It's official. Star Trek:The Experience to close in September.

[Avilos]

The weird thing for me is just this past week my sister has been pestering me to visit her again in August. This was before this closure was even announced. But I really can't justify the expense at such a short notice. I was thinking of going this winter when Vegas won't be so damn hot like it is right now. I have been on it so many times I don't think I need to rush to see it again before it closes.

The real must see attraction in Vegas is Cirque du Soleil 's The Beatles LOVE. Stay across the street at The Flamingo. ( my sister works at the main desk! )​

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Maybe there's a chance they can break down the sets and reassembled them in Canada and have the experience there for cheaper.

Of SCI-FI CHANNEL will buy it.

DAMN YOU, RICK BERMAN, LES MOONVES & BRAGA!!

 

[LeadHead]

Sadly this is not surprising.

The Hilton is off the strip, meaning it gets Zero foot traffic, menaing people have to plan to go there. So you lose out on most impulse patrons.

The Experience was one of the things begun during the Family Friendly Phase of Vegas. When The MGM Grand was working on a theme park which didn't last.

The economy is down, fuel prices are up so people aren't travelling much.

And finally Trek is waiting for it's next movie to come out banking the hopes for it's success in the near future on it. Despite the array of great talent involved, success is never guaranteed.

It's really too bad, I loved Klingon encounter and never got the chance to see Borg Invasion.

 

[RandyS]

i will never get to see it.

Don't feel too bad. I didn't get to go either, but from what I hear, I couldn't afford it anyway. We ARE talking Las Veagas here.

 

[Dale]

A ticket for the Experience itself - which sometimes means one visit each to Klingon Encounter and Borg Invasion 4D, and sometimes means unlimited visits to each on the day of purchase, depending on how much traffic there is at the Experience - is about $45 today, up from about $30 ten years ago. These are not simply rides, but full-blown live, interactive stage shows with rides included. Klingon Encounter in particular is like a tiny piece of heaven for TNG fans. You get to do things you've only dreamed of... you see, hear and feel things you just won't believe.

Food at Quark's is a little pricey considering what you can get at a buffet, but you're paying for the authentic Quark's atmosphere and the interaction with the costumed characters. Drink prices are similar... about on a par with a popular bar or nightclub in the real world but pricey from a Vegas perspective. The big, showy drinks like the Warp Core Breach, James Tea Kirk and Borg Sphere are quite expensive - something like $30 - but for that you get a really tasty drink in a large fishbowl with ten shots of liquor in it... and a great show when it's delivered. The food and drinks are excellent as is the atmopshere, and the alien characters that wander through and interact with patrons are so much fun and so convincing!

It's well worth the money for any real Trek fan and the Experience, overall, is as full-immersion as you could hope for. If you've never been and can possibly get to Vegas before September 1, you really should.

 

[Luke Lightsaber]

Actually, the ride was cool in that you'd pay like 40 bucks, but you'd get to ride both rides as many times as you want in that day. I rode each ride like 10 times.

 

[Indysolo]

I hope there is a master plan regarding the marketing behind this new movie. First the official Star Trek website was shut down. Now this big attraction in Vegas is closing up. Is there something I'm not getting? Aren't these things that would bring in more interest for the new movie and also be there for people looking to get a Trek fix after seeing the new movie?

Neil

 

[Atariboy]

The movie's delay until 2009 probably dealt the final blow here, although I'm sure the Hilton was uninterested in keeping The Experience anyways.

I'll be there during the convention for the third year in a row, but then probably won't make my way to Vegas for many, many years to come. Flights are just too expensive to keep going to the same place over and over again... and I have no interest in gambling and Playboy clubs.

 

[Trekker4747]

Klingon Encounter is a great, great, fantastic experience. I mean it's like LIVING in a TNG episode. And being on the bridge.

Oh man.

Nothing can describe what that is like. It makes me giddy thinking about it.

 

[juise15]

Yea the loss of the Experience will be great. I contacted everyone that I knew (that had something to do with the attraction) but they said there will be little hope that we might see any of this stuff after this. Be neat to have a hotel though

 

[Anthony Sabre]

Maybe they could drop the museum and ride components and just have Quark's as a bar/restaurant in major cities like Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

 

[jeff lebowski]

That's too bad.


I thought it was awesome when I went.

Well worth the measly 38 bucks for a once in a lifetime thing.

 

[Good Will Riker]

I went there twice.

Once during the summer of 2003. The other time during the fall of 2006.

...the memories.

 

[Luke Lightsaber]

I've been there twice. Went about a year after it opened when the lines were still pretty long to get into the ride, and the bar was really cool. I went again a year after the Borg thing opened and went on that.

 

[Atariboy]

Maybe they could drop the museum and ride components and just have Quark's as a bar/restaurant in major cities like Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

I still think keeping Quark's open is a GREAT idea. But I suppose they'll put another anonymous restaurant and 'hip' bar up in it's place.

 

[Thena]

While I'm disappointed, it was there for 11 years in a town that reinvents itself every year. Considering how many openings and closings you see in Las Vegas, 11 years was a pretty good run.

Besides, it's Las Vegas. I'm sure someone will come up with a way to bring a Star Trek attraction to another property.

 

[Biggshow]

Huh. I just got a phone interview from Trekmovie.com asking for my reaction. I also supplied some pictures.

So my current travel plans include ten days in July, Con weekend, and closing day. Pays to live in soCal and have friends with extra beds.

Another plug for my STTE memorial thread. Cut and paste from old responses if you want to. Please keep them positive as I want to present the thread to the staff during the convention.

 

[TheSeeker]

Total bummer. I finally went for the first time with my wife last Christmas and loved it. We were planning on visiting it again when we move back to Canada next year but I guess that wont happen now.

I`m glad I took lots of pictures.

 

[TGTheodore]

TO: Staff and Crew of the Star Trek Experience
FROM: The Boss (Not Bruce Springsteen)
RE: The End of Your Universe As You Know It

Please note, that your services as Ferengi, Klingons, Trill, Boliens, Romulans, Humans, generally hot female aliens, etc., will no longer be required as of September 1, 2008.

We appreciate your continued efforts to make a unique and satisfying environment and experience for the types of guests who enjoy this type of thing -- even in other months besides August.

We've had many requests regarding the physical "pieces" of the STE. All we know at this point is that the replicas of the starship themselves have been "dibbed" by someone named Dayton Ohio. Pending the approval by CBS, this is apocryphal, and not to be considered canon at this point. Also, beware those SNW writers who will try to sneak anything out under their TOS shirts, or in their briefcases which still hold their unsold SNW short stories.

Be please forewarned to expect the most eager and avid of Trek fans between now and closing and, I suspect, some form of intergalactic protest with very neatly-lettered signs in various Star Trek fonts. (Personally, I recommend Crillee, the opening credit font from TNG as it is easiest to read from a distance. Nebula, the TOS font, just drives me crazy in long passages).

There has been a lot of speculation as to what will be occupying this space after we're gone. Jericho Experience, Heroes Experience, reimagined BSG Experience ... all rumors.

There had been hope of holding out until the new Trek movie was released, re-energizing the public interest in the Experience, however, you would still need to be replaced by younger versions of yourselves, were that true.

We know you will continue delivering the exceptional customer service and relations this summer that you have over the previous years. Just please try not to cry in someone's Romulan Ale, and please do not drink yourself into a stupor at one of the other casino bars while in costume.

We will happy to write you excellent letters of recommendation for future employment as franchise aliens in the many businesses that exist for such things.

Thank you for your service, but we're reaching the truly Final Frontier, and it's time to beam out.

Live Long and Good Luck Prospering,
The Management

P.S. Your generous severance will be paid in quatloos. And regarding the ongoing Leisner Barroom Incident litigation, we have every confidence the decision will go our way and all your medical bills will be fully reimbursed. Including the plastic surgery costs.

[Reposted from Authors in Vegas thread in TrekLit]

 

[ST4EVA]

Hilton is crazy - the only reason people bother to go off the strip to the Hilton is to visit The ST Experience!!! They should be trying to keep it there no matter what!
This is the mecca for every trekkie and for it to go, even for a subspace second is lunacy. Somone tell cedar Procedure is Not Recommended.

The Shat could buy it!