CBS Confirms Contract To Re-open ST: The Experience in May + New ST:TE Documentary

TrekMovie has been reporting that Star Trek The Experience, which closed last year at the Las Vegas Hilton, is headed todowntown Las Vegas and today CBS finally confirmed the move. They are not providing many more details, but TrekMovie has done a little digging to find out what is going on with the rebirth of this Trek attraction.  Plus there is an interesting new documentary online, all about the history of ST: The Experience.

 

Contract Confirmed for a ‘New’ Star Trek The Experience
The CBS news came today in an article at SciFiWire, where CBS Exec Vice President Liz Kalodner confirmed that a contract has been signed for a phased re-opening of Star Trek The Experience at Neonopolis in downtown Las Vegas, starting with a restaurant and shops by May 8th (the same day the Star Trek movie opens).  Kolodner noted it was "premature" to talk about any details beyond confirming the contract existed. 

TrekMovie has done a little digging and has learned that no construction has started on the bar/restaurant and that the former staff and cast have yet to be contacted about being rehired. However designs are in place for what is being called a ‘new’ Star Trek The Experience, which will be more technologically advanced and which  also brings in more of The Original Series era (something lacking in the The Experience at the Hilton). However it is unclear if the rides (which will open later in the year or 2010) will be new or just modified versions of the previous ones at the Hilton (Borg Invasion and Klingon Encounter).

Expect those kind of details when CBS makes the official announcement. Until they do make the announcement, the dates and details reported so far should not be considered final (so don’t book those trips just yet). TrekMovie will continue to monitor the return of ST: The Experience and report things as they develop. 

ST: The Experience Insider’s web documentary
Vernon Wilmer, one of the former castmembers of Star Trek The Experience at the Hilton (primary playing a Borg), has started posting twelve-part documentary covering the history of Star Trek The Experience. Today he released part one, check it out his Vimeo channel. Here is the trailer for the full series. 

70 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

It will be nice to see this return!

This is awesome news!

AWESOME VEGAS here I come!!!!

I was at the closing last year.
Can’t wait for the new one!

YAY! I have incentive to go back to Vegas. I’m glad I was able to make it before it closed at the Hilton.

this would be the only reason why I would ever go to Vegas

Yay!!!!!!

Its Alive! ITS ALIVE! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Woo-hoo! Here’s hoping more TOS as in TOS and not the new stuff! I would love it if they had a proper TOS ride/tour piece. Maybe something along the lines of making a tour of the original Enterprise on a holodeck(you stand in line outside the TNG holodeck doors, it has the computer “load” the program, the doors open and you walk onto the bridge of the classic E, a-la Relics, then take the turbo to perhaps the deck sickbay is on, then to the shuttlebay and finally to some neat visual trickery for an exit to appear someplace). I can’t wait to see what they do this time around!

Third trip to Vegas for this Canadian and I was lucky I finally went through it in October of 2006. I did every attraction, ate and drank at Quarks. It will still a ton of fun for me but I can see how lackluster it got after 10 years. I am happy it is re-opening and hopefully will get an update with regards to the “rides,” the “experience,” maybe a larger area to offer more. After seeing what the Star Trek Exhibition had to offer, I think it should be incorporated with the experience.

ps Vegas is awesome by the way, the sights, the food, the booze, the clubs, and the women. Even though I am sad to go, I always leave Vegas with a big ass smile on my face ;)

Greatttttttt ¡¡¡¡

Welcome back, ST:TE!

FINALLY! Some day I can really visit The Experience!!! I thought my chances were dead when it closed. I really hope they reconstruct the Enterprise-D bridge. I know a lot of people want to see more TOS stuff there, but for me, I grew up on TNG, so standing on that bridge would be so overwhelming.

I agree with Will @#9 about needing more TOS in ST:TE. I’ve never had any desire to visit Quark’s Bar or anything from the TNG/DS9 era, so ST:TE doesn’t draw me.

But I don’t agree about a holodeck simulation of the 1701 bridge (a-la Relics). Ugh!!! That would be like the ENTEPRISE finale–a TNG episode, in fact. Why do a TNG holodeck of the TOS ship? Just give us the old bridge.

If I’m ever back in Vegas (not my favorite place), I’ll probably go to the exhibition anyway…but they won’t get my money!!! :)

“However designs are in place for what is being called a ‘new’ Star Trek The Experience, which will be more technologically advanced and which also brings in more of The Original Series era (something lacking in the The Experience at the Hilton). ”

…music to my ears…or, rather, eyes.

Makes perfect sense to make the attraction TOS-centric as the TOS themed movie is what people will be buzzing about for the next year and beyond ( should sequels, hopefully, get the green light).

This is the best Trek news I have heard in a long time! I went to The Experience many times and was friends with alot of the folks that worked there and they all were such a family! It will be great if they can get alot if not all of the employees to return! It will be great to see Darren and all the guys from Quarks again! Now I think that the new attraction should include TOS,TNG,DS9, and as much as I hate to say it the new Star Trek film! Quarks and I suggest a recreation of 10 Forward from TNG. It needs to be like the original but better and but better! thats what I think anyway!

Maybe CBS got a big fat stimulus check for The Experience. :-) I saw it at the Hilton a few years ago and glad to see it return.

One of my best memories from The Experience besides the Trek coventions held at the Hilton was watching the Shatners roast at Quarks! Good times!

Sa-weet!

Star Trek: The Experience: The Next Generation!

Great News!!!

YES!! I agree with #9 and #14 – bring on the TOS!! They should have done that in the first place – this is fantastic news!!

If they’re smart, they buy into ST:NV:Phase II and James Cawley’s group’s raw material and build something like this downtown there where space is a lot cheaper, and a lot more available…

Imagine a full bridge set that could be “rented” anytime by groups to make their own fan films. That would be a Star Trek Mecca for Trek clubs around the country to come out and spend a day and shoot a super memento. :)

Here’s hoping they get as many of the staff back together again and involved. The BEST part of ST:TE at the Hilton wasn’t as much the sets, but the people. They were superb.

The Experience was always on my list of things to do when I went to Vegas. I’m glad it is returning, and cannot wait to check out the new design!

I’m glad I will be able to toast the new film with a gaggle of Klingons and a round of “Warp Core Breachs” this May!

Awesome news, indeed.

Can’t wait to hear about the details. Let’s just h ope they aren’t doing it on the cheap but properly.

Ok. I can’t wait to get my faveroite Drink. Warp core breach. I love there food as well. Always fun to argue with the fereengi about the price i paid for admission. I hope they have the rides of the Tng and Borg and add a new one for Tos and have a ride for all of the shows. That way we can get a full and fun filled visit for all the Trek incarnations. From Tos to Ent.

Can someone tell me, what Music is used for this video?

The wait is (almost) over.

Sweet, never got to the original. Maybe i will have to make a trip to this one.

“The Experience, which will be more technologically advanced and which also brings in more of The Original Series era ”

AWESOME!

I would really like to experience the EXPERIENCE! Sounds like a real gamble to me??

Very happy to hear this news! I will be spreading the word far and wide!

Also, great footage there! Thanks, Vernon Wilmer! Looking forward to more!

FANTASTIC!

My period of morning will be over once I get into Quarks and have (again) my first drink of Tranya to celebrate.
I left Quarks for the last time on Sunday of the 2008 ST CON, said good bye to Jason & his wife Naomi Joy and walked up those stairs with Tranya in hand. At that time I thought we would never see some thing like this again.
Our friends Jerry & Francine have kept up on any news and stayed in touch with the employees just in case, little did we know that we have a new incarnation of STTE. I like to think that Jerry’s dedication on spending 55 nights in a row in Quarks until it closed helped.
Whatever they may have more or less TOS or new Trek, it does not matter. I will not speculate on if it is going to good or bad as this point. I will wait until I walk through the front door or transporter platform, settle down in a seat at the bar, order a Tranya, Mind Meld, Borg Sphere, Systems Overload, Borg Queen (caramel version) or Romulan Ale.
I will once again enjoy the stimulation, relaxation, interesting conversation and pleasant association of my fellow ST fans, regardless of the era of TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT or TREK 2009. We will have a place to hang out in an atmosphere where we are all equal and comfortable, not like those phoney Ultra Lounge places. See you all there!

If you are a Trek fan, this was the place to be. I enjoyed every minute I spent there, even when I was waiting in line. At least in a line at the Experience you could start up a Trek related conversation with a complete stranger and make a friend instantly. It was an immersive experience and I was sad when it came to an end because I thought that I couldn’t share it with my kids, who were just becoming tremendous Trek fans. Now I know that they will have a chance to go see this wonderful place.

And that’s a cool vid, Vernon. I hope they hire back the old crew. My friend Anita needs a gig.

Yes! I love to hear news about the reopening of ST:TE. It’s the Trekkie Mecca.

Re: 14. Paul B. – February 27, 2009

But I don’t agree about a holodeck simulation of the 1701 bridge (a-la Relics). Ugh!!! That would be like the ENTEPRISE finale–a TNG episode, in fact. Why do a TNG holodeck of the TOS ship? Just give us the old bridge.

haha, I can absolutely see your point. I was just trying to figure a way to fit it in with the existing TNG/DS9 themed bits.

Another way I’d love to see it is to have an entire section made up to look like a Starbase(with a big projection screen, or one of those new “glasses-less” 3d screens showing ships outside). Then you walk down a docking ramp and into a corridor on the Enterprise(to build suspense), take a turbo-lift(a-la the existing experience turbo), and when it opens, you hear the classic sounds of the bridge and a Starfleet “Historian” greets you and tells you about the classic Constitution, does a trivia thing about Kirk and the crew, or something. With that, they could connect it to the museum bit(basically, make the TOS Enterprise like a museum ship at the Starbase like a visiting exhibit).

Ahh, the dreams. Of course, I always hoped when I was younger and the Experience had opened, that someone would open a fully Trek themed hotel(something along the lines of a Starbase with sections that would be as if you were staying on a Starship instead of the base itself(ie, “You’ll be staying in cabin 418 on the Enterprise. You want to take this corridor to the docking ramp and take Turbolift 4 to deck 16 once onboard.”)

Now THAT would be a Star Trek Experience. *sigh* If only Trump were as big a geek as I…

Yay!!! *jumps with joy*

I’ve been wanting to see this for years and it broke my heart when I heard it was closing. And now my dream will actually come true… :D

I hope there wil be a TOS version of a ride…maybe a fully interactive bridge.

Yes! As long as I can drink a Warp Core Breech with Klingons walking around, I’ll be happy.

Fans need a place they can go to be a part of the Star Trek universe, and this is the closest to it. Glad it’s returning, but wish they would find a stand-alone location and keep it open forever!

is Lisa Blake coming back too?

Made my Friday! Yay!
ITS ALIVE!!!
Anthony- At some point, there should be a “Trekmovie Meetup Weekend,” or something!

Live long and PROSPER!!!!!!!

See more Star Trek The Experience at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThsAK_e78N0

r.e #34 LT Bailey
I, too, will be grateful for the re-opening as I will get my husband back. I hate seeing him in such grievous mourning. It pains me to my core. Please, please, please hurry this along!!!

Sincerely,

The Wife of LT Bailey

I do hope we can Experience Abrams’ vision. Perhaps some Vulcan apartments, a Starfleet library, the new bridges.

I’ll ask her tonight, #42.

Vernon: Loved your video; anxiously awaiting the remainder of the series.
Will you have it for sale at some point?

Working Within Normal Parameters,

The Human Lisa from California
and her Human Mate, LT Bailey

I was married at the experience. I am looking forward to returning to celebrate my anniversary.