'Star Trek: The Experience' To End?

TrekToday · May 4 2008, 06:46 AM

The contract between CBS and Cedar Fair (who owns The Experience) ends this year and it may not be renewed.

As reported by TrekMovie.com, The Experience attraction, in operation since 1998, may close after the current contract expires at the end of the year. "There are currently no plans to renew it," said a spokesperson from Cedar Fair.

Attendance has been declining for years, in spite of the introduction of the "Borg Invasion 4D" ride in 2004. Cost reductions have helped, but may not be enough to save the attraction.

This is not the first time that the attraction's future has been in peril. As reported by TrekToday two years ago, a change in ownership of the Las Vegas Hilton was cause for concern, but the attraction survived.

A final decision on whether to keep the attraction or not will be made by the end of May. It is possible that the attraction could be sold by Cedar Fair to another company, who would then have to make new deals with both the Hilton and CBS.

A closure would also effect the annual official Creation Star Trek Convention which has been held yearly at the Las Vegas Hilton since The Experience opened in 1998. A decision would have to be made as to whether they should stay at the Hilton, or relocate to another hotel, possibly opting for one closer to "the strip".

To read more, head to the article located here.

Biggshow · May 4 2008, 09:09 AM

Hey, T'Bonz, thanks for the story. A friend at The Experience pointed me in that direction and I added it to my thread in General Trek Discussion.

I really hope some agreement can be reached. For those of you who want contact info for all the parties invloved, check out the thread "Whither Star Trek: The Experience? Update".

Write letters. Make calls but be polite.

AntonyF · May 4 2008, 09:39 AM

The amount of money I've dumped in their bar should mean it should survive for years!

Jefferies · May 4 2008, 11:50 AM

Makes we wonder, is this further evidence for a continual decline of Star Trek? Is fandom shrinking? I suppose with no current show on the air it should not come as a surprise. Hopefully, the new movie will make trek more relevant again!

Pioneer · May 4 2008, 01:55 PM

Jefferies wrote:

Makes we wonder, is this further evidence for a continual decline of Star Trek? Is fandom shrinking? I suppose with no current show on the air it should not come as a surprise. Hopefully, the new movie will make trek more relevant again!

The decline of Star Trek?!? Bite your tongue, infidel!

Will the new movie help? One can only hope.

Augustus · May 4 2008, 02:02 PM

I was actually thinking about the experience the other day. I visited once in 2000. It was fun, but recently I have wondered about its attendance and how it was still open. That would be nice to try to keep it open a little longer, at least until the new movie comes out...

USS Intrepid · May 4 2008, 07:33 PM

I really hope they can keep the thing going. I love that place, and the staff are great fun.

Caretaker · May 4 2008, 07:51 PM

I went about a year and a half ago, and enjoyed it (I'm not one for theme park rides, but even I liked the simulator). Unfortunately, I never did get a Warp Core Breach - I was kind of hoping to go back some day.

Cmndr J Crichton · May 4 2008, 10:26 PM

Why don't they start re-airing all the episodes on CBS say on Sunday night. Get people re-introduced to the franchise. Start with The Cage, and go on from there. At the end of each episode, have a teaser of Star Trek: The Experience. As the movie gets closer to release, do both Experience, and movie teasers. I hope it doesn't close. All they need to do is update Klingon Encounter to fit either with Shatner's Enterprise, or Pines Enterprise.

Dale · May 4 2008, 11:54 PM

I've been many, many times and have some very fond memories of the place. Also some 'bouts of drinking Romulan Ale (unctuated with Bolian Sunsets and the osccasional Warp Core Breach). The staff and characters have always been great, but the place has declined in recent years as far as attendance and also the number of alien characters around at one time. I guess they've had to cut back on staffing as attendance slipped. I used to go and see two Ferengi and several Klingons around at once. The Klingons would be leading drinking songs in the bar - great fun! I will be sure to egt there a couple times before the end of 2008 (one of the perks of living in Southern California is easy access to ST:TE).

Speaking of memories, here's a shot of my wife and I at a Halloween party there one year, and I think everyone who's been will recognize the first picture!

Biggshow · May 5 2008, 03:02 AM

Huh. I just got a very nice complimentary phone call from Chad Boutte at The Experience in response to an e-mail I sent. He, at least, appreciates everyone's efforts on keeping the place open.

Keep those cards and letters (and phone calls and e-mails) coming.

T'Bonz · May 5 2008, 06:18 AM

Biggshow wrote:

Hey, T'Bonz, thanks for the story. A friend at The Experience pointed me in that direction and I added it to my thread in General Trek Discussion.

I really hope some agreement can be reached. For those of you who want contact info for all the parties invloved, check out the thread "Whither Star Trek: The Experience? Update".

Write letters. Make calls but be polite.

Link to Biggshow's thread is here.

I was privileged to get out to see "The Experience" once. I thoroughly enjoyed it and Quark's Bar was very well-done indeed.

I hadn't a clue though that the Warp Core Breach was meant for more than one person. I drank it all!

MattJC · May 5 2008, 06:39 AM

T'Bonz wrote:

Biggshow wrote:

Hey, T'Bonz, thanks for the story. A friend at The Experience pointed me in that direction and I added it to my thread in General Trek Discussion.

I really hope some agreement can be reached. For those of you who want contact info for all the parties invloved, check out the thread "Whither Star Trek: The Experience? Update".

Write letters. Make calls but be polite.

Link to Biggshow's thread is here.

I was privileged to get out to see "The Experience" once. I thoroughly enjoyed it and Quark's Bar was very well-done indeed.

I hadn't a clue though that the Warp Core Breach was meant for more than one person. I drank it all!

The 10 oz. one?
I don't think I could handle all by mself. I'll stick with miniature 5 oz. one version.

Pioneer · May 5 2008, 12:49 PM

Wow! Well done!

AntonyF · May 5 2008, 02:35 PM

MattJC wrote:

I don't think I could handle all by mself. I'll stick with miniature 5 oz. one version.

I've had four of them. I met a guy who's part of a Klingon theatre group there one year... when meeting him a few years later, he said "You are the person who drunk four warp core breeches. You are a legend amongst my people!"

I have them every time I go to Vegas.

The staff are great, particularly the Klingon woman. God knows what she'd do in her next job, the skill isn't that transferable.

T'Cal · May 5 2008, 02:46 PM

I've gone several times with my wife and kids and we thoroughly enjoy it. I was there last month with my wife and I asked an employee who told me that she's heard the rumors, too, but that the restaurant, rides, and shops have a steady flow of customers daily. She said that she would be surprized if they shut it down because from her perspective, it seemd very profitable. Still, she's a frontline employee and not in the boardroom where the real money is discussed.

I'm ambivilent about moving it as it is located right next to the convention center and the monorail connects it to the strip. I hope that it's revamped, though, as it has become a bit long in tooth. I would love to see a ride based on the next movie. Then I would base the design of each of the following on one of the other eras, i.e.: a casual cafeteria (ENT); an upscale restaurant (TOS movies); a bar Ten Forward (TNG); shops (DS9); etc. I would love to see a few sets from the shows as part of a guided tour with photo ops: a Bridge or two, a Ready Room, an Engineering Section, a Transporter Room, Crew Quarters, etc.

MattJC · May 5 2008, 07:45 PM

AntonyF wrote:

I've had four of them. I met a guy who's part of a Klingon theatre group there one year... when meeting him a few years later, he said "You are the person who drunk four warp core breeches. You are a legend amongst my people!"

.

Damn. I'm plenty hammered after the mini-Warp Core. You must have a liver of solid steel.

Biggshow · May 5 2008, 11:22 PM

T'Cal wrote:

I've gone several times with my wife and kids and we thoroughly enjoy it. I was there last month with my wife and I asked an employee who told me that she's heard the rumors, too, but that the restaurant, rides, and shops have a steady flow of customers daily. She said that she would be surprized if they shut it down because from her perspective, it seemd very profitable. Still, she's a frontline employee and not in the boardroom where the real money is discussed.

I'm ambivilent about moving it as it is located right next to the convention center and the monorail connects it to the strip. I hope that it's revamped, though, as it has become a bit long in tooth. I would love to see a ride based on the next movie. Then I would base the design of each of the following on one of the other eras, i.e.: a casual cafeteria (ENT); an upscale restaurant (TOS movies); a bar Ten Forward (TNG); shops (DS9); etc. I would love to see a few sets from the shows as part of a guided tour with photo ops: a Bridge or two, a Ready Room, an Engineering Section, a Transporter Room, Crew Quarters, etc.

If I were king of Vegas (or at least the Hilton), I'd clear out some of the Spacequest Casino and move a large part of the Tour in there (since it doesn't seem to be going anywhere at the moment). That would give the Experience perhaps a more complete feel for those who want more TOS. Can you just see the Guardian of Forever at one of the entrances? You'd go through it to get to some of the attractions.

...really need to win the lottery now...

Sean Aaron · May 6 2008, 04:56 PM

It would be a shame as I quite enjoyed it the one time I went. Pity I'm unlikely to see the Borg bit as I just cannot justify a trip to Vegas since moving to the UK.

glindros · May 6 2008, 09:00 PM

I recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas. I first went to STTE shortly after they opened, and returned for the first time almost 10 years later. I think the place has held up very well. Their attention to keep the place looking fresh and maintained is obvious (except the resturant. Those booths could use some new padding.) I splurged and took the whole package, behind the scenes, pictures, etc..

The Klingon encounter was even better than I remembered it. The Borg ride was great. And the behind the scenes tour was undescribably nice. Our tour guide was fantastic. I believe her name was Kelly. "Ain't no fan like a Star Trek fan".

I fought bitterly to get to Vegas just to go back to see STTE. I might not have went to Vegas at all if it wasn't for that ride.

The staff was talking about getting ready for a refurbishment of the timeline to reflect the new movie, once out. Hopefully it will come to pass, and boost the attendance for what is a wonderful experience.