It was bound to happen sooner or later, and though I’ve known this was coming for a few months now, I was still really sad to read confirmation that Star Trek: The Experience is closing September first.
Offering a sad commentary on the state of the Star Trek franchise, the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas will shut down Star Trek : The Experience this fall.
Part simulator, part environment, part museum and (of course) part gift shop/restaurant, the Experience opened 10 years ago during the height of popularity for the Star Trek: The Next Generation movies.
But, the exhibit isn’t drawing the fans it once did — just as the franchise is fading off the public radar. While J.J. Abrams is hustling to save Star Trek on the big screen, it’s too late to save it in Vegas.
The Experience will always be special to me, because, as I wrote in the Geek in Review (excerpted from Dancing Barefoot):
The Transporter Chief says, “Welcome to the 24th century. You are aboard the starship Enterprise.”
She could have said to me, “Welcome to 1987, Wil. You are on Stage 9.”
She touches her communicator and says, “I have them, Commander.”
Jonathan Frakes’ voice booms over the comm, “Good work, Lieutenant. Please take them to the bridge.”
We leave the transporter room and walk down a long corridor which is identical to the ones I walked down every day. I realize as we walk that, in my mind, I’m filling in the rest of the sound stage. I’m surprised when we don’t end up in engineering at the end of the corridor. Instead, we are herded into a turbolift, where we enjoy some more special effects. The turbolift shakes and hums . . . it’s infinitely cooler than the real ones we would stand in for the show.
When the turbolift doors open, and reveal the bridge of the Enterprise, I gasp.
The bridge is a nearly-perfect replica of ours, with a few minor differences that are probably imperceptible to anyone who didn’t spend the better part of five years on it. The hum of the engines, which had only existed in my imagination on Stage 8, is now real. I stare at the view screen, where a beautiful starfield gives the appearance of motion. I remember how much I hated doing blue screen shots on the bridge and how much I loved it when they’d lower the starfield. When I looked at those thousands of tiny mirrors, glued onto a screen of black velvet, I could lose myself in the wonderful fantasy that this spaceship was as real as the view.
I am consumed by hypernostalgia.
I am 14-years-old, walking out of the turbolift during Encounter at Farpoint. Corey Allen, the director, excitedly tells me, “Picard controls the sky, man! He controls the sky!”
I am 15-years-old, sitting in my ugly grey spacesuit at the CONN. My fake muscle suit bunches up around my arms. I feel awkward and unsure, a child who desperately wants to be a man.
I am 16-years-old, working on an episode where I say little more than, “Aye, sir.” I want to be anywhere but here.
I am 17-years-old, wearing a security uniform for Yesterday’s Enterprise. I am excited to stand in a different place on the bridge, wear a different uniform, and push different imaginary buttons.
I hear the voices of our crew, recall the cool fog that hung around our trailers each morning from Autumn until Spring.
I recall walking to the Paramount commissary with the cast, on our way to have lunch meetings with Gene before he died.
I have an epiphany.
Until this moment, all I have been able to remember is the pain that came with Star Trek. I’d forgotten the joy.
It’s obviously an important place to me, though I don’t expect it be nearly as important to anyone else in the world. I’ve always said that it’s something every Star Trek fan should, uh, experience, at least once.
They say that the props and things from the museum will be returned to Paramount, where I hope they’ll be put on Star Trek: the Tour . . . though if past is prologue, Paramount will likely have them looked after by top men.
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Man, I can’t believe they are closing it before I ever got to see it. I’ve always wanted to go and never had the chance.
I have such fond memories of visiting the ST:Experience for my birthday when I turned 30. My sister and I were in that long-ass line to get in, staring at all the cool props on display. A snarling Ferengi comes up to me and asks, “How much for her?”
My sister replies, “You can’t afford me.”
He huffs off and we laugh our asses off.
Yeah, I guess it is time but I am still sad to see it go. I am glad I had the opportunity to visit when it was still exciting and groovy. The Klingons were quite tall and surprisingly sexy. I shall remember the experience, er Experience, fondly.
I’ve been twice – most recently just this May. All in all, I’m not heartbroken to see it close down. If you’re not in to the rides, there’s very little there other than an over-priced restaurant and a rather small “museum”.
I’m sad too. One of my favorite moments was being photographed in the captain’s chair on that bridge. I’m verklempt!
I think you are underestimating how important the entire Star Trek experience is to a lot of people.
I suspect that a new home for it may actually be a big help for it if they pick carefully – part of the problem could well be that it’s in Vegas, a place where a lot of geeks don’t go. You want to drive up visitors, put it somewhere more geek friendly.
I was just there in June and it totally took me back to my Star Trek fangirl days. All those great, horrible memories! At least it didn’t fall into disrepair and shabbiness before they called it a day.
That’s terrible news. I’m glad I got to go a few years ago, but that was before parts of it were even open yet. I was planning to go again next spring. *wipes tear from her eye*
Top men.
I remember going there and it was great! I worked in Orlando so I didn’t expect much but the simulator ride in the shuttle was awesome. The whole thing was awesome.
I will miss it.
Wow, that does suck. I went to Vegas for a friends birthday and we walked there from the strip (not recommended – unless you are from the hood, not even the cabs will go into the neighborhoods we walked through.).
Anyway, it was really “Real”> The cast never break character. The transporter experience was pretty rad and the stage was sweet. I pressed on some control panels to goof around. On the way to the bridge, I peeked down some hallways and tested some doors. Everyone was true to the show and their character, pretending to work some wall panel or something. I saw a few exposed hinges, but other than that – almost felt real.
It was really cool and every fan should have really made the effort to go.
As for the afterparty in Quark’s Lounge (or whatever it was called). Some Ferengi came up and intentionally bumped me.
I am 6’2” and 250 lbs of twisted steel and sex appeal. I was with two other guys on a birthday trip. We were all bouncers at a pretty tough bar in California. Basically, none of us like to be bumped – especially on purpose. That irritated me quite a bit. I don’t know if it was a character point or just the guy being a jerk. But that was almost 10 years ago.
But, for the record, I could mess up a little Ferengi and not even feel bad about it. I would have felt bad if it were like an Andorian or something. But the little guy got to keep his knee caps with a warning whispered into his humongous ears about caution in taking his role too seriously.
RIP ST:TE I was looking forward to taking my family to see you this year.
Oh no, what a shame. That was such a cool experience. I’ve been to the Star Trek Experience once, and it was so fun. I remember being so surprised and thinking how clever it was that the sim rides “takes you back into the Hilton.” I had a conversation with a Ferengi and a Klingon regarding the “cloying sweetness” of rootbeer. Also, that was a very nice Quark’s cafe/restaurant there. Portions weren’t too big and it’s the only place I’ve ever been offered non-alcoholic versions of neat-o drinks. But I digress. About four years ago, we went there and I was excited to go to the new 3D Borg Experience. To my dismay, the entire Star Trek area was closed all weekend because of a VIP event. I was hoping to go back sometime, but alas, I guess that won’t be happening. I now have no reason to go to the Hilton, what with it way in the back there, because the Star Trek part was the only reason to go unless you were at a convention there.
It’s like how disappointed I was about the closing of the Back to teh Future Ride at Universal Studios. That, Star Tours and Star Trek the Experience are/were the only good sim rides I’ve been on. I tried a Race for Atalantis one at Caesar’s Palace and it sucked by comparison. People said the BTTF ride was rundown, and had bad audio and broken effects, so people didn’t go on it anymore. But obviously Universal deliberately let it get that way. I think some things are just timeless. BTTF isn’t dated like the Waterworld stunt spectacular was, lol.
NO!!!!!!!!!
Nonononononooooo
I never got to see it. That was my only reason to ever go to Vegas.
I started this comment about 10 minutes ago (I multitask), and the more I dwell on it, the sadder I get. We’re about to loose so much.
Its just…wow. I cant put it into words, but theres plenty of others who’ll post here who can. So…yeah. Ill miss it.
I remember getting slightly blitzed at Quark’s bar and commenting to one of the Klingon’s how much I admired the Klingon Ale. He said “I prefer blood wine, myself…but I have to remember you HUMANS only have one liver to process the alcohol with.” Good times.
I can’t believe they’re going to shut this down BEFORE the new Star Trek movie comes out. It’ll certainly generate interest.
My brother was married on the deck of the enterprise a couple of years ago. I found the “ride” interesting but the sets where showing their age then but I loved the fact that the crew didn’t take things too seriously (favorite line: “phasers sent on fun” in a droll even voice)
Quarks bar suffered from bad food and overpriced specialty drinks but I will cherish the Borg Teddy Bear that I bought at the gift shop.
Figures. I’ll be in Vegas at the end of October and that was #2 on my list of things to do. 🙁 Curses!
Makes me very glad I made plans to go in August, but still kinda sad cuz I’ll be getting married there and it won’t be around for more than a couple months after. *snif*
Now that I think about it, lots of people get to go back to the place they were married. I guess I won’t. But I’m still looking forward to seeing it.
You’re leaving off the part where the Borg show up and and fan girls like me SCREAM bloody murder. OMG I thought I was going to have a heart attack. The whole time I was trying to tell myself “I know this isn’t real” but I couldn’t help it, I am genuinely terrified of the Borg.
It was awesome! I’m sad it’s going away.
My wife and I married there — well, at Quark’s. Maybe we’ll get the chance for one last road trip to see it one last time.
I went once during their second year. There was a guy in full Klingon makeup walking around the museum. I gave him a “Qapla!” and he responded in kind. I always assumed he worked there, but now I’m not so sure. 🙂
It was a good show and I’m sad I won’t have another chance to go back. It really did bring out the inner Wesley in me.
I’ll be in Vegas in August for a convention so I’ll be working most of the time until around 7pm, which I think is when it closes. Maybe they’ll keep it open longer for its last run? I’m crossing my fingers!
At least I’ve had drinks at Quarks. I guess they might remodel that bar too after the Experience is gone?
What a bummer! I’ve never been, but I am going to a conference in Vegas next spring. Too bad I’ll miss it…
I’ve been there several times; it’s the highlight of every Vegas trip, and we really enjoyed it (with the second experience added) at the 2007 Con. Very sad.
I was there not long after it first opened, with a couple of my band mates at the time, one of which was not a Star Trek fan, but we got him to go anyway. He had a good time, particularly afterwards in Quark’s bar drinking some bizarre concoction called a Warp Breach. That drink makes people do silly things like walk all the way down to Dive Restaurant (anybody remember that place?) after imbibing one. Of course, we shouldn’t mention that we went to the first run-though of the day, about 10am or so, so our warp cores breached by the time lunch rolled around. Ah, memories.
Sad that it’s closing. Even more sad that Star Trek has faded enough from peoples minds to cause it’s demise.
Check out the photo of me and a Klingon in a victory pose:
http://www.pdsys.org/blog/2008/07/08/StarTrekTheExperienceToCloseInVegas.aspx
God I’m a geek.
Oh for glaven out loud – just when I get enough money to take a trip to Vegas this December the taHqeqs in charge go and shut down the only reason Vegas is worth a trip for me.
tojo’Qa’
Oh, no! My husband took me there for my 30th birthday. Surprise getaway to Vegas. And he took his brother and sister there for his brother’s 21st. I was pregnant for that second visit, and, well, fun things in Vegas are limited by that, so we saved the plane fare rather than having me sit petulantly at Quark’s. LOL. But I always figured we’d get back. I’m very sad.
It’s sad to think that this is just one more step in a fading genre. (star trek not sci-fi, I put ST in it’s own genre because of the following it has on it’s own.) I never thought I would see the experience, but because I can’t get out to Vegas, not because it will no longer be around.
Ohhhh. I thought I’d get to go someday. That’s a shame.
I know I already shared with you my favorite memory of the place, Wil — but it bears repeating…
The photo of Wesley in uniform at Troi and Riker’s wedding will forever be embedded in my memory. It was that moment of reunion I’d love to have for Wil all the time — not just in my memory, but getting the band back together completely.
I had my first warp core breach two weekends ago, and I’ll be taking my son, who has scared up the nerve, to ride the rides. He’s 8, but he asked me if he could, as this closing means he may never get another chance.
And Wesley is a cool kid in his eyes too, just like my own 🙂
<3 Wil!
Oh, oh, I rue the day that I was too cheap to pay for the full tour when I went to Vegas last year. I did, however, go through the Museum, have my photo taken with the Klingon (great makeup and characterisation, BTW, I wonder what he’ll do now?), and buy a Tribble, so it wasn’t all in vain.
There is something sadly wrong with the Universe if the Hilton keeps Manilow and ditches the Trek Experience. Sigh.
I am totally bummed about this because my fiance and I were planning on getting married there in November. When I called to reserve the date, I was told they were closing on October 31st so we were scrambling to try and get the wedding planned for October 24th. Now they are closing on September 1st and there is just no way we can get that done 🙁
I loved the Experience! At least the ST:TNG side of it.
One thing kind of pissed me off: I tried to get one of those photos taken with my face in the midst of a Star Trek crew, and I passed on doing the original crew or the TNG crew in order to get a picture of me standing next to Jeri Ryan, and I arranged myself just so to match the demo photo, and then they switched photos on me! Damn, if I’d asked for the original crew photo I’d be next to Nichelle Nichols!
Where am I going to get my Romulan ale now?! Shame.
That is so sad. I always thought the hotel would be worth staying at (instead of just visiting the bar) if you could actually stay in rooms that were themed after star trek. I’d love to hotel it in officer’s quarters.
Warp Core breaches at Quark’s were a girls best friend.
I’m so sad that it’s closing before I got a chance to take my husband. I went about 5 years ago (during a Girls’ Weekend in Vegas) and it was, literally, the highlight of my trip. I especially loved talking with the Klingons and the Borg that were walking around, but being on the Bridge was just. too. cool. for this Trek fan.
Thanks for the heads up ~
Awwww… I’d been there twice.
It was awesome.
angiek was *just* there for the first time! They drove to Vegas (for their honeymoon) for that reason! They may have gotten back to Austin, today.
So sad.
This is such a bummer! I am in love with The Experience… I spent so much time there, hours on the days I was lucky enough to be there while they were doing the “unlimited rides for the price of one admission.” I dreamed of working on the set there as an actor. I even dressed as Wesley Crusher when I was a kid (in one of those horrible Rubies jumpsuits that stretched and pulled in all the wrong spots.)
This really is the end of an era.
I think the saddest part of that article is “Offering a sad commentary on the state of the Star Trek franchise…”
Because as much as I like the franchise, it is and a poor, poor, state. We are currently waiting a new movie with a format that other franchises have proved, will pour scorn and hatred over the entire franchise (see StarWars: The Phantom Menace for more details.).
I’ve just realised that this is a whole blog post in its self.
So I’ll get typing on my own as opposed to hi-jacking this one.
I’ll never forget the first time we were transported to the Enterprise. When we stood before the woman at the transporter console I was just gob smacked. That must be one of the best “tricks” ever created on a ride.
We took two friends with us when we visited last year. The queues had vanished and the two rides were only operating on alternate hours. The staff tried hard to make it feel just as exciting as our previous trips but it wasn’t the same. I had a feeling it would be closing sometime soon.
I got the VIP package when I went to the Experience in September 2002. I remember wandering around the bridge while I waited for my moment in the captain’s chair. Inspecting the LCARS displays for Okudagrams, checking to see if there really was a bathroom tucked around the corner, running fingers over the security station and imagining, briefly, that I was actually in my bestest, most favorite TV show ever. Then, it was my turn in The Chair.
While I now know the set was a recreation, back then I fancied I could make out the faint impression left after seven seasons worth of Patrick Stewart’s backside. I sat down and, for a moment, realised what it must be like for Catholics to meet the Pope, for besotted fans to point and stare and shout, “You’re thingy! Wassisname! From, you know, that show!”. The bridge transformed into an inner sanctum, a place where a love of Trek was accepted, where you realise it’s about more than just you and a TV set and an hour-long slot every evening on Sky One.
“Hey, we’ve got a serious one here.” The attractive, brunette lieutenant pointed the camera.
“Well, excuse me”, I thought, as the flash blinded me and I tried not to blink. “I *am* sat in the captain’s chair of the USS Enterprise, from the first Trek series I watched right from the pilot, from the show that stands up and says ‘hey, we *can* hope for a future where we all get along’, so excuse me if I want to give this moment a teeny-tiny little bit of the gravitas I think it deserves.”
I stood up, performed a Picard Manoeuver, and looked once more around the bridge. All too soon, it was time to head back to Planet Earth.
That photo hangs on my wall still. I always looked at it and thought, “Man, I really have to go back and get a photo where I have a decent t-shirt on and don’t have those extra pounds on me.” Now I will look at it and remember, fondly, the fourth best moment of my life.
I will be in Vegas next week (first time ever!) and I had wanted to see Star Trek: The Experience for years. The ticket prices are a little steep for me but with it closing this fall, I will have to try to go.
personally, I hope they keep as much of the equipment together and it doesn’t end up on eBay.
Although I don’t want to disparage anyone from owning a piece of an iconic culture phenomenon, I think it would be better to keep a lot of this “stuff” together, along with other stuff from the original locals (ST, TNG, DS9, etc.) and collect it in one place.
Glad I made my wife go a couple months ago.
What’s a “top man”…
… and no naughty jokes!
The Dot and I keep talking about getting married on the bridge…better do it sooner rather than later, eh?
GcB
D’oh! That was my favorite part of visiting Vegas a few years ago… I was hoping to go again early next year and see LOVE, and was planning on re-visiting the Star Trek Experience. 🙁
This is sad news! I haven’t gone precisely because I have less than no interest in going to Vegas. But also because I always assumed they’d get it wrong– that it would be like going to those revolutionary reenactment villages, where everyone’s accent is wrong and people break character to answer their cellphones. If I ever did it, I wanted it to be like actually being in an episode of TNG.
Yes, I am that much of a nerd. And I’m glad of it!
A few years ago, in fact, during one of those “if you could be in any fantasy, what would it be” kind of discussions with friends, I decided I’d like to be on the Enterprise. Not as the captain or in some daring battle or meeting new species, like everyone else imagines up. Just being a regular old lieutenant in some science department, living a normal life but on the Enterprise in 2368 instead of New York in 2008.
I’d be waking up in the morning in my calming grey and purple room, getting my cup of coffee (in a glass mug with a square saucer) from the replicator, taking a quick sonic shower, and pulling on my yellow and black unitard and boots. Walking the skinny hallways down to the science lab, reading some journal article on my pad, smiling a hello at the Lieutenant Commander walking past. Working together on a team to devise a water reclamation plan for the planet below. Having a stroll in the arboretum at lunchtime, asking Keiko for some potted plant advice. Taking in a concert in Ten Forward that night, or maybe going for a nighttime swim with a friend in the holodeck. Then off to bed in my shimmery silver pajamas in my sturdy rose-colored bed. All while the soothing whub-whub of the warp engines sounds in the background.
It seems like it would be a hell of a lot better than taking a subway full of tourists to my crap job in a cubicle with no windows where no one talks to one another, and we accomplish nothing of value all day. I’d trade this for the Enterprise in a hot second.
awwww, it will be sad to see it go. i’ve been multiple times and oh, the warp core breach memories…lol
may it live in everyone’s memory! viva la star trek!