie release. We’ll see. There’s tons of work to do.
I’ll post updates as I learn things.
YAY Gerry! Welcome back buddy! We missed ya and Francine! Please stay in touch with us oh guru of the experience! Thanks for the updates!
Is chad still working for Paramount/CBS?? That sounds like a good plan, get the bar and restaurant up first then the rest!
Also thanks for the monorail info Lt. Bailey….We also always use the monorail to get around when in vegas. For me and Sheri it is cheap enough and convenient. But it was always to go to the Vegas Hilton from the middle of the strip to see Star Trek….So heres hoping it goes downtown soon…
Lots of ifs here but its better than nothing huh! To think those ships were ordered destroyed! YIKES! How great they survived!
Jeff And Sheri
My wife and I visit Vegas around 5 times per year, and each time we go we made STE one of our stops. After 10 years though we stopped going to the rides as they grew stale, and we just visited the gift shops and Quarks (Flaming Ribs of Targ!). As with any establishment, they had their good and bad employees. Some you could tell really loved the job and took it seriously, and others…well it was only a job. All of the actors though were top notch and played their roles well. I won’t sit here and name drop as that seems a bit redundant and somewhat shallow, but there were those who put in 110% and it was noted. As a business owner I look for peoples attributes, and think if they would make a good employee for me.
I am sorry to see STE has closed as we had plans to visit this December again, but I am also happy to see it will carry on at another location. Downtown has not really been a place of choice for us to visit, but since STE will be there we will defiantly be going. I hope the Monorail system will eventually make its way down that direction. I can only seen good things by linking the Strip and Downtown by a convenient form of transportation instead of a $40 cab ride round trip.
I have read many speculations on how the new STE will be, but in order to be successful I would say it needs new entertainment. With computer technology of today (versus 10 years ago), it should be fairly easy to design updated “missions”. Run more than just two, and keep them fresh with yearly changes. There is tons of Star Trek material to pull from that fans would really enjoy and keep coming back for. Why limit it to the same old same old for year after year? I would say 75% of the people going back to STE did not do so for the shows, because they were the same old thing… Myself, a die-hard trekkie saw them about 3 times and that was pushing it. However, Quarks was always fun on every visit.
Bottom line, keep it fresh and you will have more return business.
Well thought out Turbo but the cost of designing new ones even if they could come up with a Software controlled system than can easily change with the software that would still have to be designed as well as each new ride….since r and d on a computer or video game takes millions and years could something like this be cheaper and simpler???
I doubt an already struggling area downtown with limited funds who is going to have move and get up and running the entire attraction again will have discretionary funds to develop new rides every year….unless it is a huge hit over time…
What you want sounds like something disneyland should design….it sounds great but wouldnt be cheap…besides that there are many millions of star trek fans who want to see the first two adventures and have not yet. What about them and all teh cost and time to make the ride the sets the lines hallways etc…??
I understand your concern about the cost, but look at it from more of a business standpoint and less of a Trek fan standpoint. Sure, as Trek fans most of us will come again and again. However, this is not enough patronage to pay for something like I am describing. Make it entertaining for all to go see, and want to go back again and again to see something fresh. Ok, maybe every year is a bit unrealistic, but ever 2-3 years would still be nice.
There is/was so much that STE could have done with their existing hardware they already had in place. The bridge of the Enterprise is extremely flexible as we have seen over hundreds of TV shows and movies, the motion simulator rides could easily have new material put into them as it is nothing more than a computer program which runs them. Yes, there will be a cost to do this, but I think the added business of new and old customers would offset this. If ideas are a problem, pull from previous TV episodes, which I am sure most fans would appreciate being an interactive part with one of their favorite episodes.
Again, these are just suggestions as my own personal experiences with going to STE multiple times a year for the last 10 years, and I has seen a steady decline in popularity – and in chatting with employees at STE over the years they would concur.
Either way, I look forward to whatever they do as I am a diehard…I am just thinking more towards the general public though.
I am not usually a commenter, but we’ve been to ST:TE five or six times. When news of closing came out, we did a hurry up flight out to Vegas from Chicago so that our 4-year-old little boy could see it. He was dazzled and loved it so much. Specifically, he loved the Ferengi named Rogl. It’s been almost three months since we were there, and he’s still asking if we think Rogl is doing ok. We told him that Rogl had to go to another space station becasue they closed ST:TE, and he’s still hoping he can see Rogl again one day. It sounds silly, but it’s shaky ground trying to explain to a 4-yo that ST:TE wil be nevermore.
So, it is my supreme hope that ST:TE can come back somewhere — anywhere — and if we’re lucky, maybe my little boy can see his Rogl again. Rogl, if you’re reading, my little boy thinks of you often.
[...] There is a deal in the works to bring The Star Trek Experience back to Las Vegas. [trekmovie] [...]
If STTE comes back and god willing it does, I just hope they don’t ruin it.
They can’t just throw a bunch of crap together and try tell us they have brought back it. It NEEDS to be done as close as possible to how it looked in the Hilton and then once it has established itself then they can start making changes.
Hey Gerry, Morn #2 here. I look forward to seeing you and Francine there soon. Thanks for keeping an eye out on this. I can’t wait till it opens again. I got the last unopened bottle of Romulan Ale at STTE from Shannon, here’s to getting the first one at the new place. I know our favorite bartender will join us there. Let me know when you hear something I think you have my email so let me know.
EWWWW Mom #2 I have read that the Romulan Ale turns everything blue going in and coming out? How strange is that??? hahaha….I did try a Borg Sphere and some others but not the blue beer. heheheheh Anybody else care to confirm or deny this? hahaah
I know the “Systems Overload” martini was awsome and quite potent. My wife makes those at home for me now. Never tried the Romulan Ale.
Yes the Romulan Ale turns certain bodily evacuations blue. The more you drink the deeper the blue. One day I drank only Romulan Ale from open to close and things were interesting for the next day or two. I heard from Cmdr ChurOq that some people really freak out with the red-dyed Klingon Blood draft.
Gerry L (#141) have you heard any more? Please let us know.
Have not heard anything new to report, but everything I’ve heard and seen so far is very positive. The former actors and bartenders agree. It’s more or less a done deal and now we wait for the first phase of construction to be completed. I do know they dismantled the two bridges a week or so ago and have moved the parts to storage for future placement at Neonopolis. They hope to have something in place by the movie release. No official announcement has been made here in Vegas as of yet. Believe me, we’re keeping our eyes and ears open for any bit of news.
Gerry L. Please keep posting any information. I am passing it along to The Empire. I have already made my Reservations at the Fremont, Downtown for the Star Trek Convention in August 2009. I hope more will be downtown to Party at Quark’s!!
Qapla’
Yes! please Gerry L, keep us in the loop as best as possible!.. I was addicted to STTE when it was open, making trips down to Vegas just to have a Warp Core and watch movies at the bar.. Flaming ribs of targ!!!.. I will be there opening day, whenever that is.. and thank you so much for the info already provided!
The news is sounding better and better. STTE was an annual pilgrimage for this Aussie. Looks like I can start planning for 2009. Let’s hope people flock to the new location and wave to the Hilton as they go past and head downtown.
[...] month we reported that Star Trek The Experience (which closed its doors at the Las Vegas Hilton in September) may be [...]
[...] (trekmovie.com): Last month we reported that Star Trek: The Experience (which closed its doors at the Las Vegas Hilton in September) may be [...]