One of the former Exerience employees recently said in a webcast that, when all is said and done, they might just wind up back at the Hilton (apparently, they're missing all those quatloos).
Isn't there going to be a re-opening of the Star Trek Experience in Neonpolis? Here is the article: http://scifiwire.com/2009/02/confir...p-star-trek-the-experience-alive-in-vegas.php I don't know if there is anymore recent news about the status of the project.
Apparently, the Neonopolis thing is hitting more snags than anticipated. Coupled with the Hilton having second thoughts, and the whole thing could very likely just go full circle and wind up right back where it started. The blessing in disguise being that having to clear everything out will give the designers the chance to rework the whole thing so it's not so TNG-centric. If they hadn't closed, they wouldn't have had this chance.
Perhaps, perhaps not. Chances are if some one is spending that kind of coin of a silly toy from a tv show they are not just going to toss it anywhere and not care about it.
Some of the bidders were museums. What, you think everything they get is donated? Museums buy a lot of stuff, too.
It seems that CBS is going to auction off the big models and other stuff from Star Trek The Experience!
They're auctioning off stuff that they're certain isn't going to be a part of the new version; no decision yet on just what exactly that entails.
The big models and the borg alcove are among items that are in a warehouse in Las Vegas that are going to be sold off. The stuff from the museum that you walk in to get to the rides is not. All this info is in a article over at Trekmovie.
I know the gent running the auction. The models are very large (won't fit into a typical house) and will need some degree of fix-up... in some cases probably many thousands. Also, while interesting, lit, and attractive, they are -not- screen used. I won't venture a guess because it will really be between the few people who can find the warehouse-type space for them.
If I wound up with one of those ships, I'd have to loan it to the Wings Over the Rockies museum, 'cause that's the only place I can think of locally that has the space, and the inclination, to house something of that size and subject matter.
Who knows what the big refit would go for? Thats the one I like the best. Alec Peters is the guy running this whole thing. He use to live here in Atlanta and maybe he still does. The last time I saw him was at Dragon Con, but I have not talked to him about this auction. He had one of the warp engines from the shuttlecraft that was in the new movie on his blog. It was up for sale but it may have not sold because it was 30 feet long. Thats what he stated on his web site. These big models may have the same problem! If I was lucky enough to win the big refit, I would donate it to the Fernbank science center here in Atlanta!
The shuttle engine went for $300 (plus a bit) to a major collector based in Germany. "Pickup only" and 30 feet long. I am told the TMP-A needs major work. Buying it to donate... well i'd do it the other way around, i'd check with the museum BEFORE buying. I have talked with the Smithsonian re some of my models, and they would gladly take them... and put them in the warehouse. We envision it "visible", not stuck in a warehouse, which means pre-arrangement. And the deicision to spend $$.
I've talked to the Wings Over the Rockies museum previously about similar issues, and their attitude is if they've got the space, they'll display it. And since the museum consists of an old hangar from back when the area was Lowry AFB, they've got plenty of space, especially for something that'd have to be suspended from the very high ceiling. The perfect spot would be right over the Jack Sweigert display, not far from the almost-full size X-Wing (on loan from Lucasfilm).