PKI Jizzman Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 http://www.trektoday.com/news/010708_05.shtml The rumors have unfortunately proven to be true and Star Trek: The Experience is closing after an eleven-year run. As reported by fox5vegas.com and TrekMovie.com although its contract runs though the end of December, The Experience will be closing on the first of September. In a press release, operations manager and director of marketing Chad Boutte said "Hailing frequencies open. We'd like to thank all the fans and friends of Star Trek, whose constant and amazing support we've enjoyed throughout our tenure at the Las Vegas Hilton. As we boldly go into the futures that await, know that we take your love of 'Star Trek: The Experience' with us. We share the memories of time spent in the most unique place in the Galaxy, and we carry those memories into our futures with us. Live long and prosper. Hailing frequencies closed." Negotiations between CBS, Paramount, Cedar Fair (owners of The Experience and the Hilton failed to keep the attraction open. The Hilton Hotel felt that more money could be made using the space for something other than the Star Trek attraction. Even the hope of attracting more fans with the upcoming release of Star Trek XI wasn't sufficient to save The Experience. Robert Picardo (EMH) was not surprised by the news, as reported at SyFy Portal. "The hotel changed hands, and [the new owners] have been eyeing that large amount of retail space lustfully for some time," he said. "It breaks my heart a little bit to no longer be my own theme park ride. Once you have an action figure for years, there are only a few ways to go up, and being a theme park attraction is one of the only ones." To read more, head to the articles located here, here and here. Oh, my chemistry teacher will be in tears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jive Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 It reads like the hotel wants it closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmor Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 How can you say it closed without warning...from what I read it will close in sept...not yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Without warning? It's been well publicized that they did not have a new agreement prior to this announcement. It first popped up on Screamscape in March. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Jizzman Posted July 4, 2008 Author Share Posted July 4, 2008 Edited for obvious reasons... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterEricHP Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Anyone have any pictures from this? I've.. uhh.. always been somewhat of a Trekkie ... and never got to check it out, and never will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCody Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 I got married to my ex-husband at the Experience so I'm selfishly glad it's closing. Now I don't have to worry about showing up there maudlin and drunk the next time I'm in Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewsPlusNotes Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I've been to Vegas several times and wanted to check it out (not a Star Trek fan) just cause they are well themed attractions, but never did because of the price. Now I'm leaving for Vegas in 48 hours and plan on checking it out - and getting a photo tour of it. I heard you can get cheap tickets a few places in time so that'll make it easier to cough up the cash. The hotel probably wants to use the space for something new, but I highly doubt that Cedar Fair has any real interest in keeping it either. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Nothing lasts forever in Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalRCfan Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Has anyone been to The Experience? Is it something a theme park enthusiast should try this summer? I also have passed up this attraction because of its price. I was never into Star Trek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
printersdevil78 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 It seems like the Hilton is trying to get out of the space business. Last time I was there, they were remodeling and had gotten rid of the slot machines patrons could operate by passing their hands through a beam of light. I guess once Star Trek is gone, all that will be left from the "futuristic" theme is the recording in the men's room that analyzes your urine and tells you you'll have good luck in their casino! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiAdventureMan87 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I once won tickets to it, and as a huge Star Trek fan, I am disappointed to see the closing of this attraction. But knowing three things: the lack of interest in the use of the property by the ownership of the hotel, the lack of caring by the ownership of the attraction itself, and the general agnosticism of the general public shown to Star Trek since the premiere and short departure of Enterprise, I am not very surprised by the closure of this place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tikifire Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I got married to my ex-husband at the Experience so I'm selfishly glad it's closing. Now I don't have to worry about showing up there maudlin and drunk the next time I'm in Vegas. Nice... I went to Walt Disney World for my honeymoon with my ex back in '96 so I still feel like getting drunk everytime I go there... although that may have more to do with the fact my daughter loves to ride "It's a Small World." Back on topic, I'm a bit sad I never got to "experience" this attraction being a Trek fan but from what I read about it, it was themed largely around the Next Generation which was never really my cup of tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 The original simulator and experience was, but the second one added was themed to Voyager and the Borg. I've ridden them both over the course of their lifes and they're a lot of fun, the simulators themselves are pretty meh, but it's ALL about the pre-show. I'm hopefully going to get out there before they close, but it's less then two months away so who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packfanlv Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I definitely think that a visit is worth it for a theme park enthusiast. You can usually get half price tickets at a few outlets on the strip as well. The first attraction is a bid dated, but still well done and the newer Borg attraction is awesome. My son was so freaked out when the borg came right at us to assimilate us! I am so sad that I won't be back home in Vegas before this is closing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 It was a really awesome attraction. I'm not in any way familiar with the show or movies at all, and I still loved it. It was one of the best all-around immersive experiences ever, the story, theming, and level of detail was top notch. Seriously, how many times is the exit of the attraction just as detailed as everything else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Damn you Cedar Fair!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 From the pictures I've seen, this thing looks like fun. Sorry to see it go, especially having never been to the attraction. Fan? Yes. Borg Fan? You bet! Do I collect the hallmark light up ornaments every year at Christmas? Since 1994 or 95. I'm not a Nerd for nothin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_echo Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I'll be arriving in Las Vegas the day after it closes. Dammit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 If I had known this was so good I would have definitely done it, oh well. I have a day and night in LA before heading onto the TPR trip on the 1st - how long does it take to get to Vegas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj snow Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Looks like maybe a 4-5 hour drive each way. I'd be willing to bet you can find tons of reasonably-priced flights to Las Vegas from any of the four LA-area airports, though. Probably about a 45-minute flight each way. Figure out which airport you'll be nearest to (hopefully not LAX!), then I'd check out southwest.com to find your options. Good luck! I did the Star Trek Experience last year, and found it good, but not great. The simulator portion of the attraction had some issues with poor motion sync to the screen. Glad to have done it, but I probably wouldn't do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 ^If it was a 3 hour drive I would have contemplated it, with a stop by Buffalo Bills for the Desperado credit on the way and have fun in Vegas while I'm at it. I'm staying at an LAX hotel, so I'll think I'll just go to the beach instead or maybe sleep after the 14 hour flight. Star trek sounds good but not good enough to be a destination attraction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Being the Trekkie I am, I was devastated after hearing of this. Ever since the first year of STTE, I've been going to Vegas, mostly just for Trek @ the Hilton. I'm glad that I have been to this so many times, and been on the rides (at least Klingon Encounter) over 100 times. When the announcement was made that Cedar Fair was closing STTE, a piece of me died. I can never go to Las Vegas again and look forward to my favorite Vegas attraction. Way to go Cedar Fair. Just for this, I will hate the chain forever, and I'm being dead serious too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanic Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Ever since the first year of STTE, I've been going to Vegas, mostly just for Trek @ the Hilton. That's difficult to believe when the age under your avatar is listed as 16. So you were 5 years old when you started going to Vegas? From Idaho? Something seems amiss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj snow Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I'm staying at an LAX hotel I should probably clarify that my "hopefully not LAX" comment wasn't to mean that you can't find flights from there to Las Vegas. In fact, you can find many. My comment was just to say how much smaller and more manageable the other LA-area airports are compared to LAX, that's all. So, if that LAX comment was a determining factor, then you might wish to reconsider. But hitting the beach after a 14-hour flight doesn't sound like such a bad plan at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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