Any chance this thread could be pinned for people to post tributes and memories?
STTE: Final visit...
- Thread starter kevjulian
- Start date
Where was this one taken? I swear I don't remember seeing this!
Dale, thanks for your post. Very enjoyable -- made me feel like I was there!
^^ That pic was taken in the Captain's Lounge. It's upstairs at Quarks and isn't open to the general public. They rented it out for meetings, parties and such (and weddings for those Geek-Mundane mixed marriages where the Geek just couldn't convince the Mundane to get married on the bridge, lol.). When I took the back stage tour a couple of weeks ago, it finished up there.
(This has been transported from another thread in this forum-apologies if you read it already but it seemed to fit here better.)
Its 11 pm on the 31st and I just got home from Vegas. The line for the rides was almost to the entrance, I had to wait 20 minutes to be seated at Quarks and this was at 11 am! I spent time reading some of the comments that people had written that had been posted on one of the ramps. One said, "Thank you for the Experience-it was the only thing that could help me forget my problems for a while." Another said, "Please don't close tis. It makes my Daddy reel happy. Maddy, 10." The people were all pleasant but subdued, like at a wake. I chatted with a couple and it was like we were all old friends. I found myself talking with a cab driver who had taken Denise Crosby and her family to the airport once. A bearded giant in an Admiral's uniform from Paducah, Kentucky. A man from Bakersfield who said he drove to Quarks once a week for lunch. A lady who had just been released from the hospital after major surgery on her leg. She could barely walk, even with a cane, but she was there. A pair of sisters in uniform there with their families-including a baby in a classic Trek command uniform-modified into a onesy. It was an experience I won't soon forget.
Its 11 pm on the 31st and I just got home from Vegas. The line for the rides was almost to the entrance, I had to wait 20 minutes to be seated at Quarks and this was at 11 am! I spent time reading some of the comments that people had written that had been posted on one of the ramps. One said, "Thank you for the Experience-it was the only thing that could help me forget my problems for a while." Another said, "Please don't close tis. It makes my Daddy reel happy. Maddy, 10." The people were all pleasant but subdued, like at a wake. I chatted with a couple and it was like we were all old friends. I found myself talking with a cab driver who had taken Denise Crosby and her family to the airport once. A bearded giant in an Admiral's uniform from Paducah, Kentucky. A man from Bakersfield who said he drove to Quarks once a week for lunch. A lady who had just been released from the hospital after major surgery on her leg. She could barely walk, even with a cane, but she was there. A pair of sisters in uniform there with their families-including a baby in a classic Trek command uniform-modified into a onesy. It was an experience I won't soon forget.
Thanks Dale, for that long report. It's nice to know there are other people out there who feel as devastated as I do. People keep telling me it was a theme park ride. But it was more to me than that.
I was wondering about that too. Not that it matters too much to me, seeing as how I'll never be setting foot in that hotel again. Too many memories.
I agree with the above... the SpaceQuest seems superfluous without STTE. I have to imagine that whenever construction begins on whatever worthless pile of crap will eventually fill the Experience's space, the SpaceQuest will also be closed off and remodeled, either to match the new attraction, or simply into more generic casino space.
Makes no difference to me, as I have no intention of ever spending a dime in the LV Hilton again. I may, one day, pass through the space STTE once occupied, just to see what's become of it.
PS: How do I know it's all really over? I took a dump this afternoon and it wasn't blue... not even a little bit.
Makes no difference to me, as I have no intention of ever spending a dime in the LV Hilton again. I may, one day, pass through the space STTE once occupied, just to see what's become of it.
PS: How do I know it's all really over? I took a dump this afternoon and it wasn't blue... not even a little bit.
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Well, I'm relieved to know the pictures were taken at ST:TE, and not of your physical proof that you just referenced....
I think I see the baseball I left there.
Great report, Dale. It was great to finally meet you and share that brief moment at the end when the tears were flowing and yet we were still applauding the accomplishment. I just got misty again reading your story.
I've known some of these people since Nov. 1997 when the training started and many of them have grown to become very good friends. I don't know where we will automatically meet up on the times I return to Vegas but I know I will see them all again somewhere.
For my story, I have to backtrack a little. When I first moved to Vegas in '97, my then wife had a job she couldn't get out of for a while (money was too good and we thought my stay at STTE would be only for a year), so I called up the only other 5 people who got hired from the Southern CA area to see if they wanted a roomate. It ended up three of us split a three bedroom place for a year. One of those people was Mark Weitz, better known to most of you as Churoq. Lorin moved back to CA after about two years and my wife moved to Vegas after a year but we got divorced and went off to grad school.
For this last day, Lorin and I drove out to Vegas like we had all those years ago, told old "war stories", and stayed overnight at Mark's, the old roomates reunited for one night only.
We got in Sun. night and headed straight for Quark's. The place was packed and the bartenders and waiters looked beat-up but still trying to keep it together. We saw old friends and I introduced Lorin to all the new friends I've made over the past year as I've spent more time at Quark's knowing the end was near. I even finally spoke to Dale in person. Huzzah!
The next day started out very quietly, or at least not as packed as I was expecting. Also, The Ugly Couch Show team recruited us for their crew and we staked out a table in the bar as our morning HQ. Check out www.uglycouchshow.com. They also have footage from Comic-Con and pictures from the Con and Creation 2008. I'm sure new footage and photos will be posted soon (if it's not there already). All of these guys are former Experience employees and the show is really tight these days.
As the day went on, it got more and more crowded and loud. I went on my final Klingon Encounter, had my last Warp Core Breach and my last Flaming Ribs of Targ. I also ran into old friends who have moved on to other Vegas venues and we talked about our behind the scenes book idea. Everyone wanted to contribute. We also shared stories of the first pre-opening Holiday party where Mark, Lorin and I presented Star Trek: The Experiment ("Before there was the $70 million Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, there was the $7 Star Trek: The Experiment in Tom Rapone's [then General Manager] garage") made up of cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, flash cameras and a blow-dryer. There was also a version of "Hey Big Spender" presented by many of our ex-showgirl performers dressed as Trek aliens and a performance by a Klingon Elvis. Tons of fun and fondly remembered after ten years. We talked about how the climate controls in the Grand Corridor were always out of whack so that it was always freezing there (colds aplenty). We talked about the one time, after all the hype about being able to move 1300 people through the Experience per hour, we were actually able, for one hour, to get our top speed up to 1100, never met or surpassed since. We talked about the time a dog made it onto the shuttle, how my friend Gregg can proudly say he was the one who beamed Scotty aboard, how we all tried, no matter what broke down, to keep the show going and not break character. Years of experiences at The Experience.
It was fun to talk to Chase Masterson and Suzie Plakson (who couldn't stress enough how honored she was to be asked to lead the closing ceremony [there should also be two other links to the closing ceremony on Youtube]). Garrett Wang stopped by and stayed til the end. Beverly Washburn was as gracious as ever. We left the bar with me holding three plastic ups of Warp Core Breach (one was the remnants of my friend's drink, two were mine). I believe I may have been the last one to leave a baseball. The closing ceremony is everything Dale described. I held it together pretty well until the aliens statred leaving and then completely lost it when they presented April with the flag. The after party was very wakelike but the current management was given gifts from the present employees in honor of their hard work in holding the place together for the last few years even in the face of a declining budget.
I left of my own accord to further my education and take on my current teachings positions. Now everyone is forced to move on. I sicerely hope they all have bright futures ahead of them and will do what I can to ensure that they do.
STTE is dead! Long live STTE!
I've known some of these people since Nov. 1997 when the training started and many of them have grown to become very good friends. I don't know where we will automatically meet up on the times I return to Vegas but I know I will see them all again somewhere.
For my story, I have to backtrack a little. When I first moved to Vegas in '97, my then wife had a job she couldn't get out of for a while (money was too good and we thought my stay at STTE would be only for a year), so I called up the only other 5 people who got hired from the Southern CA area to see if they wanted a roomate. It ended up three of us split a three bedroom place for a year. One of those people was Mark Weitz, better known to most of you as Churoq. Lorin moved back to CA after about two years and my wife moved to Vegas after a year but we got divorced and went off to grad school.
For this last day, Lorin and I drove out to Vegas like we had all those years ago, told old "war stories", and stayed overnight at Mark's, the old roomates reunited for one night only.
We got in Sun. night and headed straight for Quark's. The place was packed and the bartenders and waiters looked beat-up but still trying to keep it together. We saw old friends and I introduced Lorin to all the new friends I've made over the past year as I've spent more time at Quark's knowing the end was near. I even finally spoke to Dale in person. Huzzah!The next day started out very quietly, or at least not as packed as I was expecting. Also, The Ugly Couch Show team recruited us for their crew and we staked out a table in the bar as our morning HQ. Check out www.uglycouchshow.com. They also have footage from Comic-Con and pictures from the Con and Creation 2008. I'm sure new footage and photos will be posted soon (if it's not there already). All of these guys are former Experience employees and the show is really tight these days.
As the day went on, it got more and more crowded and loud. I went on my final Klingon Encounter, had my last Warp Core Breach and my last Flaming Ribs of Targ. I also ran into old friends who have moved on to other Vegas venues and we talked about our behind the scenes book idea. Everyone wanted to contribute. We also shared stories of the first pre-opening Holiday party where Mark, Lorin and I presented Star Trek: The Experiment ("Before there was the $70 million Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, there was the $7 Star Trek: The Experiment in Tom Rapone's [then General Manager] garage") made up of cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, flash cameras and a blow-dryer. There was also a version of "Hey Big Spender" presented by many of our ex-showgirl performers dressed as Trek aliens and a performance by a Klingon Elvis. Tons of fun and fondly remembered after ten years. We talked about how the climate controls in the Grand Corridor were always out of whack so that it was always freezing there (colds aplenty). We talked about the one time, after all the hype about being able to move 1300 people through the Experience per hour, we were actually able, for one hour, to get our top speed up to 1100, never met or surpassed since. We talked about the time a dog made it onto the shuttle, how my friend Gregg can proudly say he was the one who beamed Scotty aboard, how we all tried, no matter what broke down, to keep the show going and not break character. Years of experiences at The Experience.
It was fun to talk to Chase Masterson and Suzie Plakson (who couldn't stress enough how honored she was to be asked to lead the closing ceremony [there should also be two other links to the closing ceremony on Youtube]). Garrett Wang stopped by and stayed til the end. Beverly Washburn was as gracious as ever. We left the bar with me holding three plastic ups of Warp Core Breach (one was the remnants of my friend's drink, two were mine). I believe I may have been the last one to leave a baseball. The closing ceremony is everything Dale described. I held it together pretty well until the aliens statred leaving and then completely lost it when they presented April with the flag. The after party was very wakelike but the current management was given gifts from the present employees in honor of their hard work in holding the place together for the last few years even in the face of a declining budget.
I left of my own accord to further my education and take on my current teachings positions. Now everyone is forced to move on. I sicerely hope they all have bright futures ahead of them and will do what I can to ensure that they do.
STTE is dead! Long live STTE!
I really dont know how I can add anything to these reports. I've only been there twice. The first time it was all about the rides; I cant tell you how many times I went on each, that's really all I did. This time I took it slow, I was first to show up on the 2nd to last day (but decided to roam around and take pictures so I ended up being either 2nd or 3rd in line) and could have been first on the last day, but decided to take it even slower and didnt get tickets until 2 or 3pm.
I'm normally pretty shy, but this time I stopped and talked to people. I've made some really good friends and we're keeping in touch, met some interesting characters as well. I'm sorry that it took my 2nd and final trip to realize that it's not about the attraction itself but the people, patrons and employees alike, that make it so special.
I am pleased to say that I was able to "experience" the final glitch in Klingon Encounter (I believe it was the 3rd or 4th from last ride (not including the VIP one)). We took the turbolift down and as usual they ask if everyones alright and if anyone needs to go to sickbay. I decide to go along and say that I do but am kindof ignored, so while we're exiting the shuttle I go to the ensign and ask how to get to sickbay, he responds with a grin and says something along the lines of "you can go there." That was pretty cool. Back to the glitch: We boarded the shuttles as usual, but had to exit. We waited in the corridor and were greeted by all the starfleet crew. After about 5 or 10 minutes we are taken back to the bridge to look around and talk to the starfleet officers. Eventually we go back the way we returned ("secret" entries) and board the shuttle. I did notice that the ride was a little rougher than before, so I'm not sure if it was imagined or if that was part of the problem; I guess I'll never know.
I have since been able to contact some of the cast (April and Mark) and chat with them a little.
Star Trek: The Experience, you will live on in our memories!
I'm normally pretty shy, but this time I stopped and talked to people. I've made some really good friends and we're keeping in touch, met some interesting characters as well. I'm sorry that it took my 2nd and final trip to realize that it's not about the attraction itself but the people, patrons and employees alike, that make it so special.
I am pleased to say that I was able to "experience" the final glitch in Klingon Encounter (I believe it was the 3rd or 4th from last ride (not including the VIP one)). We took the turbolift down and as usual they ask if everyones alright and if anyone needs to go to sickbay. I decide to go along and say that I do but am kindof ignored, so while we're exiting the shuttle I go to the ensign and ask how to get to sickbay, he responds with a grin and says something along the lines of "you can go there." That was pretty cool. Back to the glitch: We boarded the shuttles as usual, but had to exit. We waited in the corridor and were greeted by all the starfleet crew. After about 5 or 10 minutes we are taken back to the bridge to look around and talk to the starfleet officers. Eventually we go back the way we returned ("secret" entries) and board the shuttle. I did notice that the ride was a little rougher than before, so I'm not sure if it was imagined or if that was part of the problem; I guess I'll never know.
I have since been able to contact some of the cast (April and Mark) and chat with them a little.
Star Trek: The Experience, you will live on in our memories!
Something that bothers me -- there are still people planning to go to the Convention there next year. I just can't imagine going there without the Experience. And there's no reason anymore for the Con to be held at that particular hotel. Is there any way we could convince Creation to move it?
I actually have the souvenier book that was sold at Zek's Grand Emporium. Would I be able to post some scans of it here? It has the actual script of Klingon Encounter. I still would like to make a mod of Star Trek Voyager Elite Force that lets you walk around The Experience, and even join in on Encounter and Borg 4-D as Holodeck missions. I just have no idea how to do it though.
Next year should be the last Convention at the Hilton. In my opinion. It seems kind of strange to be making money off of something Hilton seemed to desperately want to get rid of. I don't know, it seems like, they were sayong, 'Star Trek is no longer worth our time, but hey! We could still profit from it every year anyway without a major attraction.' I also wonder, did Hilton know about the closing at the time they signed the contracts with Creation? Also, have they been running the teaser for 'Star Trek' at The Experience? I saw on a vid at You tube during the tour of the Future History, and I thought I caught the tail end of the Courage theme from the trailer.
Please do! I was hoping to pick one up on this last visit, but there weren't any. (Actually, I'm not sure how long it's been since they've sold them) I guess I should have bought one way back when I first went. Oh well.
