Star Trek: The Experience

The view from the outside of the Las Vegas Hilton

Star Trek: The Experience was a themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, based on the Star Trek entertainment franchise that opened in January 1998 and closed in September 2008. The pavilion underwent one major renovation in 2004 which added the Borg Invasion 4-D attraction, which used state-of-the-art amusement technology where guests experienced an encounter with the Borg. Star Trek: The Experience was operated by entertainment management company Cedar Fair Entertainment Company after its June 2006 purchase of Paramount Parks from the CBS Corporation.

The History of the Future Museum

File:Stexp lv borg.jpg

Borg models at the museum end/ride entrance

After purchasing a ticket, which allowed the guest to board the attractions an unlimited amount of times that day, one walked through a museum that included numerous items from Star Trek history. It also featured several video display devices and a timeline of Star Trek events. Later, there were displays for each of the major alien races, which included the Borg, Klingons, and Ferengi.

The last section of the museum was a hallway that served as the attraction queues. The left side was for the Borg Invasion 4-D, and the right side was for Klingon Encounter. Because the Borg ride held about twice as many people, that line moved more quickly (each show lasted about 18 minutes). The Klingon Encounter held 27 people while the Borg Invasion 4-D held 48 people. Each show was constructed so that those "in the back" for the first part of the show would, in turn, likely end up in the front for the second half of either show.

The Klingon Encounter

(Note: The exact attraction experience varies as a result of live performer input.)

Initially, the visitors entered a small room with a depiction of "outer space". A small television in the upper right corner of the room displayed scenes from several Star Trek movies.

The group then entered a smaller, dimly lit waiting area of a traditional simulator ride. Visitors lined up in rows in front of doors, as hosts direct their attention to the screens above for a safety demo for the shuttlecraft simulator ride. A few moments into the film, the televisions flickered, malfunctioned, and the lights went out. A variety of loud noises accompanied by hundreds of small light flashes that visually simulate the "transporter effect," along with the transporter sound effect and a rush of cold air (which, according to backstage tour guides, was an unintentional but appreciated effect caused by a false room being raised into the ceiling). When the lights returned, the walls and floor and ceiling have apparently disappeared and you were on a transporter pad (a room much larger than you were previously standing, without the doors you were ready to walk through!). You are now aboard the USS Enterprise-D, transporter room as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

On the transporter pad, a uniformed Starfleet officer asked for the leaders of the group and directed them away for instruction. It is explained that the visitors were beamed aboard the Starship Enterprise to "what you would call the future" and the group is then led to the bridge.

The group stood on the rear between the science stations and the tactical station. There were various busy crewmembers on the bridge, and they contact Commander Riker, who promptly appears on the main viewscreen. Riker explained that Captain Picard disappeared the moment the group beamed aboard the Enterprise and thus one member of the group must be Picard's ancestor. A nefarious rogue Klingon Commander named Korath used a hidden time-rift to abduct Picard's ancestor and erase him from the timeline. Starfleet intelligence, having learned of the plan, dispatched the Enterprise to intercept the Klingon's transporter beam and rescue the entire group. Riker directs the group to board a shuttlecraft to go escape the temporal rift, and return all guests to their original time.

While the group was in the turbolift, the Klingons attack the Enterprise and the turbolift enters a free fall. There are several jolts on the turbolift during the attack. Finally, the group arrives at the shuttle bay deck.

The group boarded the shuttlecraft. The shuttle ride began with a battle between the Enterprise and a few Klingon vessels. Then, the shuttle went into warp and was then instructed to find and destroy a cloaking generator on the planet's surface. There were several dogfights and visual effects during this time. The shuttle then returned through the temporal rift to present-day Las Vegas (although filmed almost 10 years ago, things as the Sands Hotel tower, a sign promoting Siegfried & Roy, might lead one to believe the shuttle returned prior to their abduction). Unfortunately a Klingon ship followed, however Enterprise saved the shuttle at the last minute. The 'real' shuttle landed at the Las Vegas Hilton right next to the "motion simulators" shuttles the visitors were originally waiting to enter when they were "beamed off" at the start of the story. Before the crew of the Enterprise leaves, Captain Picard thanks the crew for "restoring his existence." He says, "While only one of you is my ancestor, each of you hold that same opportunity for the future. Guard it well."

Typically a custodian led the group to an elevator and then out to the Deep Space Nine Promenade and Quark's Bar. On the way to the elevators, riders were invited to stop for a moment and watch on an overhead TV monitor "the local breaking news" from Nellis Air Force Base. "But what about the eyewitness accounts Colonel?" The official then stops, turns around and replies to the reporter by saying, "...Sunspots." The "newscast" features actual anchors from Las Vegas NBC affiliate, KVBC Channel 3.

The Borg Invasion 4-D

(Note: as this attraction features live performers, the exact experience will vary.)

This experience took groups of about forty people. They entered a Starfleet science station room with a large viewscreen in front, beyond a podium with several Starfleet personnel. A Starfleet officer was on the opposite side of the room. On the screen, the holographic doctor from the USS Voyager appeared and greeted the group. He explained that the group had been selected to undergo medical testing because some of the members are immune to Borg nanotechnology (which he "detected" when the group entered the room). During his presentation, the Doctor was interrupted by a station administrator. She states they've detected a ship approaching at high warp. As it doesn't respond to communications, the station goes to yellow alert (you see the lights dim.) The administrator says that they will postpone the medical testing until they deal with this possible threat.

When the tactical officer of the station has a visual, the administrator says, "Let's see it." In all its grim glory, it is a full size Borg Cube that slowly and ominously approaches the station. The officers in the room and the Doctor all share the same grim expression. The station goes to Red Alert The lights around now flashing red. The administrator orders to open fire and you feel the ground shake beneath you as you hear phasers and quantum torpedoes thunderously launch. The Cube sustains heavy damage, but it fires a projectile, and all the lights go dark; you hear a large amount of static. Then the Borg speak. "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is Futile."

The viewscreen comes back online, and the Doctor checks in with a young security officer. When the Doctor asks if he's alright, the officer says, "For now. There's an extraordinary amount of damage down here. Sir, the Borg have entered the facility. The station's being overrun." The Doctor then tells all the guests to get to the nearest escape shuttle while there's still time. As he is about to end the transmission, you see a group of Drones enter behind him. The Doctor proceeds to fire a phaser, you see one of the medical technicians injected with Borg nanites as his skin turns white, and his veins turn black.

Meanwhile a security officer enters your groups room, and leads the group to the next room: a corridor that looks severely damaged. As the group is in the corridor, a Borg drone appears to move toward the group, but turns instead to examine a computer panel. The security officer explains that he poses no threat at the moment, and orders the first officer to hold fire. The group is then led to the opposite end of the room, to an officer at an elevated station. This officer warns the others that there are Borg on the catwalks overhead (though visitors can see only conduits in the ceiling, there is indeed a Borg drone visible overhead from where the officer is standing). Firing a phaser rifle into the ceiling neutralizes the threat of that drone, but now alerts the remaining drones to attack. The officer at the elevated station proceeds to try and open the next door, but instead has to shoot out the control panel, as the drone that was examining the computer console moves toward the group. Unfortunately, destroying the panel has only opened the door halfway. At that moment, the officer with the phaser rifle is grabbed from above by a drone (only its hand is visible) and dragged screaming through the ceiling above. The first officer you met is now attempting to force the door entirely open, while the security officer tries to hold off the approaching drone with a hand phaser. The beam that he fires hits the drone, but with no effect: they have adapted their protective shields. At long last, the door is opened and the group is ushered through.

The group then enters a room that purports to be an escape vessel. Everyone picks up 3-D goggles ("safety glasses") and sits down. While the shuttle is preparing to take off, guests can watch the security officer be grabbed by the drone and dragged away for assimilation. The shuttle takes off from the station, but is pulled inside the Borg Cube. The front of the shuttle is blown open (utilizing 3d effects) and small Borg probes enter the shuttle and spray the group with nanites. You feel them in your skin (by way of motion prods under your seats) as the Borg Queen appears. She begins lecturing about the perfection of the collective and tells you to surrender your inhibitions and join the hive mind. At that moment, the Doctor projects himself into the hallucination, telling the group to fight it. "You are resistant to assimilation! Fight it! We're coming for you, Help is on the..." He then cuts out. The group, now out of the hallucination, listens to The Queen as she reiterates the futility of resisting her power. Then, another communication enters the ship and a female voice says, "Maybe it's time we even the sides." The Queen looks abashed. "Janeway!" She screams.

Admiral Kathryn Janeway appears on two side viewscreens as we see the USS Voyager burst through the far side of the Cube as the shuttle's force field activates around the blown off area of the front. Janeway exchanges quips with the Queen. "Stand aside, I've come to take these people home." "You're a fool Janeway, there will always be more drones!" The Queen yells. "Soon, this ship, and everything in it will be destroyed!" "Don't bet on it." Janeway says, as Voyager fires phasers on the Queen's position. She appears to beam out before she could be destroyed. Janeway then orders, "Fire Quantum Torpedoes!" Voyager obliges, and leaves the cube in shambles as she locks her tractor beam on the group's shuttle, and we are then treated to the magnificent explosion of the Borg Cube as it is defeated by the Federation.

As the shuttle docks back at the original station, Janeway says to the group, and we quote, "Congratulations. You've defeated the Borg with one thing the Queen can never assimilate: the human spirit. As long as we have that, resistance will never be futile." The theme to the Voyager television show then plays, and you are directed to exit at your right.

Effects include droplets of water, wind bursts, minor motion, and jabbing of the occupants—in the back and under the legs—through their chairs. (Though mild, the sensation can be startling.)

Behind the scenes

Star Trek The Experience Secrets Unveiled: was a fully guided behind the scenes look at the various Experience productions. Offered daily at limited times so as not to interfere with the working tours (and occasionally paused midway to allow the production to execute) participants wore wireless headsets to see how the many special effects were executed, the walk around promenade and production characters costumes, make up and character histories were developed. Upon completion a customized certificate is presented to attendees.

Closure

A decline in admissions along with diminished talks between Cedar Fair and the Las Vegas Hilton brought about the attraction's closure on September 1, 2008.

The closing ceremony was held on September 1, 2008. The public was invited to attend the ceremony, which was presented in the tradition of a naval decommissioning ceremony. Giving the keynote at the closing was Suzie Plakson, who introduced all the members of Star Trek: The Experience staff. April Hebert, who played the Vulcan T'pril, was introduced last as the longest serving cast member of Star Trek: The Experience and given the United Federation of Planets banner. Chase Masterson was also in attendance for the closing ceremony, and Garrett Wang made a brief appearance at Quark's shortly before closing. Chad Boutte, Operations Manager of Star Trek: The Experience gave the final speech with the final words "live long and prosper".

Little is known as to what will happen to the physical sets. Props and other authentic memorabilia will be returned to Paramount. According to a backstage tour guide, most of the physical sets will be destroyed after closure, because of the high cost of transporting them..

Moving & Reopening

An article in the Las Vegas Review Journal on October 17, 2008 mentioned the possibility of the Star Trek Experience being recreated at the Neonopolis Mall in downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Oscar Goodman stated this in a news conference on October 16, 2008. A possible deal is currently being negotiated between CBS and Rohit Joshi, developer of the Neonopolis Mall.

As reported by TrekToday at http://www.trektoday.com/news/171008_01.shtml , Star Trek: The Experience may be re-opening as soon as the first quarter of 2009.

In an article dated November 7, 2008 on the In Business Las Vegas website, it has been confirmed that all elements of Star Trek The Experience will be moved to its new home at Neonopolis. An operator for the attraction has not been confirmed.

Another article at "Las Vegas Advisor" confirmed on January 26, 2009 that STTE was successfully dismantled and is in storage awaiting reconstruction at the Neonopolis. It is hoped that it will be reopened in Fall of 2009!

References

http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/2008/11/07/retailreal.html?star%20trek

External links

• Star Trek: The Experience at Memory Alpha