Star Trek: The Experience
by Philip Chien
“Star Trek: The Experience” was an extremely popular tourist attraction in Las Vegas for the past decade, but its doors closed permanently on September 1st.
The $49 admission gave attendees access to the History of the Future Museum, a giant collection of original props and costumes from all of the “Star Trek” television series and movies, and two rides – the Borg Invasion 4D and Klingon Encounter. An optional behind-the-scenes tour was also available.
The Borg Invasion started with an introduction by the holographic doctor from “Star Trek Voyager”. He explains that he’s determined that one of the guests attending the ride has something in their bloodstream which makes them immune from the Borg. As he goes through this explanation the Borg are invading the space station. The starfleet officer escorting the guests rushes them through a corridor where they’re pursued by a Borg (don’t worry, he tells you – if you don’t do anything aggressive the Borg won’t notice you) and ultimately the guests are escorted into a spaceship so they can escape to safety. After taking your seat you’re instructed to put on your 3-D “safety goggles.” The Borg do a good job of attacking the spacecraft and the “fourth dimension” is physical interactions – you feel the Borg as they “inject” you with their nanoprobes and the mist on your face. Naturally you escape with your hide intact, but the doctor tells you that he needs to detain you for two weeks for further tests. Fortunately Admiral Janeway intercedes and you’re permitted to leave.
The Klingon Encounter started with a briefing before entering the ride - a virtual roller coaster with a bit of time travel tossed in. You’re in the pre-boarding area when you’re suddenly transported through time to the 24th century and arrive aboard the Enterprise 1701-D. It’s an extremely impressive special effect, but if you wanted to find out how it’s accomplished you’ve got to take the behind-the-scenes tour. You’re escorted through a corridor to the bridge of the Enterprise (I didn’t realize the transporter was on the same level as the bridge!) The bridge is absolutely amazing – other than the emergency exit sign it’s an excellent replica of the bridge set from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Commander William Riker explains that a renegade Klingon, Korath, has determined that one of the audience members is one of Jean-Luc Piccard’s ancestors. Korath has decided to kill the audience, thereby preventing Piccard’s existence. I asked if I could be excused because I don’t have any kids but Korax didn’t think that was an adequate reason.
Your starfleet escort takes you into a turbolift for a rough ride and then through a corridor to the shuttlecraft bay where you enter the transport. (It never occurs to anybody that you’d be far safer staying aboard the Enterprise than a small transport.) The transport is a six-axis motion simulator, basically a flight simulator used to train airline and military pilots. Unfortunately here the illusion really breaks down. The panels in the 60 foot projection screen are really visible and if you tilt your head back you can see the motion picture projector. The story’s also far more of a good guys vs. bad guys shoot ‘em up than a decent “Star Trek” story. The Enterprise comes in at the last second to destroy the bad guys and rescue you. It’s never explained how you suddenly pop back in time from the 24th century to the 20th century. Geordi LaForge claims that you’re in the present, but it’s clear that you’ve missed your target – you arrive in 1996 Las Vegas. Las Vegas’s skyscape is constantly changing and many of the casinos you fly over don’t exist anymore. Your shuttlecraft arrives back at the Las Vegas Hilton, coincidentally through the same elevator shaft James Bond used to sneak out of the Whyte House in the movie “Diamonds Are Forever.”
The gift shop had a variety of “Star Trek” merchandise, including a couple of exclusive items with the “Star Trek: The Experience” logo. A digital photo studio colored in faces and superimposed them on top of the heads of various alien species. Another choice was your photo taken on the bridge set or inside the Borg attraction.
The attraction also featured Quark’s Bar and Restaurant, modeled after the concourse bar in “Deep Space Nine.” It’s pretty ordinary family fare, with fancy names and fancy prices. For example, the “Fried Pipus Claw” description read, “Joseph Sisko took this traditional Klingon Dish, added a light coating and fried them. Earthlings consider them very close to boneless chicken wings. Tossed with choice of sauce: Spicy Asian Chili or Buffalo Style.” I wasn’t aware that Klingons had buffaloes … I was constantly reminded of a satire on “Saturday Night Live” where the Enterprise crew is running a restaurant.
I tried the “Hamborger” (about $10) and from what I can tell the Borg like incredibly dry hamburgers. The meal was certainly nothing to write home about, but it was enjoyable to see Klingons and Ferengi wandering around the restaurant and interacting with the guests.
The bar was a full bar, plus several themed drinks. The Long Island Iced Tea was named “James Tea Kirk” and the featured drink was the $29.50 “Warp Core Breach” – 10 ounces of liquor, fruit juices, and “pure ice crystals from planet Exo III”, designed to be shared by two.
Since the attraction was in Las Vegas it’s not surprising that weddings packages were offered - anywhere from $500 to $3000, plus the reception. Over 1,500 couples decided to get married in “Star Trek” costumes or traditional wedding attire.
Over three million visitors have gone through the attraction. “Star Trek: The Experience” media relations representative Russell Giles said, “We’ve exceeded our projections each year we were open.”
Everybody wanted the attraction to continue, but the problem was renewing the lease. Las Vegas Hilton spokesperson Ira David Sternberg verified the hotel was interested in renewing its contract with Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (the company which operates the “Star Trek: The Experience” under license from CBS/Viacom which owns “Star Trek”), but acceptable terms couldn’t be reached. He said, “They’re our tenants here at the Las Vegas Hilton. We couldn’t come to an agreement, so that was it. They’re excellent tenants and we wish them the best for the future.”
Giles noted that after the official announcement for the closing attendance increased by 20-30% - new fans realizing it was their last opportunity to visit the attraction and veterans wanting to see it one more time before it closed. He said, “Ten years is a very good run in Las Vegas. We’re very proud to have had that long a run.”
160 employees are out of work and looking for new jobs. Hopefully prospective employers won’t look at them too strange when they put down “Borg drone for the past three years” or “Ferengi bartender” on their resume. Giles said, “Not surprisingly they’re unhappy the place is closed because we all feel very strongly about ‘Star Trek.’ It’s an effort of passion because we believe in ‘Star Trek.’ It’s a family and it’s home.”
Original props and other artifacts will be returned to CBS/Viacom. Some equipment will be transferred to other properties owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment. Giles said, “Unfortunately some of the other physical parts of the station [like the ship models hanging in the lobby] will be demolished.”
“Star Trek: The Experience” occupied 65,000 square feet on three levels. After everything’s been cleaned out the space will be returned to the Hilton. Sternberg said, “We’re looking at a bunch of options [for what to do with the space] – nothing’s been decided, it’s much too early.”
So is there a future for the “Star Trek: The Experience?” Spokepeople from CBS/Viacom licensing would only say that they’re examining all possibilities. As speculation it could include a brand new version elsewhere in Las Vegas or possibly moving the attraction to another city with a large number of tourists.
Photos of the entrance and wedding costumes copyright 2008 Philip Chien. All Rights Reserved.
Other photos courtesy of “Star Trek: the Experience.”
Links
Official website for “Star Trek: The Experience.”
About the author
Philip Chien has been a “Star Trek” fan since the early 1970s.
© 2008 neatinformation.com. All Rights Reserved.
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